CLAP FOR HIM: Jay Z Set To Launch Venture Capital Fund

02/21/2017 •

"But I'm just a hustler disguised as a rapper. In fact you can't fit this hustle inside of a wrapper.." Shawn Carter

According to multiple sources Rapper and Mogul Jay Z is launching a venture capital fund. Venture capital is a type of funding for a new or growing business. It usually comes from venture capital firms that specialize in building high risk financial portfolios. With venture capital, the venture capital firm gives funding to the startup company in exchange for equity in the startup.

One of his partners will be Jay Brown, a longtime business partner and president of Roc Nation. The pair also is scouring the venture market for a full-time investment partner. The "Jays" also are partnering with Sherpa Capital, although this won't be a Sherpa-branded effort, and existing Sherpa staff won't be leading investments.

Expect the focus to be on seed-stage tech opportunities, with this really being the institutionalization of Jay Z and Jay Brown's previous angel investing activities. For example, they both were in Uber's Series B, at a $300m pre-money. Other investments have included JetSmarter, plus his involvement and stake in music streaming service Tidal.