The People Behind the Playbook.
One team, one playbook. Operators, investors, and advisors moving in lockstep across finance, sports, entertainment, and technology — united by a shared conviction that the best outcomes are built together.
Robert Mackey III
Robert Mackey is a sports & entertainment financial professional based in Charlotte, NC, focused on providing a roadmap for businesses to attain growth within the industry. He earned the prestigious Sports & Entertainment Associate Director designation through Morgan Stanley's Global Sports & Entertainment (GSE) division, serving the unique needs of professional athletes and entertainers. Prior to Morgan Stanley, Robert worked for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. A graduate of Winston-Salem State University with a B.B.A., Robert was a Street & Smith's Black College Football All-American linebacker who went on to sign a professional contract with the Houston Texans. In 2019 he joined the NFL Player Engagement's Leadership and Advocacy group to bridge access and opportunity to underrepresented communities. He currently serves on four boards including the African-American Community Foundation, Bethea Family Foundation, United Way of York County, and the Anne Springs Close Greenway. In 2011 Robert founded the Lydia Smith Foundation in his mother's namesake to support families affected by sickle cell disease and introduce inner-city youth to careers in healthcare. He is currently developing a community center anchored by affordable and mixed-income housing in his childhood neighborhood of Fort Mill, SC. Robert lives in Lake Wylie with his wife Stephanie and daughter Sophia. Licenses: Series 7, Series 66.
Albert Sye
Founder of Mean Circle Ventures, a firm that uses strategic partnerships with athletes and entertainers to add value in the Pre-IPO tech and consumer packaged goods space. Albert brings a 15-year career in the beverage industry across brands including CRUNK!!! Energy Drink, Muscle Milk, Atlantico Rum, Zing Vodka, and Conjure Cognac (sold to Camus Cognac in 2016). As a brand consultant and later Regional Sales Manager for Core Nutrition (sold to Keurig Dr Pepper for $525MM), and architect of the Shaquille O'Neal / FORTO Coffee and Venus Williams / Happy Viking deals with DYLA Brands, Albert sits at the intersection of culture and capital. He is a Venture Partner at Value Investment Group and Intersect VC, with investments including Lyft, Lime, Rent the Runway, AirBnB, Triller, Lemon Perfect, Beam, Mustard, Angel City, and ZenWTR.
Chika Umeadi
Chika Umeadi is the Chief Investment Officer at Paradise Equity Partners, where he leads a modern investment thesis centered on the convergence of technology, sports, and entertainment. A product-builder turned institutional investor, Chika brings a rare "operational DNA" to the world of private equity, prioritizing sustainable platforms and stakeholder experiences over isolated asset optimization. With over a decade of experience at the intersection of global innovation and capital, Chika's career has been defined by a singular principle: leveraging technology to deepen human connection. Prior to joining Paradise, he served as a Product Manager at Google, where he spearheaded the integration of Generative AI and experimentation frameworks within the App Campaigns team. His deep technical roots are further anchored by his 11-year tenure as Chief Product Officer at ParallelScore, where he directed the strategy and execution of scalable AI and data science solutions across finance, healthcare, and real estate. Chika's influence extends deeply into the venture and emerging market ecosystems. As a Partner at tiphub capital, he spent 12 years championing the African technology landscape, launching the first-ever African Diaspora Accelerator and building a robust network for cross-continental investment. He continues to shape the future of innovation as a Founding Member of Illini Angels, advising and backing high-impact ventures emerging from the University of Illinois ecosystem. Beyond the balance sheet, Chika is a dedicated advocate for cultural production and community architecture. He currently serves as a film producer for the documentary Last Weekend in October, exploring the Nigerian fashion ecosystem, and recently concluded a nine-year tenure as Chairman of the Board for The Gray Matter Experience, a non-profit empowering Black youth through entrepreneurship. Chika holds an MBA in Information Technology from the American University - Kogod School of Business and completed specialized training in Data Science at General Assembly. He is a strategist who views culture as the ultimate interface, seeking to partner with founders and management teams poised to architect the next generation of global media and technology.
A strategic network across finance, sports, entertainment, and technology.
PEP is supported by senior executives and operators whose careers have shaped the arenas we invest in. Our advisors provide deal flow, sector intelligence, and championship-level guidance across every investment.
Hugh McColl Jr.
Co-Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Falfurrias Capital Partners. As Chairman and CEO of Bank of America, Mr. McColl grew the institution more than fifty-fold — from $12 billion in assets in 1983 to over $642 billion at his retirement in 2001 — while integrating more than fifty acquisitions and delivering an average 17% annual total shareholder return. Following Bank of America, he founded McColl Partners (middle-market investment bank), McColl Brothers Lockwood (advisory), McColl Garella (investment banking for women-owned firms), and MME (a New York gallery). He has served on the boards of Bank of America, General Parts, Faison Enterprises, Ruddick Corporation, Sonoco Products, Cousins Properties, CSX Corp., and Jefferson Pilot, and served as a United States Marine Corps officer.
Dr. Gloria Chance
Dr. Gloria is an author, humanist psychologist, and multi-industry C-Suite executive with over 20 years of experience as an intrapreneur and innovator across banking, healthcare, payments, technology, gas utilities, and insurance. She served as EVP/CIO at Wachovia/Wells Fargo for nine years and has been recognized among the Most Powerful Women in Banking. She earned a Ph.D. in Psychology focused on Creativity and Organizational Systems and founded The Mousai Group to help leaders and organizations expand creative thinking and imagination. She is co-author of The Female Factor, The Professional Woman, and IMAGINE: A Reflective Journey for Humanity, and serves on the Board of Trustees at Saybrook University.
Takeo Spikes
Former NFL linebacker drafted in the first round by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1998. A two-time All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowl selection, Takeo is one of only seven linebackers in league history with more than 200 starts, playing for the Bengals, Bills, Eagles, 49ers, and Chargers. He was named team captain in 13 of his 15 NFL seasons. A Sporting News first-team All-American at Auburn, he earned his M.B.A. from the University of Miami in 2016 and authored Behind the Mask, a collection of stories and photographs of the NFL's greatest linebackers. A Ford Motor Company Foundation "Men of Courage" Ambassador, he focuses on juvenile justice reform and anti-trafficking work, and is a member of the Alabama and Georgia Sports Halls of Fame.