The sports event planning industry in Benelux thrives on organizing sports competitions, festivals, and exhibitions. Companies range from large corporate travel agencies that handle logistics, to boutique firms offering bespoke event management services. The sector benefits from advancements in technology, enhancing experiences for fans and participants alike. Predictions indicate a growing trend towards hybrid events, combining live and virtual components. Sustainability also gains traction as organizers aim to minimize environmental impacts. With sports digitalization on the rise, innovative platforms are emerging to transform how events are marketed and executed, paving the way for more immersive experiences.


Investors in the Benelux sports event planning sector represent various types including venture capital, private equity, and corporate entities. Headquarters span Amsterdam to Charleroi, showcasing the region's vibrant investment landscape. Investor sizes range from small teams to large institutions, indicating a variety of capital sources. Established between 2005 and 2021, these firms display a proactive approach, with some, like CVC Capital Partners, engaging in 2024 investments across multiple sports entities. This mixture of investor types and strategies contributes to a dynamic scene where innovation and growth continue to flourish.


Top 14 Sports Event Planning Investors in Benelux


1. Cvc

  • Website: cvc.com
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Luxembourg
  • Founded year: 2005
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 16
  • LinkedIn: cvc-capital-partners

CVC Capital Partners is a leading private equity firm founded in 2005, based in Luxembourg, managing approximately €193 billion in assets for over 1000 clients, including pension funds and institutional investors. The firm specializes in private equity, credit, secondaries, and infrastructure, focusing on delivering sustainable value and growth through strategic investments. Notably, CVC has made significant investments in the sports sector, including the acquisition of Dorna Sports, which oversees MotoGP, and substantial funding rounds for prominent rugby leagues such as Six Nations Rugby and Premiership Rugby. Additionally, their investment in Liga de Futbol Profesional, which oversees professional football in Spain, further underscores their commitment to the sports industry. These transactions reflect CVC's strategic approach to investing in sports, making them a key player in the sports event planning landscape.


2. Peak

  • Website: peak.capital
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2008
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 8
  • LinkedIn: peak-capital

Peak Capital is a venture capital firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2008. They specialize in investing in early-stage companies within the SaaS, marketplace, and platform sectors, providing funding and support to help these businesses scale. Notably, Peak Capital has invested in Heja, a youth sports management social platform, which raised $4.2 million in a seed round led by them. This investment highlights their engagement in the sports sector, particularly in platforms that enhance sports management and community interaction. Additionally, they have participated in various other funding rounds, focusing on innovative founders and companies, primarily in Europe.


3. BCD Travel

  • Website: bcdtravel.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2006
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • LinkedIn: bcd-travel

BCD Travel is a corporate travel management company founded in 2006, headquartered in Utrecht, Netherlands. With over 10,000 employees, BCD Travel specializes in providing comprehensive corporate travel solutions, including travel management, meeting and event planning, and travel consulting. The company has made several strategic acquisitions to enhance its service offerings and market presence. Notably, BCD Travel acquired Ticket Biz, a corporate travel management company in Sweden and Norway, which strengthens its capabilities in managing corporate events. Additionally, the acquisition of Ventura Spa's business travel and meetings & events activities in Italy led to the establishment of BCD Travel Italy, further emphasizing their commitment to event planning. These transactions highlight BCD Travel's focus on expanding its event planning services, making it a relevant player in the sports event planning industry.


4. Euro Media Group


Euro Media Group (EMG) is a corporate investor based in Charleroi, Wallonia, Belgium, founded in 1982. With a workforce of 1001-5000 employees, EMG specializes in media production, particularly in broadcasting and digital media services. The company provides comprehensive solutions for live events, including outside broadcasting, post-production, and digital streaming. EMG's clients include sports federations and television channels, who rely on them for high-quality media production and innovative technology. Notably, EMG has made strategic acquisitions to bolster its position in the sports sector, including the acquisition of Netco Sports in 2015, which specializes in sport second screen solutions, and EBD in 2017, a major player in graphic enhancement and statistics in sports. These acquisitions enhance EMG's capabilities in delivering specialized services for sports events, further solidifying their role in the sports event planning industry.


