As part of NBA All-Star Weekend, Plug In Ventures was proud to participate in the NBA All-Star Pitch Competition—an energizing showcase of high-potential founders building innovative solutions across sectors. The event brought together leading voices from business, entertainment, and technology to spotlight companies advancing meaningful impact and scalable growth.
Judges for the competition included Bozoma St. John, Issa Rae, Wil Bumpus, and Ted Oberwager, each bringing a unique lens across brand leadership, storytelling, investment, and entrepreneurship.
The companies that pitched—Hadley, Hamilton Perkins, IQ Equalizer, Generation Connect, Thimble, and Imperium Care—demonstrated strong execution, market clarity, and the potential to deliver measurable impact. Each founder walked away with investment checks ranging from $75,000 to $100,000, reinforcing a shared commitment to accelerating innovation and opportunity.
In a powerful show of support for the founders, Steve Ballmer, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, contributed on the spot a $200,000 match to the competition’s grant investment pool. Plug In Ventures also committed $50,000 in capital to support two of the finalist companies, continuing our mission to expand access to funding and strengthen pathways for high-growth entrepreneurs.
Our involvement in this year’s NBA All-Star Pitch Competition reflects Plug In Ventures’ broader national strategy to connect founders, capital, and ecosystem partners in moments that drive real momentum. We are honored to stand alongside partners and investors who believe in backing visionary builders—and we look forward to continuing this work across markets in the year ahead.
Editors at Plug In Ventures