Minneapolis-based Players Health secured its Series C funding with a lead investment from New York-based Bluestone Equity Partners, a private equity firm specializing in sports, media, and entertainment.
Additional backing came from Mosaic General Partners, RPM Ventures, SiriusPoint, and TriplePoint Capital, the St. Paul Business Journal reports.
Founder and CEO Tyree Burks shared that the funding will be used to enhance the company’s AI-powered products, pursue additional mergers and acquisitions, expand the team, and broaden Players Health’s presence across the nation.
Raised by a single mother on the south side of Chicago, Burks credits sports with transforming his life, leading him to Winona State and, eventually, the Canadian Football League. However, a series of injuries disrupted his athletic career, which inspired him to explore ways to improve youth sports.
His current success came with initial setbacks and hurdles, including hiring a developer who didn’t deliver, raising money too early, and downplaying his mission in the early days.
“I was timid in the beginning—I didn’t want to be perceived as a heart-led leader who didn’t understand economics. Fundraising got easier when I went all in on the mission.”
As part of the investment, Walker Brumskine and Jake Harris from Bluestone Equity Partners will join the Players Health board of directors.
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Source: Black Enterprise
