Homage, a Columbus, OH-based vintage-inspired sports and licensed apparel brand, raised an undisclosed amount in equity funding. The round started with an initial investment from Ryan Reynolds’ venture firm, Maximum Effort, recently complemented by investments from Winnie Capital, former NFL pro-baller, Jason Kelce, who spent his 13-year career playing as a center for the Philadelphia Eagles, and 35Ventures, led by Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman.
Other investors in the funding round included More Better, led by Emmy-winning Rob McElhenney; Adam Hansmann, co-founder of The Athletic; Haslam Sports Group, owners of the Cleveland Browns; Columbus Crew, shared controlling owners of the Milwaukee Bucks; and Wheelhouse 360.
Led by Founder and CEO Ryan Vesler, Homage is an official license partner of the NFL, NBA, WNBA, and MLB, numerous colleges and universities, and pop culture brands. Homage said its new investor group will further strengthen its foothold in the sports, media and entertainment industries.
Homage reported in a media release that it plans to use this capital infusion to expand production capabilities, grow its operating team and strengthen its technology and marketing infrastructure. The brand also aims to scale its partnerships within the licensed product industry, where it already collaborates with the NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, and other major pop culture entities.
“We’re thrilled to have attracted this incredible group of investors,” said Vesler. “At Homage, we’ve always been focused on helping our customers’ pay homage’ to the people, places, and moments that mean the most to them. We look forward to growing the Homage brand even further by tapping into our new investors’ strong cultural networks and unique strategic assets.”
Beyond funding, the new investors in the round will contribute to Homage’s growth in other ways, from content creation to strategic advisory roles. As an example, Jason Kelce’s investment builds on a long-standing relationship with Homage that includes projects, including serving as the merchandise partners for the Kelce brothers’ “New Heights” podcast and creating collections that support Jason Kelce’s charitable efforts, including “A Philly Special Christmas Special” and “Jason Kelce Pay Homage” retirement t-shirt.
“I’ve been a fan of Homage from the start because their designs bring back so many memories—from the things I grew up doing to the teams I’ve always rooted for,” shared Kelce. “There’s a real sense of nostalgia in everything they do, and it resonates with me.”
Similarly, 35Ventures, its connections in the sports industry and Haslam Sports Group’s influence across multiple sports properties will open new doors for Homage as it continues to grow its brand visibility and engage a wider audience.
“We’re grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such dynamic individuals and companies in this exciting next chapter for Homage,” Vesler concluded. “We’re looking forward to the creativity, strategic insight, and energy they’ll bring to the brand, helping us grow in ways we couldn’t have imagined just a few years ago.”
Image courtesy Homage Apparel
