Microsoft, the Green Bay Packers, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Milwaukee Brewers have combined forces to form the Equity League, a new impact investment division of venture capital fund TitletownTech.
This marks the first time the Brewers, Bucks, and Packers have partnered together for the shared purpose of fostering positive social change in Wisconsin and across the United States. Adding to the historic nature of the collaboration, Microsoft, whose mission is to empower every individual and every organization on the planet to achieve more, joins the three teams as the founders of the new organization.
First announced in 2017, TitletownTech is a partnership between Microsoft and the Green Bay Packers that has created an exciting venture studio and fund, is located across the street from iconic Lambeau Field, and is now shepherding more than 20 new startups into formation with many beginning operations in Northeast Wisconsin. The Equity League is an investment network focused on building a portfolio of impact-driven technology companies and creating more opportunities for Black and LatinX founders. Equity League has a mission of creating a long-term, positive impact on society.
A founding principle of the Equity League is that while genius is equally distributed regardless of race, gender, or zip code, opportunity is not. When looking at Venture Capital-backed startups, only 1% of founders are Black and less than 2% are LatinX. On the investment side, just 3% of the employees at Venture Capital investment funds are Black or LatinX professionals.
The idea for the Equity League started with Mark Murphy, the President and CEO of the Green Bay Packers, in conjunction with Craig Dickman, Managing Director of TitletownTech. Building on the success of TitletownTech, Murphy shared this vision for an investment network with Rick Schlesinger, President of Business Operations for the Milwaukee Brewers, and Peter Feigin, President of the Milwaukee Bucks. They were on board and excited to play an active role in changing the ecosystem to better represent the diversity across the country and to create generational impact.
“The shared values between the Packers, Bucks, Brewers, Microsoft and TitletownTech are what made this possible. It’s time for us to step up. I’m proud that we have all come together to drive meaningful change. The Equity League will help bridge a significant gap for Black and Hispanic founders, as well as benefit social impact companies,” said Murphy.
“We are proud to forge a partnership with the Packers and Brewers to generate such meaningful opportunities for Black and LatinX founders,” said Bucks and Fiserv Forum President Peter Feigin. “Our state’s professional sports teams are excited to create long-term positive change together.” And as Rick Schlesinger said, “The Equity League will create more opportunities for social impact companies and minority Founders, which we believe will generate meaningful outcomes for all stakeholders.”
