Yao Capital

Yao Capital is a RMB 2 Billion private equity firm founded by Yao Ming and David Han. The firm focuses on growth and buy-out stage investments in China's...

Yao Capital

Yao Capital is a RMB 2 Billion private equity firm founded by Yao Ming and David Han. The firm focuses on growth and buy-out stage investments in China's sports & entertainment industry and overseas. Yao Capital has made 23 investments, including a seed investment in FansMall in November 2021, and has exited three portfolio companies, including Formula E in June 2024.

Website

yaocapital.com.cn

linkedin.com/company/yao-capital

General information

Firm type

Private Equity

Year founded

2016

Location

Region

Asia

Country

China

City

Shanghai

Corporate office

Shanghai, China

Principals

Yao Ming

Founder

David Han

CEO

Sector focus

SportsEducationMedia & Entertainment

How does Yao Capital source proprietary deal flow?

The firm's sourcing model centers on Yao Ming's personal network, built across two decades in professional basketball at the highest levels of the NBA and Chinese sports administration. This network grants access to sports franchise opportunities, media rights negotiations, and education sector deals that conventional PE firms lacking celebrity sports pedigree cannot easily replicate. Additionally, Yao's role in the Chinese Basketball Association and broader state sports apparatus provides visibility into domestic league investments and government-linked opportunities.

Does Yao Capital invest outside of sports?

Yes. While sports represents the firm's most distinctive vertical, Yao Capital also actively pursues education and entertainment investments. The education pillar has targeted vocational training platforms and children's enrichment businesses, while the entertainment vertical includes media content and consumer technology with entertainment applications. This multi-sector approach diversifies the firm beyond the cyclicality of sports asset valuations.

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