Created for athletes, by athletes.
We've been down this path before and understand what it takes to find your next play.
Our Mission Driven Team
Ryan Nece
Founder & Chairman
After seven years in the NFL (including a Super Bowl Championship with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Ryan launched his investing career as a Principal at DeBartolo Development. A few years later, he co-founded StraightCast Media, a mobile app designed to empower athletes to create their own HD content. The company was sold to FOX Sports in 2014, allowing Ryan to pursue his dream of starting Next Play Capital. Since founding Next Play Capital in 2015, Ryan has created a strong investment platform that affords non-traditional diverse communities access to venture capital and company investments. Now that Next Play Capital and Legacy Venture have joined forces, Ryan’s leadership and vision continue to play an integral role in the combined firm. Ryan built his track record from notable investments including Pure Storage, StemCentrix, and ONEHOPE wines. He’s also led funding projects for Peloton, Impossible Foods, Flexport, Hims, Bytedance, and Rubrik. In addition, Ryan has served on the Advisory Board for Docusign, Tonal, and Most Days. Ryan holds a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from UCLA. He is a member of the Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellow Program. Since its inception in 2006, he has been actively involved with The Ryan Nece Foundation, empowering teens to embrace the #PowerofGiving. He currently serves as its Chairman. Ryan enjoys cold showers, knowing what makes a perfect blueberry muffin, and spending time with his son and wife.
Ryan Nece
Founder & Chairman
After seven years in the NFL (including a Super Bowl Championship with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Ryan launched his investing career as a Principal at DeBartolo Development. A few years later, he co-founded StraightCast Media, a mobile app designed to empower athletes to create their own HD content. The company was sold to FOX Sports in 2014, allowing Ryan to pursue his dream of starting Next Play Capital. Since founding Next Play Capital in 2015, Ryan has created a strong investment platform that affords non-traditional diverse communities access to venture capital and company investments. Now that Next Play Capital and Legacy Venture have joined forces, Ryan’s leadership and vision continue to play an integral role in the combined firm. Ryan built his track record from notable investments including Pure Storage, StemCentrix, and ONEHOPE wines. He’s also led funding projects for Peloton, Impossible Foods, Flexport, Hims, Bytedance, and Rubrik. In addition, Ryan has served on the Advisory Board for Docusign, Tonal, and Most Days. Ryan holds a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from UCLA. He is a member of the Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellow Program. Since its inception in 2006, he has been actively involved with The Ryan Nece Foundation, empowering teens to embrace the #PowerofGiving. He currently serves as its Chairman. Ryan enjoys cold showers, knowing what makes a perfect blueberry muffin, and spending time with his son and wife.
Ryan Nece
Founder & Chairman
After seven years in the NFL (including a Super Bowl Championship with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Ryan launched his investing career as a Principal at DeBartolo Development. A few years later, he co-founded StraightCast Media, a mobile app designed to empower athletes to create their own HD content. The company was sold to FOX Sports in 2014, allowing Ryan to pursue his dream of starting Next Play Capital. Since founding Next Play Capital in 2015, Ryan has created a strong investment platform that affords non-traditional diverse communities access to venture capital and company investments. Now that Next Play Capital and Legacy Venture have joined forces, Ryan’s leadership and vision continue to play an integral role in the combined firm. Ryan built his track record from notable investments including Pure Storage, StemCentrix, and ONEHOPE wines. He’s also led funding projects for Peloton, Impossible Foods, Flexport, Hims, Bytedance, and Rubrik. In addition, Ryan has served on the Advisory Board for Docusign, Tonal, and Most Days. Ryan holds a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from UCLA. He is a member of the Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellow Program. Since its inception in 2006, he has been actively involved with The Ryan Nece Foundation, empowering teens to embrace the #PowerofGiving. He currently serves as its Chairman. Ryan enjoys cold showers, knowing what makes a perfect blueberry muffin, and spending time with his son and wife.
Oren Gabriel
Founder & CEO
Prior to NextPlayU Oren served as Vice President of Strategy and Operations at Lincoln Avenue Capital, one of the nation’s fastest-growing developers, investors, and operators of affordable housing. Before Lincoln Avenue Capital, Oren was Chief of Staff to the CFO of the University of California. Oren also worked in the Los Angeles and San Francisco offices of Bain & Company, where he advised clients in the biotechnology, public utility, and technology sectors on issues of business strategy and operations. Oren earned his MBA and a Certificate in Public Management from the Stanford Graduate School of Business where he was selected as an Arbuckle Leadership Fellow. He received his B.S. in Business Administration with High Honors from the U.C. Berkeley Haas School of Business. At Berkeley, Oren served as President of the Associated Students of the University of California and was a Regents Scholar. He also was a practice player on the Cal Women’s Basketball team.
