Company Info for immortals.gg | IcebreakerMembers
Dr. Doug Gardner is a nationally recognized leader in performance psychology and leadership optimization with over two decades of experience working at the intersection of elite sport, corporate leadership, and emerging performance domains like esports. His unique career spans high-impact roles with the NFL Players Association, Boston Red Sox, the largest professional services firm in the world, and multiple championship-level esports teams, making him one of the most versatile and sought-after consultants in the field of human performance.
As Coordinator of Mental Training Services for the NFLPA, Dr. Gardner was a frontline resource for current and transitioning NFL players, providing real-time developmental support, crisis intervention, and league-wide mental training and mentorship programs. Earlier, he served as Sport Psychology Consultant to the Boston Red Sox, where he developed and integrated the organization’s first minor league mental training curriculum—contributing to the development of over 50 MLB players.
In the corporate space, Dr. Gardner is an Executive Optimization Consultant through R3 Continuum, where he delivers culturally relevant, data-informed leadership and performance strategies to firm Partners, Principals, Managing Directors, and senior leaders across global business units. His work helps bridge generational and cultural divides, ensuring executive readiness, succession, and sustainable business growth.
A pioneer in the performance psychology of professional esports, Dr. Gardner has held leadership roles with organizations such as Immortals, Sentinels, Evil Geniuses, and 100 Thieves, helping teams win North American and international championships. He is recognized for building performance infrastructures that integrate cognitive and physical training, leadership development, and player health and wellness in high-pressure, rapidly evolving environments.
Dr. Gardner holds a Doctorate in Developmental Psychology and Counseling from Boston University. He is CMPC Emeritus through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology and remains a published researcher, keynote speaker, and faculty mentor. His work is defined by a rare ability to translate elite sports psychology principles into effective leadership and team development across disciplines and industries. 
Managing Partner Family Office. General Partner & Managing Director & Co-Founder UTA.VC. https://www.uta.vc/. GP at United Talent Agency Ventures https://www.unitedtalent.com/ventures/. Lead investments, fundraising, fund management, portfolio construction.
WHERE CULTURE MEETS TECHNOLOGY -- At UTA.VC we're partnering with visionary founders to build the next culture-defining companies at the intersection of the Creator Economy, Web3, AI, and the Future of Entertainment.
Investor & Senior Advisor in consumer, tech, and games industry at Warburg Pincus, https://warburgpincus.com/. Interested in connecting with top teams and companies for growth investment, series B and up, $50 million - $150 million+ investments.
Former Managing Director, General Partner, & Venture Partner at Crosscut Ventures. crosscut.vc, an early stage venture capital firm that helps passionate entrepreneurs build great companies.
Former COO & General Counsel, head of corporate development, business development, online & mobile at SQUARE ENIX.
Deep experience leading, advising, and investing in international technology, consumer, entertainment, and video game companies.
Specialties and Interests: New platforms, video game and media development, publishing, merchandising, licensing, digital distribution, social, mobile, PC, augmented reality, virtual reality, esports, virtual items, blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and Artificial Intelligence.
Corporate board director for public and private companies, Corporate and business development transactions, Strategy, partnerships, M&A, venture capital financing, international joint ventures, content and technology licensing, Internet advertising and marketing, corporate governance, employment matters, crisis management, dispute resolution, strategy, Japan, China, Asia.
Investor in PlayVS, Immortals / IGC.gg, Super Evil MegaCorp, StreamLabs sold to Logitech, MobCrush, Little Labs, Boom.tv, Arsenic.tv, Blitz Esports sold to Discord, FitOn, Fabletics, TechStyle, JustFab, Winc/ClubW, DataScience, HelloTech, GumGum, Inspire Energy, Ipsy, DocStoc, Lettuce, Local ID, Narvar, SHIFT, Soma, Starmaker, TheBlackTux, Verve, Omaze, Branch, Buzzfeed, and more... 
Digital Marketing, Content Development, Ecommerce, Event Strategy and Execution, Event D2C Development, Brand Marketing, Lead Generation, Planning & Budgeting, Advertising, Analytics, Product Marketing, Data Management, Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Reforge member: completed Advanced Growth Strategy, Retention + Engagement, Monetization + Pricing 
I am the Founder & General Partner of Mission One Capital, an early-stage VC firm investing in Energy Independence & Industrial Resilience.
🚀 Our Fund Focus:
✅ Investing in early-stage startups at the intersection of energy (distributed systems, nuclear, geothermal, critical minerals), industrial resilience (advanced manufacturing, supply chain, logistics), and future industries (robotics, space, automation).
✅ Backing founders tackling trillion-dollar markets with scalable, high-impact solutions.
✅ Active in the US and EU, leveraging a global network for growth.
Before founding M1C, I built the venture arm for Grammy-winning rock band Linkin Park, leading investments in Lyft, Robinhood, Snap, Impossible Foods, and many more. Before that, I worked in JPMorgan Investment Banking (M&A) across New York, London, and Johannesburg.
I hold a degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania/Wharton, I studied at Harvard Business School and University College London (UCL), and attended high school in Paris, France at the American School of Paris. I have also served as a TEDx Speaker, MIT & Techstars Mentor, and an Advisory Board Member for the City of NY & Miami Tech Initiatives.
🏃 Hybrid Endurance Athlete & Peak Performance Advocate:
Beyond investing, I apply the same discipline and long-term vision from endurance sports to venture capital. Whether in Ironman training, ultramarathons, or business-building, I thrive at the intersection of high performance, resilience, and pushing limits.
DM me if you're building or investing. 
