VC Firms Are Tapping Former College Athletes for Investment Success

Venture capital firms are looking beyond traditional hiring pools and tapping into college athletic programs and endurance sports to find standout investors. Former student-athletes, like Harvard soccer alum Maggie Basta, are proving that the skills honed on the field translate seamlessly into the high-stakes world of investing.

Now an investor at Scale Venture Partners, Basta attributes her success to the accountability she learned from soccer. “Your portfolio companies are counting on you, and your team is counting on you. If you don’t show up, you’re letting everyone down,” she told Business Insider. Basta is part of a growing trend of VCs who see the value in hiring individuals with competitive sports backgrounds.

Some firms are even actively seeking athletes for their ability to handle pressure and push through challenges. A recent job posting from Slow Ventures openly encouraged applications from athletes, particularly endurance sports competitors, citing their resilience and discipline as key assets.

Peter Fenton, a top investor at Benchmark with exits like Twitter and Yelp under his belt, has also been known to favor hiring former athletes. In 2022, he brought on Vanessa Fraser, a former Stanford track star who later signed a professional running deal with Nike. Fraser credits her athletic background with providing the discipline and mental stamina necessary to thrive in venture capital.

For investors like James Green of CRV, a former rower for Harvard, sports and venture capital share a similar dynamic—balancing teamwork with individual accountability. “Without a team, you can’t win, but you’re only as strong as your weakest link,” he said.

Kelly Barton, a former MIT rower turned CapitalG vice president, echoes this sentiment. Her endurance training in marathons and triathlons has given her the patience and strategic thinking necessary for long-term investment success. “Workouts create a space for me to step back and think about the companies I back,” she explained.

CapitalG’s general partner Jesse Welder, a former collegiate sailor, believes athletes have a unique competitive drive that fuels their professional success. Many of his colleagues at CapitalG, including Harvard basketball alum Laela Sturdy and Williams College’s Jill Chase, embody that relentless pursuit of excellence in their work.

Barton, who recently won her age group at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships, believes that maintaining balance between training, work, and personal life is key. “I’m my best athlete when I’m my best self,” she said, emphasizing the overlap between peak performance in sports and investing.

As venture firms continue to seek individuals with resilience, discipline, and a winning mentality, the crossover between college athletics and venture capital is only set to grow.