Oren Gabriel
Founder & CEO
Prior to NextPlayU Oren served as Vice President of Strategy and Operations at Lincoln Avenue Capital, one of the nation’s fastest-growing developers, investors, and operators of affordable housing. Before Lincoln Avenue Capital, Oren was Chief of Staff to the CFO of the University of California. Oren also worked in the Los Angeles and San Francisco offices of Bain & Company, where he advised clients in the biotechnology, public utility, and technology sectors on issues of business strategy and operations. Oren earned his MBA and a Certificate in Public Management from the Stanford Graduate School of Business where he was selected as an Arbuckle Leadership Fellow. He received his B.S. in Business Administration with High Honors from the U.C. Berkeley Haas School of Business. At Berkeley, Oren served as President of the Associated Students of the University of California and was a Regents Scholar. He also was a practice player on the Cal Women’s Basketball team.
Oren Gabriel
Founder & CEO
Prior to NextPlayU Oren served as Vice President of Strategy and Operations at Lincoln Avenue Capital, one of the nation’s fastest-growing developers, investors, and operators of affordable housing. Before Lincoln Avenue Capital, Oren was Chief of Staff to the CFO of the University of California. Oren also worked in the Los Angeles and San Francisco offices of Bain & Company, where he advised clients in the biotechnology, public utility, and technology sectors on issues of business strategy and operations. Oren earned his MBA and a Certificate in Public Management from the Stanford Graduate School of Business where he was selected as an Arbuckle Leadership Fellow. He received his B.S. in Business Administration with High Honors from the U.C. Berkeley Haas School of Business. At Berkeley, Oren served as President of the Associated Students of the University of California and was a Regents Scholar. He also was a practice player on the Cal Women’s Basketball team.
Jason Price
Founder & COO
Jason Price is building organizations that help people become better versions of themselves while helping the world along the way. Prior to being the co-founder and chief operating officer at NextPlayU, Jason worked in Strategic Partnerships and Business Development at Salesforce, cultivating technology partnerships and driving strategic business development with key corporate relationships. Before Salesforce, Jason led finance and operations at multiple consumer and technology startups. Jason began his career at JP Morgan in New York City where he spent 5 years across sales & trading, investment banking, and equity research. Jason earned his BS from the University of Southern California, where he was a Presidential Scholar, as well as an MBA from Harvard Business School. While at Harvard he created Crossover Into Business, a business skills and mentorship program for professional athletes. Jason was also an All-American track athlete and team captain while at USC. Jason has been a volunteer and board member for many non profits, and is deeply passionate about mentorship, education, sports, and uplifting others.
Jason Price
Founder & COO
Jason Price is building organizations that help people become better versions of themselves while helping the world along the way. Prior to being the co-founder and chief operating officer at NextPlayU, Jason worked in Strategic Partnerships and Business Development at Salesforce, cultivating technology partnerships and driving strategic business development with key corporate relationships. Before Salesforce, Jason led finance and operations at multiple consumer and technology startups. Jason began his career at JP Morgan in New York City where he spent 5 years across sales & trading, investment banking, and equity research. Jason earned his BS from the University of Southern California, where he was a Presidential Scholar, as well as an MBA from Harvard Business School. While at Harvard he created Crossover Into Business, a business skills and mentorship program for professional athletes. Jason was also an All-American track athlete and team captain while at USC. Jason has been a volunteer and board member for many non profits, and is deeply passionate about mentorship, education, sports, and uplifting others.
Jason Price
Founder & COO
Jason Price is building organizations that help people become better versions of themselves while helping the world along the way. Prior to being the co-founder and chief operating officer at NextPlayU, Jason worked in Strategic Partnerships and Business Development at Salesforce, cultivating technology partnerships and driving strategic business development with key corporate relationships. Before Salesforce, Jason led finance and operations at multiple consumer and technology startups. Jason began his career at JP Morgan in New York City where he spent 5 years across sales & trading, investment banking, and equity research. Jason earned his BS from the University of Southern California, where he was a Presidential Scholar, as well as an MBA from Harvard Business School. While at Harvard he created Crossover Into Business, a business skills and mentorship program for professional athletes. Jason was also an All-American track athlete and team captain while at USC. Jason has been a volunteer and board member for many non profits, and is deeply passionate about mentorship, education, sports, and uplifting others.
Our Values
TRUST
Success is dependent on trusted relationships with athletes, our partners, our investors, and our team. We honor our commitments with consistent, high quality work, and win together.
PERSEVERANCE
Achieving our vision and mission is a challenge we embrace. We always follow through and deliver.
INCLUSION
We appreciate and actively incorporate diversity of thought and backgrounds in our decision making. We foster a culture of authenticity, celebrating and embracing the athlete mindset. We are empowering a diverse workforce and world.
WIN-WIN-WIN
We view our university and corporate partners as part of our team. When our athletes succeed, our corporate partners succeed, and we succeed.
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
We are building a professional community of former elite athletes to create financial opportunity and collective progress in environments where talent has traditionally been overlooked.
Join our team
Become the best you can be in your next adventure
Hire the best
Get access to highly motivated talent and scale your team