Manhattan Venture Partners Taps Rashaun Williams as General Partner of the MVP All-Star Fund
Manhattan Venture Partners (MVP), a research-driven, merchant-banking firm focused on the secondary market for late-stage private technology companies, announced the appointment of Rashaun Williams, a former founding partner of Queens Bridge Venture Partners (QBVP), as a general partner of the MVP All-Star Fund (All-Star)-an investment vehicle that provides investors early access to a predetermined target basket of global, late-stage, venture-backed private tech companies.
Mr. Williams joins a seasoned management team including managing partners Eric Brachfeld, Jared Carmel and Evan A. Haymes, and secondary market leaders Kevin A. Cohen, Nicholas Gupta and Bradley D. Fishman.
“Rashaun brings to All-Star a successful track record of principal investing into the next generation of leading technology companies, providing depth and experience to our management team,” said Mr. Carmel. “He also brings extensive connections to both the venture capital and the sports and entertainment influencer communities, broadening our access into these important and exclusive networks.”
Mr. Williams helped launch QBVP in 2013 with hip hop icon Nasir “Nas” Jones, counting Dropbox, Lyft, Seatgeek, Casper and General Assembly among the startups in which it invested. During his career, Mr. Williams, who is based in Los Angeles, has worked with dozens of athletes and entertainers helping them invest in tech, and has also held senior executive positions at Wall Street firms including Goldman Sachs, Wachovia Bank, and Deutsche Bank.
“What impresses me most about MVP is the depth of its independent research on private companies—insights investors can’t access anywhere else,” said Mr. Williams. “That, coupled with its proven track record of identifying, sourcing and investing in companies that see a liquidity event in the near term, is the perfect foundation to create such an innovative investment vehicle with All-Star.”
MVP currently manages three specialty pre-IPO late-stage funds in addition to the All-Star Fund. The firm’s partners and founders have previously engaged in more than $2 billion in private transactions, including primary and secondary venture investments in pre-IPO companies.
Manhattan Venture Partners (MVP) is a research-driven, merchant-banking firm focused on the secondary market for late-stage private technology companies. We provide direct and managed secondary investment opportunities, deploy capital as principals, and provide advisory services. We act as a partner and work with investors to give them the access they want, while providing shareholders the diversification they need.