we offer the capital you need— from early-stage venture to private credit and CPG financing — giving you the flexibility to grow on your terms. and we don’t just invest, we get to work. with hands-on operating experience, we back your team with the insight, support, and execution needed to scale.
51v is the first-of-its-kind platform in the sports, wellness, and performance space — offering a full spectrum of solutions designed to meet companies where they are and help them scale effectively. through our partners, community, and deep strategic relationships across the industry, we evaluate each business and connect them with the right path at 51v for their stage of growth.
our reach spans every level of sport — from college programs to pro leagues — through athletes, coaches, and team owners who open doors others can’t. that access fuels our deal flow, insight, and influence across the entire sports ecosystem.
flexible venture and private credit capital, backed by institutional partners and our internal NAV fund — built to help founders grow smarter, not just faster.
athletes, founders, and brand leaders who’ve built and scaled companies themselves. our experience and relationships drive growth, unlock partnerships, and give every portfolio company a built-in advisory bench.
I’ve sat on every side of the table — as an athlete chasing opportunity, a founder bootstrapping and exiting companies, an operator working alongside NCAA programs and pro teams, and now as a fund manager. I know what it feels like to go without resources, to develop duct-tape solutions, to hustle for every customer. And I’ve seen what happens when the right capital meets the right execution: businesses scale, founders thrive, industries transform.
The sports, performance, and consumer sectors are different. They’re tight-knit, driven by passion, and too often misunderstood or overlooked. Unicorn math doesn’t usually apply here — but resilient, category-defining companies do get built. That’s why 51v exists: to connect founder grit with the capital and expertise needed to create businesses that endure.
We built 51 to be more than a fund. It’s a platform — shaped by the resources I wish I had when I was building. We bring together strategic investors who know the game, who’ve been in the arena, and who can deliver both the capital and the playbook to help founders win.
- Chris Wilkerson, Managing Partner