Updated:
Sixers Innovation Lab
Sixers Innovation Lab was founded in 2014 by Josh Harris, co-founder of Apollo Global Management and majority owner of the Philadelphia 76ers, alongside...
Sixers Innovation Lab
Sixers Innovation Lab was founded in 2014 by Josh Harris, co-founder of Apollo Global Management and majority owner of the Philadelphia 76ers, alongside David Adelman, a real estate developer and minority team owner. The firm operates as a hybrid: a family office venture arm that leverages the Sixers' brand and operational assets to source proprietary deal flow. Strategy focuses on early-stage to growth equity investments across enterprise software, fintech, digital health, AI/ML, and industrial technology. The firm deploys via direct investments and strategic partnerships, often granting portfolio companies access to the Sixers' marketing, data, and venue resources. Publicly disclosed investments include seat-scanning platform WaitTime (per Philadelphia Business Journal, 2018) and esports infrastructure firm ELEAGUE (per Variety, 2016). Geographic focus centers on North America with offices in Philadelphia, New York City, Atlanta, and Cambridge. Team size is undisclosed. The firm does not maintain a publicly listed AUM or deployment total. It operates adjacent to Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), the holding company that also owns the New Jersey Devils and other sports properties, though Sixers Innovation Lab maintains its own investment mandate. No recent major funding round or leadership change has been publicly announced in the past 24 months. Structurally, Sixers Innovation Lab is distinct: it functions as a sector-specific family office venture arm inside a professional sports franchise, blending franchise assets — analytics, fan data, venue infrastructure — into its due diligence and value-add for portfolio companies. This gives it a sourcing and execution advantage over pure financial investors in sports-adjacent technology.
General information
Firm type
Family Office
Year founded
2014
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Philadelphia
Corporate office
Philadelphia, PA, United States
Additional offices
New York City · Atlanta · Cambridge
Principals
David Adelman
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Josh Harris
Co-Founder
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Sixers Innovation Lab?
David Adelman serves as Managing Partner and leads day-to-day investment operations, per public record. Josh Harris, as co-founder, provides strategic oversight and capital backing. The firm does not publicly list a separate CIO or investment committee.
How does Sixers Innovation Lab source proprietary deal flow?
The firm leverages the Philadelphia 76ers' brand, arena infrastructure, and sports data assets to attract startups. Portfolio companies gain access to the team's marketing channels and venue testing capabilities, creating a deal-flow pipeline not available to generalist venture firms (per Philadelphia Business Journal, 2018).
Is Sixers Innovation Lab a single family office or a corporate venture capital firm?
It operates as a hybrid. The capital comes from the Harris family office, but the investment thesis is tied to the 76ers franchise — making it structurally similar to a corporate venture arm with family-office flexibility. It is not a pooled fund; deals are direct.
Does Sixers Innovation Lab participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The firm focuses exclusively on direct investments and strategic partnerships. It does not publicly report fund-of-funds or LP commitments to external managers. All known activity involves equity stakes in individual companies.
What investment stages does Sixers Innovation Lab typically target?
The firm targets early-stage to growth equity, typically Series A through Series C rounds, with a focus on technology companies where the 76ers' platform can provide a strategic edge. Later-stage growth or buyout deals have not been publicly documented.
How is Sixers Innovation Lab related to Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE)?
Both entities share founding principals — Josh Harris and David Blitzer — but Sixers Innovation Lab operates under a separate investment mandate focused on venture-stage tech, while HBSE manages sports franchises. The lab uses HBSE's properties as a strategic resource without being a formal subsidiary.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
The capital originates from Josh Harris, who co-founded Apollo Global Management in 1990. Harris's personal fortune, estimated by Forbes at several billion dollars, provides the funding. David Adelman's wealth stems from his real estate development firm, DASCO Holdings.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on family offices?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: