Creative Artists Agency

Connect Ventures Research Document Investment Thesis Connect Ventures is a venture capital partnership between Creative Artists Agency (CAA), a leading entertainment and sports talent agency, and New Enterprise Associates (NEA), a global venture capital firm. Launched in January 2020, Connect Ventures combines CAA's unparalleled relationships, expertise, and resources across entertainment, sports, media, and culture with NEA's deep technology investing experience and company-building expertise. The fund invests in founder-driven, consumer-obsessed businesses at the intersection of culture and commerce, with a particular focus on leveraging CAA's network to accelerate growth of early-stage consumer companies. Sector Focus Connect Ventures focuses on consumer-driven businesses across specific sectors: Media & Entertainment - Content platforms, production tools, distribution channels Sports Technology - Sports analytics, fan engagement, athlete ventures Gaming - Game development, gaming platforms, esports infrastructure Health & Wellness - Fitness apps, wellness platforms, digital health E-commerce & Marketplaces - Consumer marketplaces, D2C brands, shopping platforms The fund's unique positioning leverages CAA's deep relationships with talent, athletes, creators, and entertainment executives to identify and accelerate consumer companies. The partnership with NEA ensures rigorous venture capital discipline and extensive operational support. Stage Focus Connect Ventures is primarily a Seed and Series A investor: Seed stage: Early-stage companies with product validation and initial market traction Series A: Companies with proven product-market fit seeking to accelerate growth Selective pre-seed for exceptional founder teams with industry expertise The fund has deployed over 30 investments across its portfolio companies since inception. Check Size Based on portfolio company stages and fund positioning: Seed: $500K - $2M Series A: $2M - $5M+ Typical check size: $1M - $3M Lead Tendency Connect Ventures co-leads early-stage rounds in partnership with other quality investors. The fund leverages NEA's operational expertise and CAA's unique network access to lead or co-lead Seed and Series A rounds. Recent Activity Recent portfolio highlights include: TMRW Sports (founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy) - Sports technology and media company Music.AI (Moises) - AI-powered music and audio production platform Harper Wilde - Direct-to-consumer intimate apparel brand OpenSea - NFT marketplace (noted in NEA partnership press) Jomboy Media - Sports content and entertainment media The fund has been actively investing through 2025 and into 2026, with recent leadership changes including Nicole Quinn and Michael Blank appointed as co-leaders in January 2026. Michael Blank previously served as CAA's Head of Consumer Investments for 15 years before departing in October 2025. Portfolio Highlights Connect Ventures' portfolio demonstrates deep consumer and entertainment focus: TMRW Sports - High-profile founders (Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy) in sports technology Music.AI (Moises) - AI-powered music production platform (Salt Lake City based) Strong track record of investments in creator economy and consumer brands Portfolio companies often feature celebrity/athlete founders or deep entertainment connections Team Leadership: Michael Blank, Co-Founder and Managing Partner - Ex-CAA (15 years), Head of Consumer Investments Nicole Quinn, Co-Founder and Partner - Entertainment industry executive Organization: Leverages both NEA's institutional VC capabilities and CAA's entertainment/sports network Access to CAA's extensive talent and athlete relationships NEA operational and scaling expertise Decision Process Co-founder partnership model with Michael Blank and Nicole Quinn as primary decision makers, working in partnership with NEA's investment committee and CAA's executive team. Decision process balances venture capital rigor (NEA) with entertainment industry relationships and founder connectivity (CAA). Geographic Focus Primarily US-based companies with strong focus on companies leveraging entertainment, sports, and media relationships. Portfolio companies show presence in major hubs including Jupiter FL (TMRW Sports), Salt Lake City (Moises), and broader US markets. Founder Preferences Connect Ventures seeks founder teams with: Consumer obsession and founder-driven ambition Entertainment, sports, media, or culture industry expertise or connections Ability to benefit from CAA's relationship network Strong product and business fundamentals Often features celebrity, athlete, or entertainment industry founders Fund Status The fund is actively deploying capital. Recent leadership appointments in January 2026 signal continued active investment. Fund appears to be in mid-deployment phase with ongoing portfolio expansion and board support for existing companies. Notable Context Connect Ventures represents an interesting hybrid model combining entertainment industry (CAA) with venture capital (NEA). The fund's positioning at the intersection of culture and commerce allows it to identify emerging consumer opportunities that benefit from entertainment industry relationships and distribution access. Recent leadership changes suggest renewed focus on expanding and accelerating the portfolio.