5. LeanSquare

  • Website: leansquare.be
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Belgium
  • Founded year: 2014
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: leansquare

LeanSquare is a venture capital investment fund based in Belgium, founded in 2014. The firm specializes in supporting innovative projects across various sectors, including Cultural and Creative Industries, Enterprise Software, and Life Sciences. LeanSquare provides financial investment, expertise, and networking opportunities to startups that are at a mature stage and seeking growth. In recent transactions, LeanSquare has shown a notable interest in the sports tech industry, having invested in Raw Stadia, a company focused on expanding into the US NFL market, and CityLegends, which received funding to enhance its marketing and user base in the sports sector. These investments reflect LeanSquare's commitment to fostering innovation within the sports domain, alongside its broader investment strategy.


6. Maor Investments


Maor Investments is a venture capital firm based in Luxembourg, founded in 2017, that specializes in investing in revenue-generating Israeli technology companies. They provide advisory services and facilitate connections between startups and European corporates, bridging the gap between Israeli innovation and European markets. Notably, Maor Investments has participated in significant funding rounds for companies like WSC Sports, which raised $23M to expand its growth in sports, and Bizzabo, which raised $27M to enhance event experiences. These transactions highlight their engagement in the sports sector, particularly in technology and event management, making them a relevant player in the sports event planning landscape.


7. Waterland Private Equity


Waterland Private Equity Investments B.V. is a private equity firm based in Bussum, North Holland, Netherlands, founded in 1999. The firm specializes in growth equity investments and partners with ambitious entrepreneurs and management teams to support their growth strategies through strategic planning and operational assistance. Waterland operates across Europe and focuses on various sectors, including healthcare and sustainability. Notably, Waterland has made significant investments in the sports sector, including the acquisition of GolfRange, a German golf court operator, aimed at enhancing its growth in the German golf market. This transaction highlights Waterland's interest in the sports industry, particularly in areas related to sports event planning. Additionally, their involvement in the fitness and health sector through the acquisition of the FIT/One Group further emphasizes their engagement in activities that intersect with sports and wellness, which are relevant to sports event planning.


8. Endemol Shine Group

  • Website: banijay.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2015
  • Headcount: 5001-10000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 2
  • LinkedIn: endemolshine

Endemol Shine Group, a subsidiary of Banijay Entertainment S.A., is a prominent television production and distribution company based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Founded in 2015, the group operates over 130 production labels and boasts a vast catalogue of more than 200,000 hours of programming. In recent years, Endemol Shine Group has expanded its portfolio through strategic acquisitions, including the notable acquisition of Balich Wonder Studio in June 2023, a leading Italian live-event company. This acquisition, valued at approximately $2.2 billion, signifies Endemol Shine's commitment to diversifying its offerings beyond traditional television content into the live event sector. Additionally, their previous acquisitions, such as Brainpool TV GmbH and DMLS TV, further illustrate their strategy to enhance their entertainment capabilities, although these are more focused on television production. Overall, while primarily an entertainment company, their recent ventures into live events position them as a potential investor in the sports event planning industry.


9. Stake Capital Group

  • Website: stake.capital
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Luxembourg
  • Founded year: 2021
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 12
  • LinkedIn: stake-capital

Stake Capital Group is a venture capital firm based in Luxembourg, founded in 2021. The firm specializes in blockchain and DeFi technologies, providing asset management and investment advisory services to businesses in the technology and finance sectors. Notably, Stake Capital has been involved in several transactions that connect with the sports industry. For instance, they participated in a $4.5 million seed round for Eterlast, a company dedicated to launching Web3 games for sports fans, showcasing their commitment to innovative sports-related projects. Additionally, they invested in MetaFight, which raised over $1 million in a seed round, further emphasizing their interest in ventures that blend technology with sports entertainment.


10. Graduate Entrepreneur Fund


The Graduate Entrepreneur Fund is a venture capital firm based in the Netherlands, founded in 2021. It specializes in providing funding and support to early-stage startups founded by alumni of the universities of Delft and Rotterdam. The firm typically invests between €75K to €2M, offering tailored support, coaching, and networking opportunities to help entrepreneurs navigate their challenges. Notably, the fund has been involved in several transactions, including Gymstory, which raised funds in February 2022 and is related to fitness, indicating a connection to the sports industry. Other investments include BASH, D-Drops World, and Stippl, all of which are in the pre-seed stage, showcasing the fund's commitment to nurturing innovative startups that may intersect with sports event planning and related activities.


