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Bobby Sharma

Founder & Managing Partner

Bluestone Equity Partners

New York, NY, USA

Bobby Sharma

Diane Seymour-Williams

Acorn Capital Advisers

Oracle Industries

Bobby Sharma’s Biography

Bobby Sharma is the Founder & Managing Partner of Bluestone Equity Partners, an institutionally backed private equity firm building strategic capital partnerships with established Sports, Media & Entertainment businesses seeking to grow and scale operations globally.

Bobby is a highly accomplished entrepreneur and business leader with global experience across a range of industries, including finance, private equity, sports, media & entertainment and law. As Managing Partner, he uses his business experience and industry ties to build relationships that offer strategic guidance and operational expertise to help established growth-stage businesses accelerate growth and scale. Bobby also serves as a Special Advisor to the Sports & Entertainment Group at law firm, Foley & Lardner LLP.

Previously, Bobby served as Chairman of investment firm Blue Devil Holdings, co-founded and served as Managing Partner of esports advisory firm, Electronic Sports Group, served as CEO of Soccerex and as SVP, Global Head of Basketball & Strategic Initiatives at IMG, where he led the growth of a range of... Bobby Sharma is the Founder & Managing Partner of Bluestone Equity Partners, an institutionally backed private equity firm building strategic capital partnerships with established Sports, Media & Entertainment businesses seeking to grow and scale operations globally.

Bobby is a highly accomplished entrepreneur and business leader with global experience across a range of industries, including finance, private equity, sports, media & entertainment and law. As Managing Partner, he uses his business experience and industry ties to build relationships that offer strategic guidance and operational expertise to help established growth-stage businesses accelerate growth and scale. Bobby also serves as a Special Advisor to the Sports & Entertainment Group at law firm, Foley & Lardner LLP.

Previously, Bobby served as Chairman of investment firm Blue Devil Holdings, co-founded and served as Managing Partner of esports advisory firm, Electronic Sports Group, served as CEO of Soccerex and as SVP, Global Head of Basketball & Strategic Initiatives at IMG, where he led the growth of a range of businesses worldwide, including emerging markets such as India, Brazil, China, Turkey and Africa.

Bobby also served as VP & General Counsel of the NBA Development League (now G-League), helping guide the establishment of the NBA’s first minor league system. During his nearly ten-year tenure, the league grew from six regional teams to 16 teams across the country.

In addition to serving on corporate boards, Bobby serves on the Board of Directors for the Goodwill Industries of NY & NJ and the United States Tennis Association (USTA). He has garnered numerous awards, including the Basketball Federation of India Legacy Award, as well as being honored as one of the “Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business” by the Asian American Business Development Center and as a “Power Player” by the Sports Business Journal.

Bobby holds a B.A. from Duke University and J.D. from Duke Law School. more less

Bobby Sharma’s Newsfeed

20 private equity companies investing in sports in 2024

Bluestone Equity Partners are mentioned in this article exploring heightened interest in sports teams and leagues from private equity firms.

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Can the W.N.B.A. Make Money?

The Founder of Bluestone Equity Partners, Bobby Sharma, is quoted in this article exploring the profitibility of the W.N.B.A. Sharma, who previously worked in the N.B.A. office as a senior legal executive, said he had tuned in for the first time like many other viewers.

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Bobby Sharma’s Background

Bluestone Equity Partners

Founder & Managing Partner

2023 - Present

New York, NY, USA

Bluestone Equity Partners is a leading institutionally-backed private equity firm focused on the sports, media & entertainment industry.

Blue Devil Holdings

Executive Chairman

2015 - 2023

New York, NY, USA

Blue Devil Holdings is a global sports, media & entertainment private investment company, focused on M&A and development of high-growth, globally-scalable assets.

General American Capital Partners LLC

Partner | GACP Sports

2018 - 2022

Coral Gables, FL, USA

General American Capital Partners LLC is a global private equity firm focused on investing in and operating sports-related businesses.

