- Autograph completed Series B, which was co-led by a16z and Kleiner Perkins.
- A startup collaborates with athletes to develop digital collectibles.
Autograph, the NFT platform co-founded by NFL player Tom Brady, has raised $170 million in a Series B funding round led by Silicon Valley investors Andreessen Horowitz and Kleiner Perkins.
The July-launched startup also received funding from Lightspeed Venture partner Nicole Quinn and Katie Haun’s new firm. Haun, who recently left Andreessen Horowitz to launch her own company, will join the board as well as a16z partners Arianna Simpson and Chris Dixon, as well as Kleiner Perkins partner Ilya Fushman.
Brady has been one of the most visible cryptocurrency advocates in sports and entertainment, sporting “laser eyes” on his Twitter profile picture, a crypto supporter’s stealth mark. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback has invested in leading cryptocurrency exchange FTX, whose founder Sam Bankman-Fried also serves on Autograph’s board of directors. Brady launched an NFT collection on his platform last year, which sold out in minutes.
web3 isn’t just a tech movement. It’s a cultural one.
That’s why I’m excited to announce we’re co-leading a Series B investment in @TomBrady’s @Autograph. My partner @AriannaSimpson will be joining the board, and I’m joining the board of advisors.
— cdixon.eth (@cdixon) January 19, 2022
Autograph, based in Los Angeles, assists athletes and entertainers in the launch and promotion of their non-fungible tokens. Dillion Rosenblatt, the company’s CEO, previously worked at Cameo and Apple Music. Tiger Woods, Noami Osaka, and Tony Hawk are among the celebrities with NFT contracts on its roster. NFTs can be purchased through designated platforms such as DraftKings Inc and OpenSea. The startup’s valuation was not disclosed today.
Tom Brady Debuts New NFTs to Highlight Career Beginning
NFTs, a $44 billion market, have emerged as one of the most exciting aspects of cryptocurrency, attracting interest from celebrities, retailers, and institutions outside of the crypto industry. Silicon Valley venture capital funds have made bets in the space. Fushman of Kleiner Perkins wrote in a blog post that Autograph will be a “cornerstone platform” for bringing web3 to the mainstream.
“I’m delighted to join the board to help Autograph bring exciting new NFT experiences to the mainstream,” Simpson said in a statement.
Disclaimer: These are the writer’s opinions and should not be considered investment advice. Readers should do their own research.
