Bobby Sharma
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
Founder & Managing Partner
New York, US
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
THE MARQUE
In Their Own Right
Biography
Bobby Sharma is the Founder and Managing Partner of Bluestone Equity Partners, an institutional private equity firm focused on the global Sports, Media and Entertainment industry.
A business leader with a global track record across finance, strategy, operations, and law, Sharma has held senior leadership roles at some of the most influential organizations in sports and media. He previously served as Chairman & CEO of Blue Devil Holdings, and as a Partner at GACP Sports, where he was also Vice Chairman & CEO of Soccerex, the world’s largest organizer of international football industry conferences.
Earlier, Sharma was SVP, Global Head of Basketball & Strategic Initiatives at IMG, where he led the expansion of global sports businesses across major emerging markets, developing new professional leagues, media-rights platforms, and commercial models for basketball, soccer, and cricket.
Before IMG, he spent nearly a decade as VP & General Counsel of the NBA Development League, helping establish the NBA’s first minor league and overseeing its business, legal, and operational growth. Under his leadership, the league expanded nationwide, quadrupled franchise values, and became a key player-development pipeline for the NBA.
Sharma began his career practicing law at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP in New York City and served on the presidential campaign staff of former U.S. Senator and Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Bradley. He has served on the Boards of Directors of the USTA and USA Archery, and as Chair of the Nominating Committee for USA Table Tennis.
A frequent speaker and media contributor, Sharma has been recognized among the “25 Most Influential South Asian Executives in Media & Entertainment” and named a “Sports & Entertainment Industry Power Player” by Sports Business Journal. He is a graduate of Duke University and Duke Law School, and completed the Harvard Business School Executive Program on the Business of Entertainment, Media & Sports.
The Record
Background
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2023 — Present
Founder & Managing Partner
Bluestone Equity Partners
Bluestone Equity Partners is a leading institutionally-backed private equity firm focused on the sports, media & entertainment industry.
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2015 — 2023
Executive Chairman
Blue Devil Holdings
Blue Devil Holdings is a global sports, media & entertainment private investment company, focused on M&A and development of high-growth, globally-scalable assets.
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2019 — 2021
Chief Executive Officer
Soccerex
Soccerex has been the foremost event provider for the global football/soccer industry since 1996. It is renowned for its exceptional networking and content sharing platforms, which are held in high regard worldwide.
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2018 — 2022
Partner | GACP Sports
General American Capital Partners LLC
General American Capital Partners LLC is a global private equity firm focused on investing in and operating sports-related businesses.
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2017 — 2022
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Electronic Sports Group
Electronic Sports Group is a global independent advisory firm focused on the Esports industry. ESG provides strategic business advice and insights to leaders executives and leaders in the media, entertainment and technology sectors.
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2013 — 2018
Founding Member
NextGen Venture Partners
NextGen Venture Partners invests in seed-stage companies with the participation of their venture partners, a highly experienced team consisting of leading entrepreneurs and executives from various industries.
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2011 — 2015
Sr. Vice President | Global Head of Basketball & Strategic Initiatives
IMG
IMG is a global leader in the fields of sports, events, media and fashion marketing. It specializes in creating deep connections between sport, fans, brands and partners to help maximize their reach and achieve their goals.
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2002 — 2011
Vice Principal & General Counsel
NBA Development League
Featuring 31 teams, the NBA G League is the NBA’s official minor league. As the league’s research and development laboratory, the G League prepares, players, coaches, officials, trainers and front-office staff for the NBA.
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2001 — 2002
Securities Litigation Attorney
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Cravath has been a preeminent U.S. law firm for over two centuries. Its primary areas of practice include corporate, litigation, tax, executive compensation and benefits and trusts and estates.
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2000 — 2001
Corporate Litigation Attorney
Shartsis Friese LLP
Founded in 1975, Shartsis Friese is a client-focused law firm specializing in high-quality practice areas that serve the needs of businesses and individuals.
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1999 — 2000
Commercial Litigation Attorney
Chadbourne & Parke LLP
Chadbourne & Parke LLP (now Norton Rose Fulbright after a 2017 merger) was a global law firm with twelve offices in ten countries a specialization in project finance and energy, international insurance and corporate transactions.
In The News
Newsfeed
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13 August 2026 · Bloomberg
Fmr. NBA Executive: Lakers a ‘Special Asset’ in Sports
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7 August 2026 · Middle Market Growth
Investors Make a Winning Play in the Sports Sector
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17 July 2026 · New York Times
A Tech-Infused Pool Hall Start-Up Raises $55 Million
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17 July 2026 · citybiz
Bluestone Leads $55 Million Investment in Poolhouse to Expand Tech-Enabled Cue Sports Platform
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25 February 2026 · Sportico
Potential Wasserman Bidders Face Conflict Concerns
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25 February 2026 · Private Equity Insights
Bluestone strengthens sports portfolio with USA Archery pact before 2028 Games
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20 January 2026 · Forbes
Bluestone Invests $30 Million In Selkirk Sport As Pickleball Company Expands Ambitions
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9 September 2025 · PE Hub
Bluestone sells Magnifi owner VideoVerse to Minute Media
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26 June 2025 · Bloomberg
Bluestone-backed Sports Platform Volo Acquires Rival ZogSports
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6 June 2025 · PitchBook
The WNBA shattered viewership records this season. PE was watching.
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26 March 2025 · PE Hub
Harmony Helper marks fifth add-on for Bluestone-backed RWS Global
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13 November 2024 · Bloomberg
Sports League Platform Volo to Grow Via M&A With Bluestone Stake
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13 November 2024 · Businesswire
Bluestone Equity Partners Invests in Volo Sports, the Nation’s Largest Social & Recreational Netwo
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21 October 2024 · PE Hub
Private Equity reappraises Soccer Transfer Market after Court Ruling
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1 October 2024 · Informa Connect
How to score a winner: Investment opportunities in sports, media and entertainment
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2 July 2024 · Fortune
Leonardo DiCaprio–backed AI startup Qloo clinches $20m investment from Bluestone Equity Partners
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1 July 2024
Bluestone Equity Partners Invests in Qloo, the Leading AI Platform for Consumer Preferences
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2 May 2024 · Sports Business Journal
Bluestone Equity launches with $300M fund
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26 April 2024 · Bloomberg
Bloomberg Business of Sports: Churchill Downs CEO
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24 April 2024 · Business Insider
20 private equity companies investing in sports in 2024
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20 April 2024 · New York Times
Can the W.N.B.A. Make Money?
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28 December 2023 · Insider
Bluestone Equity is betting $45 million on a startup using AI to drive video creation
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13 December 2023 · Bloomberg
Investing in Technology for Sports and Media
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Formative Years
Education
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Duke University
Bachelor of Arts
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Duke University School of Law
Juris Doctor
Areas Of Focus