Electronic Sports Group

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

2017 - 2022

New York, NY, USA

Electronic Sports Group is a global independent advisory firm focused on the Esports industry. ESG provides strategic business advice and insights to leaders executives and leaders in the media, entertainment and technology sectors.

Soccerex

Chief Executive Officer

2019 - 2021

Miami, FL, USA

Soccerex has been the foremost event provider for the global football/soccer industry since 1996. It is renowned for its exceptional networking and content sharing platforms, which are held in high regard worldwide.

NextGen Venture Partners

Founding Member

2013 - 2018

New York, NY, USA

NextGen Venture Partners invests in seed-stage companies with the participation of their venture partners, a highly experienced team consisting of leading entrepreneurs and executives from various industries.

IMG

Sr. Vice President | Global Head of Basketball & Strategic Initiatives

2011 - 2015

New York, NY, USA

IMG is a global leader in the fields of sports, events, media and fashion marketing. It specializes in creating deep connections between sport, fans, brands and partners to help maximize their reach and achieve their goals.

NBA Development League

Vice Principal & General Counsel

2002 - 2011

New York, NY, USA

Featuring 31 teams, the NBA G League is the NBA’s official minor league. As the league’s research and development laboratory, the G League prepares, players, coaches, officials, trainers and front-office staff for the NBA.

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP

Securities Litigation Attorney

2001 - 2002

New York, NY, USA

Cravath has been a preeminent U.S. law firm for over two centuries. Its primary areas of practice include corporate, litigation, tax, executive compensation and benefits and trusts and estates.

Shartsis Friese LLP

Corporate Litigation Attorney

2000 - 2001

San Francisco, CA, USA

Founded in 1975, Shartsis Friese is a client-focused law firm specializing in high-quality practice areas that serve the needs of businesses and individuals.

Chadbourne & Parke LLP

Commercial Litigation Attorney

1999 - 2000

Washington, DC, USA

Chadbourne & Parke LLP (now Norton Rose Fulbright after a 2017 merger) was a global law firm with twelve offices in ten countries a specialization in project finance and energy, international insurance and corporate transactions.

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Bobby Sharma’s Gallery

Board Positions

PMY Group

Board of Directors

Melbourne, CA

PMY is a full-service technology solutions company that supports venues and major events of all types to enhance their infrastructure, experience and intelligence.

VideoVerse

Board of Directors

San Francisco, CA, USA

VideoVerse works to empower both enterprise and individual content creators with disruptive, scalable technology that enhances and streamlines the content production process.

United States Tennis Association (USTA)

Board of Directors

2023 - Present

White Plains, NY, USA

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) is the governing body for the sport of tennis and the recognized leader in promoting and developing the sport’s growth on every level in the U.S.

USA Archery

Board of Directors

2022 - Present

Colorado Springs, CO, USA

Formed in 1879, USA Archery empowers United States athletes to achieve sustained competitive excellence in Olympic, Paralympic, World Championships and international competitions and to promote and grow the sport of Archery in the U.S.

Goodwill Industries of NY & NJ

Board of Directors

Jun 2023 - Present

New York, NY, USA

Established in 1915, the primary objective of Goodwill Industries is to empower individuals facing disabilities and other obstacles to employment, enabling them to achieve independence through the transformative power of work.

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Advisory Roles

Foley & Lardner LLP

Special Advisor | Sports & Entertainment Group

2019 - Present

New York, NY, USA

With 25 offices across the globe, Foley & Lardner LLP is a leading law firm working at the nexus of the energy, healthcare & life sciences, innovative technology and manufacturing sectors. Its Sports and Entertainment group specializes in representing professional and amateur sports organizations, as well as related businesses.

Previous Board Positions

Soccerex

Vice Chairman

2019 - 2022

Miami, FL, USA

Founded in 1996, Soccerex is world's largest organizer of football/soccer business conferences. As the host of industry-leading events around the world, it provides unique market intelligence and key insights through its array of media channels. Bobby also served as CEO from 2019-2021.

Media

Soundcloud: Bobby Sharma | Bluestone

Profile

View Bobby's Soundcloud Profile here.

