James Shortill

James Shortill General Information

Description

Mr. James Shortill serves as General Partner at Strand Venture Partners. Mr. Shortill is an Angel Investor and serves as a Partner at Whiterock. He serves as Advisor at KnowWake. He served as a Director of Sports Media & Technology Investment Banking at Park Lane. With over fifteen years of experience in sports, entertainment, technology, and finance, he focuses on financing, M&A, merchant banking, venture funding, and strategic advisory for Park Lane's clients. Previously, he was President and CEO of Mercury Communications Group (MCG), an early-stage technology venture that deployed e-commerce, fundraising, event registration, mobile, and payment processing solutions for professional and amateur sports organizations, sports and entertainment events, professional athletes, and various non-profit organizations. After he spent two years at the helm improving operational metrics, expanding internationally, and completing a management buyout with the founding partners, MCG was acquired by Social Sector Ventures in 2012. Prior to MCG, he was Senior Director in the Corporate Group at William Morris Agency (now William Morris Endeavor), where he created and implemented entertainment marketing strategies for some of the largest consumer brands in the world, several professional sports leagues, and some of the most innovative companies in the digital media space. He was also a Principal in the Strategy Group of Diamond Technology Partners (acquired by PwC), creating digital initiatives for some of the largest media and entertainment conglomerates. He was also a founding member of the firm's Corporate Venture Group. He is a frequent speaker at various digital media and technology conferences. He focuses on sports, entertainment, and real estate-related opportunities around the world. Formerly, he was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of an early-stage sports and entertainment technology firm that after multiple capital financing was acquired by Social Sector Ventures. Throughout this career, he was a Principal in the Media and Entertainment Practice of PwC-Pricewaterhouse Coopers (formerly Diamond Technology Partners) and also Senior Director in the Corporate Group at William Morris Agency (now WME-Endeavor). His investment banking career started with Colliers International focused on institutional real estate transactions. He holds an MBA from Thunderbird- American Graduate School of International Management and a Bachelor of Arts with Honors from the University of Western Ontario.