11. LUMO Labs

  • Website: lumolabs.io
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Eindhoven, North Brabant, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2016
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 5
  • LinkedIn: lumo-labs

LUMO Labs is a venture capital firm based in Eindhoven, North Brabant, Netherlands, founded in 2016. The firm specializes in impact-driven investments in emerging technologies, providing funding and tailored support programs to early-stage startups that address social and environmental challenges. Their focus is primarily on fostering innovation in the technology sector, particularly in areas such as AI and Blockchain. Notably, LUMO Labs has participated in several transactions, including a significant investment in CityLegends, which received close to €1 million in seed funding to enhance its marketing efforts and expand its user base in the sports domain. This involvement highlights LUMO Labs' interest in the sports sector, making them a relevant player in the sports event planning landscape.


12. Exor N.V.

  • Website: exor.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2009
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 26
  • LinkedIn: exor_2

Exor N.V. is a holding company based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2009. It operates across various sectors including automotive, healthcare, and media, and manages a diverse portfolio of companies such as Ferrari, Stellantis, and Philips. Exor focuses on enhancing value through strategic investments and operational support. Notably, Exor has made significant investments in the sports sector, including a recent funding of €200 million for Juventus Football Club S.p.A., which highlights its commitment to the sports industry. Additionally, Exor has participated in various funding rounds for companies like DICE and Fiit, although these are less directly related to sports event planning. Overall, Exor's involvement with Juventus positions it as a relevant investor in the sports event planning context.


13. Lrm

  • Website: lrm.be
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Hasselt, Flanders, Belgium
  • Founded year: 1994
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 1
  • LinkedIn: lrmnv

LRM is an investment company founded in 1994, based in Hasselt, Flanders, Belgium, that focuses on sustainable economic growth in the Limburg region. It provides financing and expertise to startups, scale-ups, and mature companies, facilitating their development and innovation. LRM is also involved in real estate development and the reconversion of old mining sites, contributing to the region's economic ecosystem. Notably, LRM has invested in Raw Stadia, a sports tech company that raised $1.63M to expand into the US NFL market, showcasing their interest in the sports sector. Additionally, they participated in the funding of Small Teaser, which aims to invest in R&D and marketing for launching in the US, although this is less directly related to sports event planning. Overall, LRM's activities indicate a willingness to engage with the sports industry, particularly through technology and innovation.


14. EVS Broadcast Equipment

  • Website: evs.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Seraing, Wallonia, Belgium
  • Founded year: 1994
  • Headcount: 501-1000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 2
  • LinkedIn: evs-broadcast-equipment

EVS Broadcast Equipment SA, founded in 1994 and based in Seraing, Wallonia, Belgium, is a corporate investor specializing in broadcast equipment and live video production solutions. The company offers a range of products, including live production servers and asset management systems, primarily serving television networks and production companies. Their technology facilitates efficient live video production and content management, addressing the industry's shift towards digital media. In 2020, EVS made a significant acquisition by purchasing Axon Digital for EUR 10.5 million, which enhances their product offerings and global presence in the live production infrastructure market. This acquisition is particularly relevant to sports event planning, as it allows EVS to provide advanced solutions for live sports broadcasting. Additionally, their recent investment in Tinkerlist, a company that likely contributes to production workflows, further aligns with their focus on improving live event production capabilities.



Sports Event Planning Insights: Key Investors in Benelux


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
CvcLuxembourg1001-5000200516
PeakAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands11-5020088
BCD TravelUtrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands10001+20060
Euro Media GroupCharleroi, Wallonia, Belgium1001-500019820
LeanSquareBelgium1-1020143
Maor InvestmentsLuxembourg11-5020173
Waterland Private EquityBussum, North Holland, Netherlands201-50019997
Endemol Shine GroupAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands5001-1000020152
Stake Capital GroupLuxembourg11-50202112
Graduate Entrepreneur FundNetherlands11-5020219
LUMO LabsEindhoven, North Brabant, Netherlands11-5020165
Exor N.V.Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands11-50200926
LrmHasselt, Flanders, Belgium51-20019941
EVS Broadcast EquipmentSeraing, Wallonia, Belgium501-100019942


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