Dapper Labs announced a $305 million funding round Tuesday from another batch of National Basketball Association movie stars and a capital raising firm backing its hit that is runaway Top Shot.
Kevin Durant, Michael Jordan, the investment company Coatue and a deep workbench of 30 athletes as well as the rapper 2 Chainz have piled to the token that is non-fungibleNFT) company, the startup said. Citing a person with understanding of the specific situation, USA Today reported the money round places dapper’s valuation that is present $2.6 billion.
The mega-round comes as Dapper’s NBA Top Shot platform continues to monetize fans’ growing interest in digital collectibles. Sitting atop Dapper’s Flow blockchain, the crypto that is card-like has raked in almost $500 million in sales and seen its additional trading market eclipse $2 million in amount daily.
Whilst the buzz continues to be predicated on NBA Top Shot, Dapper Labs signaled in a news release it promises to bring yet more collectibles which can be digital Flow through “experiences” by Warner Media Group and UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), among others. More experiences are coming this, the startup said year. The company has raised $357 million to date.
The company received support from NBA legend Michael Jordan as well as current players and funds Kevin that is including Durant Andre Iguodala, Kyle Lowry, Spencer Dinwiddie, Andre Drummond, Alex Caruso, Michael Carter-Williams, Josh Hart, Udonis Haslem, JaVale McGee, Khris Middleton, Domantas Sabonis, Klay Thompson, Nikola Vucevic, Thad Young, and Richard Seymour’s 93 Ventures, also entertainment and music heavyweights including Ashton Kutcher and Guy Oseary’s Sound Ventures, Will Smith and Keisuke Honda’s Dreamers VC, Shawn Mendes and Andrew Gertler’s AG Ventures, Shay Mitchell, and 2 Chainz. Other strategics participating include a16z, The Chernin Group, USV, Version One, and Venrock.
Extra investors in the round include: [Major League Baseball] players Tim Beckham and Nolan Arenado; [National Football League] players Ken Crawley, Thomas Davis, Stefon Diggs, Dee Ford, Malcom Jenkins, Rodney McLeod, Jordan Matthew, Devin McCourty, Jason McCourty, DK Metcalf, Tyrod Taylor and Trent Williams; group ownership Vivek that is including RanadiveKings), and notable activities investors Bolt Ventures.