Video editing platform VideoVerse gets growth capital from Bluestone Equity

Dec 2023

“The demand for intelligent software automation of short-form content and highlights is growing exponentially,” said Bobby Sharma.

Bluestone invests in Magnifi creator VideoVerse

Dec 2023

This article from PE Hub highlights Bluestone's recent investment in VideoVerse, a provider of AI-driven platforms built to meet the demands of sports broadcasters, production houses and entertainment conglomerates.

The Most Valuable Esports Companies

Quoted

2022

New York, NY, USA

To compile this ranking, Forbes spoke to more than 40 company executives, esports industry professionals, investors, bankers and analysts. Commenting on the industry, Bobby Sharma said: “I think we’re going to see a variety of successful models emerge, bespoke to specific team assets and strengths."

The Most Valuable Esports Companies

Quoted

2020

New York, NY, USA

The average value of the top ten teams was $240 million in 2020, following a 54% rise in 2019, according to Forbes' annual ranking of the most valuable esports companies. “We’re starting to see valuations become more in line with realities,” says Bobby Sharma, an investment advisor for New York-based esports advisory firm Electronic Sports Group.

Bluestone invests ‘US$45m’ in Magnifi developer VideoVerse

Dec 2023

This is Bluestone's third major investment since raising US$300 million earlier in 2023. VideoVerse will use the new funding to scale and grow its business to better compete in a fiercely-contested market segment that includes WSC among others.

Sharma’s $300M Bluestone fund invests in Magnifi

Dec 2023

London, UK

Bluestone Equity Partners, a private equity fund founded by Bobby Sharma, a former executive at IMG and the National Basketball League, has made an investment in Magnifi. Magnifi is an AI-powered video editing technology that is utilized by sports rights-holders.

Bluestone Equity Invests Some $20 Million in First Entertainment Deal

Sep 2023

New York, NY, USA

Bluestone Equity Partners, a private-equity firm founded by former NBA executive Bobby Sharma, is backing its first deal in the entertainment sector with an investment of nearly $20 million in RWS Global, a firm focusing on design, casting and programming for major entertainment destinations and venues.

Sports-Focused Private-Equity Firm to Invest in PMY Group

Jul 2023

New York, NY, USA

Bluestone Equity Partners has taken a minority stake of about $30M in PMY Group, which provides technical designs for major professional-sports venues, including in the National Football League, Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer.

Sports Step into the Metaverse—and Take Investors Along for the Ride

Apr 2023

Chicago, IL, USA

Discussing opportunities within the Metaverse, Bobby Sharma says, “There are all of these opportunities for growth, from an investment perspective, that make us feel like it’s early days for this kind of asset class."

Former IMG, NBA executive Sharma launches $300m Bluestone equity fund

Feb 2023

London, UK

Private equity firm Bluestone Equity Partners has announced the successful closing of Bluestone Capital I, L.P., its inaugural $300m (€279m) growth equity fund focused on the sports, media and entertainment industry.

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Interviews

Bobby Sharma, Special Adviser, Foley & Lardner LLP, trends in the global Esports industry

Mar 2022

Bobby Sharma joins the Law In Sport podcast to discuss his extensive experience in the sports, media and entertainment industry.

The business of sport

Jul 2023

London, UK

Commenting on the commercial imperatives in sport and fan support, Bobby Sharma says the rules of the game are changing as younger fans turn to streaming services rather than cable.

Features

Former NBA Executive Bobby Sharma Launches Private-Equity Firm

Feb 2023

New York, NY, USA

Bobby Sharma is launching Bluestone Equity Partners LP, a private-equity firm focused on investments in sports, media and entertainment. To date, the firm has collected $300M from institutional investors in its first fund.

Publications

The Sport Business Handbook: Insights from 100+ Leaders Who Shaped 50 Years of the Industry

Contributing Writer

2022

New York, NY, USA

Bobby Sharma contributed the chapter titled 'Esports Are Well Situated for a Post-Covid Sports World'. The Sport Business Handbook is a groundbreaking and unique compendium of leadership lessons and career guidance from virtually every luminary in the sports business community over the past fifty years.

