Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes continues cultivating his business empire with an investment in Buzz, a mobile app that helps users discover live sports.
New York-based Buzzer recently closed a $20 million Series A funding round led by venture capital firm Sapphire Sport and new investor Canaan Partners, the company said in a release.
In addition to Mahomes, other noteworthy investors include LaMelo Ball, Devin Booker, J. Cole, Wayne Gretzky, DeAndre Hopkins, Sabrina Ionescu, Michael Jordan, Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid, Renee Montgomery, Naomi Osaka and Bobby Wagner.
The financing will help Buzzer build new product features focused on the social aspect of sports, develop new partnership opportunities and add employees.
"There's nothing more exciting than a close game or buzzer beater - those are the moments we live for as players," Mahomes said in the release. "Buzzer ensures fans never miss these moments in real-time and helps us make our connections with them stronger, especially with younger, mobile-first sports fans. I believe Buzzer represents the future of live sports and I'm thrilled to join them on their journey."
Founded in 2020, the platform uses customized and curated alerts to keep mobile viewers engaged in sports. It aggregates and organizes live sports streaming rights into a single, mobile platform. The company hopes to capture the attention of Gen Z.
NBA League Pass, PGA TOUR and the NHL all are partners, and Buzzer hopes to add more in the coming months.
"Fans are finding it harder to know when and where live sports are happening, creating an experience that is not optimized for their expansive interests based on how they consume. We envision Buzzer becoming the discovery and curation tool that brings Gen Z fans back to live sports with simple access to ephemeral moments," founder and CEO Bo Han said in the release.
Users can download Buzzer on iOS and Android. They will be added to the waitlist and eventually will be able to watch live sports. The platform will officially launch later this year.
Mahomes is amassing business investments. He has invested in wearable device company Whoop and massage devise company Hyperice. Hyperice has seen its valuation climb to $700 million after sitting at $10 million five years ago. Founded in 2012, Whoop has raised more than $200 million from investors and achieved unicorn status: Its valuation reached $1.2 billion last year.
He is a part owner of the Kansas City Royals, and fiancee/entrepreneur Brittany Matthews is an investor in the new National Women’s Soccer League franchise in Kansas City.
Mahomes' other endorsements include deals with national brands such as Adidas, Hyperice and Biosteel. Locally, Mahomes is involved with Airshare, CommunityAmerica Credit Union, Hy-Vee and Goodcents Deli Fresh
