KB Partners

KB Partners, LLC is a venture capital firm based in Highland Park, Illinois, specializing in early-stage investments, particularly in the sports and technology sectors. Founded in 1996, the firm focuses on mezzanine investments, seed/startup funding, and growth capital for companies engaged in various industries, including technology products and services, communications, medical products, advertising, and consumer goods. KB Partners takes an active role in nurturing businesses by collaborating closely with talented entrepreneurs and experienced managers. The firm typically invests between $1 million and $5 million and prefers opportunities in the Chicago area and surrounding Midwestern and Central U.S. markets. Currently, it operates through the KB Partners Myriad Opportunity Fund, which emphasizes investments at the intersection of sports and technology.

Steve Ahern

Principal

Stephan Ahern

Partner

Keith Bank

Founder & Managing Partner

Lance Dietz

Partner

John Garabedian

Partner

Past deals in Oregon

GridRival

Seed Round in 2021
GridRival, Inc. is a company that has developed a mobile application designed for motorsports enthusiasts to engage with their favorite sports. The app allows users to create or join leagues, invite friends, and manage their teams while competing against others. Participants earn points based on the real-world performances of their chosen teams, enhancing the fantasy sports experience. GridRival aims to provide an authentic platform that features real-time cash-based fantasy games and fosters a community of like-minded race fans. Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Portland, Oregon, GridRival was previously known as Fantasy Sport GP LLC and offers its application on both the App Store and Google Play.

Rupie Corp.

Seed Round in 2020
Rupie Corp. is a community-driven platform that integrates blockchain technology with video game crowdfunding, incubation, and digital distribution. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Bend, Oregon, the company connects players, developers, and content creators through a services marketplace focused on video game development, marketing, and distribution. Its platform facilitates collaboration by providing access to shared talent and third-party services for game projects. Additionally, Rupie Corp. offers a Milestone Escrow platform, which includes features such as fund release monitoring and a panic button for crypto and smart contracts. The asset marketplace allows developers to access a variety of resources, including audio, 3D models, and textures, while also providing tools for licensing and payments. Furthermore, the company supports a content bounty system that enables developers to acquire or rent game assets. Overall, Rupie Corp. caters to the video game industry by streamlining the development process and fostering a collaborative environment.