The rise and (apparent) fall of the European Super League

Author

May 2021

Bobby Sharma discusses how the idea for European Super League, which had widespread support from prominent individuals in sport, business and government, in addition to mass protests, went wrong in just a matter of two days. His answer, in short: "In Europe, football is not a game or a product; but rather a deeply ingrained part of culture and shared human experience."

Memberships

Bar Association of the District of Columbia

Washington, DC, USA

Founded in 1871, The Bar Association of the District of Columbia (BADC) is a voluntary bar association that hosts the only Lawyer Referral Service in the District of Columbia.

Awards & Recognition

The Sports Business Journal

"Power Player" | Sports & Entertainment Industry

2021

Sports Business Journal (SBJ) sits at the epicenter of the sports industry. SBJ provides the news, the networking and the data to equip the most powerful executives in sports business to make more informed decisions, deals and partnerships.

Asian American Business Development Center

Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business

2014

The recipients of the Outstanding 50 Award represent an exceptional and diverse group of Asian American entrepreneurs, professionals, and corporate executives who excel in various business fields.

The Basketball Federation of India (BFI)

BFI Legacy Award

2012

The Basketball Federation of India (BFI) is the governing and controlling body of basketball in India responsible for the development and promotion of the sports authority of India at all levels.

Media Partners Global

Rising Star Executive Award

2011

Presented by Media Partners Global,

South Asian Bar Association

Corporate Counsel Award

2010

The South Asian Bar Association Corporate Counsel Award is given to an individual who demonstrates extraordinary leadership and innovation in or through their in-house practice.

Sports Counsel of the Year

Honoree

2010

Presented by The Association of Media & Entertainment Counsel, the Sports Counsel of the Year honors recognize the role of attorneys in the judicial process, popular culture and entertainment industry.

Korn Ferry

25 Most Influential South Asian Executives in the Media & Entertainment Industry

2009

New York, NY, USA

Compiled by Korn Ferry, the 25 Most Influential South Asian Executives in the Media & Entertainment Industry list honors senior executives of South Asian background who have excelled in various roles in the entertainment business.

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Training & Management Courses

Harvard Business School Executive Education

Business of Entertainment, Media, and Sports Program

Cambridge, MA, USA

The Business of Entertainment, Media, and Sports course helps professionals better understand business and technology trends and how to establish a long-term competitive advantage in today's entertainment environment..

Charitable Interests

UNICEF

Supporter

1991 - Present

New York, NY, USA

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide.

Save the Children

Supporter

1988 - Present

Fairfield, CT, USA

Save the Children is the foremost independent organization that strives to create long-term impact in the lives of children in need both in the United States and globally.

Bar Admissions

The State Bar of California

Jan 1999

Sacramento, CA, USA

The State Bar of California protects the public and includes the primary functions of licensing, regulation and discipline of attorneys, in addition to the advancement of the ethical and competent practice of law and support of efforts for greater access to the legal system.

Press Releases

Bluestone Equity Partners Invests in RWS Global

Sep 2023

New York, NY, USA

Bluestone Equity Partners announced a minority investment in RWS Global, the world’s largest provider of live shows, destinations and immersive experiences across the hospitality, leisure, theatrical, corporate, retail and sports sectors.

Bluestone Equity Partners Invests in PMY Group

Jul 2023

New York, NY, USA

Bluestone Equity Partners announced an investment in PMY Group, a premier international venue, events and infrastructure technology solutions firm. This marks PMY’s first institutional capital raise since inception.

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Fellowships

U.S. Department of Justice

Intern | Civil Division

Washington, DC, USA

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Civil Division, is responsible for representing the United States, its departments and agencies, Members of Congress, Cabinet Officers, and other federal employees in any civil or criminal matter that falls within its jurisdiction.

Bobby Sharma’s Education

Duke University School of Law

Juris Doctor

Duke University

Bachelor of Arts