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Vasu Kulkarni

Entrepreneur, VC, and Professional Pickup Basketball Player

Vasu Kulkarni, Partner at Courtside Ventures

Vasu Kulkarni is a Partner at Courtside Ventures, an early stage venture fund investing in tech and media companies at the intersection of sports, wellness, collectibles and gaming.2 He is a self-proclaimed "biggest basketball fan in the world" and has made it his mission to follow his love for the game.2

Background

  • Completed a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSc) in Computer and Telecommunications Engineering and Entrepreneurship at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also played on the JV Basketball Squad12
  • Founded Krossover, a sports analytics company that sold video and data tools to sports teams around the world, which he eventually sold to Stack Sports in 20172
  • Launched Courtside Ventures in 2016 after being backed by an investor while running Krossover3

Investing Approach

  • Has a data-driven approach, grading every deal brought in on 20 different criteria2
  • Believes it's hard to be a VC without having been an entrepreneur, as it's important to empathize with what entrepreneurs are going through3
  • Focuses on understanding the team and operations of a company, drawing on his experiences at Krossover3

Personal Interests

  • Avid collector of sports memorabilia and independent watches2
  • Loves playing pickup basketball on the Upper West Side of Manhattan where he lives with his three cats2
  • Enjoys reading authors like Archer, Gladwell, and Grisham, watching HBO, Showtime, and ESPN 30 for 30, and traveling towards his goal of visiting 100 countries (currently at 21)4

Highlights

Power Players: Courtside Ventures - Sports Business Journal
Power Players: Courtside Ventures - Sports Business Journal

Related Questions

What are some of the most successful investments made by Courtside Ventures?
How did Vasu Kulkarni's experience at Krossover influence his approach at Courtside Ventures?
What specific sectors does Courtside Ventures focus on within sports and gaming?
How does Vasu Kulkarni's passion for basketball impact his investment decisions?
What are some unique characteristics of the companies Courtside Ventures invests in?
Vasu Kulkarni
Vasu Kulkarni, photo 1
Vasu Kulkarni, photo 2
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Experience

Partner at Courtside Ventures
Chief Executive Officer at Krossover, Jul 2008 - May 2017

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSc), Computer and Telecommunications Engineering, Entrepreneurship at University of Pennsylvania

Location

New York City Metropolitan Area