Ryan Howard, a partner at a Philadelphia-based venture capital firm SeventySix Capital, and DeMarco Murray, a SeventySix Capital investor, talked to Forbes about the potential that athletes have to influence the success of startup companies, including using their social capital.

With technological change, Howard says that "the new generation of athletes understands new opportunities." Wayne Kimmel, his partner at SeventySix Capital, agrees.

About SeventySix Capital

SeventySix Capital is a sports tech venture capital company led by Wayne Kimmel, Jon Powell and MLB superstar, Ryan Howard. The fund invests in passionate, smart and nice entrepreneurs who are launching game-changing tech startups in the sports, retail and wellness industries. SeventySix Capital was nominated as an Outstanding Investor by SportTechie.

Kimmel founded the firm in 1999 with top exits to Fortune 500 companies including Aramark, Intel, IBM, Walgreens, and Yahoo. Powell is also the CEO of Kravco Company LLC, a leading real estate company that developed over 30 million square feet of commercial space including the King of Prussia Mall. His family was an owner of the Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars, the two-time United States Football League champions. Howard, a World Series Champion and 2006 NL MVP, is known as one of the all-time great home run hitters. His investment portfolio includes professional gaming team, NRG Esports, alongside Shaquille O’Neal, Jimmy Rollins, Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez.

SeventySix Capital has a strategic partnership with Rubicon Talent, a sports marketing and talent agency based in New York City, with clients including NFL stars DeMarco Murray, Greg Olsen, and Mark Ingram, Olympians Kerri Walsh Jennings and Lolo Jones, and MLB legend Cal Ripken, Jr.