Outside of excelling in tennis, Venus Williams is a woman with many hats, and now she is putting on a new one.
The tennis champion has joined forces with Topspin Consumer Partners, according to a press release. On March 1, Williams was appointed as the private equity firm’s newest Operating Partner.
The press release detailed that in her new role, she is set to work with Topspin and its portfolio companies “to broaden marketing strategies, gain brand exposure, and identify innovative ways of enhancing value, as well as help source new investment opportunities.”
“What resonated with me most about Topspin was the team’s deep understanding of consumer investing and genuine desire to help entrepreneurs and visionaries reach their full potential,” Williams said in a press statement. “I’ve learned so much about navigating the competitive consumer landscape from my own ventures and strongly believe this is the perfect opportunity for me to leverage my expertise to add value – whether it be helping the firm’s portfolio companies improve their marketing efforts or identifying up-and-coming businesses to partner with. I’m excited to be working alongside such a talented group of investment professionals and advisors in this new role.”
As previously reported by AfroTech, Williams has extensive experience building brands for success, including EleVen, her clothing brand, and Happy Viking, her plant-based superfood nutrition company.
“Venus is not only one of the greatest athletes of all time, but she is also an established entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist,” said Leigh Randall, Managing Partner of Topspin. “Having had the pleasure of getting to know Venus for some time through our Operating Partner, Josh Shaw, who has worked closely with Venus and her family for over a decade, all of us at Topspin have been impressed by her strong business acumen, competitive spirit, wellness expertise, and vast professional network. She will serve as an invaluable resource for our portfolio companies, and we look forward to working with her to identify new and exciting investment opportunities.”
The press release notes that Topspin focuses on investing in branded consumer companies that sell consumer “essentials” and leverage digital marketing and e-commerce platforms for expansion.
