Bobby Sharma
Bobby Sharma | |
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 Photo of Bobby Sharma | |
| Born | 1973 (age 52–53) Dayton, Ohio |
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Bobby Sharma (born in 1973) is an Indian-American investor. He is a former executive and attorney, including at the National Basketball Association where he helped build the NBA G-league, and is currently the founder and managing partner of private equity firm Bluestone Equity Partners.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Sharma graduated from Duke University with a bachelor's degree and earned a Juris doctor degree from Duke Law School.[2][3]
Career
[edit]National Basketball Association (NBA) (2002-11)
[edit]Sharma worked as an executive and attorney for the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 2002 to 2011.[4][5] While there, he helped lead the creation of the NBA’s first minor league, initially called the NBA Development League (or D-League), now known as the G-League. He worked with commissioners David Stern and Adam Silver throughout his tenure at the NBA and contributed while the G-League grew from 6 regional teams in the southeast, to 16 teams across the United States.[4]
IMG & Investment (2011-23)
[edit]In 2011, Sharma joined an executive role with IMG Worldwide as senior vice president to global head of basketball and strategic initiatives.[6][7][5] He was tasked with building professional sports leagues in international markets, starting with a basketball league in India after IMG acquired commercial rights to the sport in the country for 30 years; Sharma considered India as the "largest untapped basketball market in the world".[8][9][10] At IMG Sharma worked alongside investor Ted Forstmann, building sports leagues in other international markets including Brazil, Nigeria and China, with sports such as basketball, soccer, and cricket.[4][11][12]
Bluestone Equity Partners (2023-present)
[edit]In 2023, Sharma founded Bluestone Equity Partners, a private New York City-based equity firm[1][13] focused on deals in the sports, media and entertainment industry.[14][11] Sharma relied on his past experience and brought investors from Blackstone and Apollo Global.[4][11]
Bluestone bought a $30 million stake in PMY Group, which designs and manages digital scoreboards, lighting, and acoustics at sports and entertainment venues.[15] In 2024, the company invested in Volo Sports[16] and RWS Global.[17]
References
[edit]- 1 2 Beltran, Luisa. "Leonardo DiCaprio–backed AI startup Qloo clinches $20 million investment from Bluestone Equity Partners". Fortune. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
- ↑ "Bobby Sharma". Bluestone. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
- ↑ "Bobby Sharma '98 | Duke University School of Law". law.duke.edu. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 Armental, Maria (February 8, 2023). "WSJ News Exclusive | Former NBA Executive Bobby Sharma Launches Private-Equity Firm". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
- 1 2 "Bobby Sharma". Crain's New York Business. February 26, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ Dorbian, Iris (March 26, 2025). "Harmony Helper marks fifth add-on for Bluestone-backed RWS Global". PE Hub. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
- ↑ Levinson, Mason (January 13, 2014). "Rodman's North Korea Trips Signal Basketball Push by Leader Kim". Bloomberg. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Thirtysomething? Lee's Number Is Up". Wall Street Journal. December 14, 2010. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
- ↑ Long, Michael (December 16, 2010). "Bobby Sharma joins IMG's basketball division". SportsPro. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
- ↑ Thamel, Pete (May 8, 2013). "Wanted: 1.2 billion basketball fans". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
- 1 2 3 Moses, Lucia. "How a new $300 million private equity fund plans to invest and compete in sports media, 'the most valuable last commodity standing'". Business Insider. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
- ↑ Coffey, Brendan (February 8, 2023). "Bobby Sharma Rolls Out $300 Million Bluestone Sports Fund". Sportico.com. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
- ↑ Huston, Caitlin (February 8, 2023). "Former IMG Exec Launches Sports, Media, Entertainment Private Equity Firm". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
- ↑ "The business of sport". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
- ↑ Thomas, Lauren (July 28, 2023). "WSJ News Exclusive | Sports-Focused Private-Equity Firm to Invest in PMY Group". WSJ. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
- ↑ Hytha, Michael (November 13, 2024). "Sports League Platform Volo to Grow Via M&A With Bluestone Stake". Bloomberg. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
- ↑ Taylor, Isaac (September 17, 2023). "WSJ News Exclusive | Bluestone Equity Invests Some $20 Million in First Entertainment Deal". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved June 17, 2025.