Elysian Park Ventures

Elysian Park is the independent venture capital platform of the group that owns the Dodgers. Managing Partner Royce Cohen jointly leads the Dodgers’ Business Strategy and Analytics group and the club’s non-baseball revenue streams, creating a direct operational link between the team and the fund’s deal flow. The partnership allows Elysian Park companies to access the franchise’s brand, distribution, and data resources.

The firm is run by four managing partners: Cole Van Nice, Jay Adya, Nikhil Bahel, and Pete Vlastelica. Van Nice is a former entrepreneur and venture partner with a background in dual-use defense technology; Adya and Bahel each have decades of sports media and investment banking experience; Vlastelica built Activision Blizzard’s esports leagues. Special Advisor Ami Galani, formerly head of M&A at DICK'S Sporting Goods, also contributes to deal evaluation.

Generally, no. The firm’s capital is dedicated to operating companies that intersect with sports — not the teams themselves. Team ownership sits separately with the Dodgers’ parent group, which also holds stakes in Chelsea FC, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Sparks, and the Golden State Warriors.

The firm invests from $500,000 to $100 million across seed, early-stage, and growth rounds. It calls itself 'stage agnostic' and structures commitments as direct equity, convertible notes, or strategic co-investments depending on the opportunity.

Elysian Park organizes its portfolio around four 'Sports+' verticals: Culture (sports media, lifestyle brands, entertainment), Tech (performance analytics, AI/ML, immersive fan experiences, betting infrastructure), Health (physical and mental performance, longevity, human performance), and Commerce (blockchain, digital marketplaces, e-commerce and community platforms leveraging sports IP).

Sourcing relies heavily on the sports network embedded in the ownership group — club relationships, league offices, athlete agents, and alumni of the Dodgers front office and its portfolio co-investors. The firm also operates 'Robin,' an in-house strategic marketing group that provides go-to-market support for current portfolio companies, which surfaces new entrepreneurs and technical founders.

The firm does not disclose a separate philanthropic foundation. Its connection to the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) exists through shared ownership, but Elysian Park itself is a for-profit investment platform. No dedicated philanthropic vehicle is publicly listed.