The sports tourism industry in Benelux thrives on the intersection of travel and sporting events, attracting millions of visitors each year. This vibrant sector includes companies ranging from event organizers to hospitality providers and travel agencies, all catering to sports enthusiasts and tourists eager to attend high-profile events such as football matches, cycling races, and marathons. As cities invest in infrastructure and host major sports competitions, the future points toward growth driven by technological advancements and increased customer engagement. Notably, the surge in popularity of sports tourism destinations reflects a global trend as sports fans prioritize unique experiences.


The investors featured in this list are a mix of private equity firms and venture capitalists, primarily located in Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Founded between 1991 and 2017, these firms range in size from small teams to large operations with hundreds of employees. In 2024, they collectively executed various deals, demonstrating a strategic focus on the sports tourism sector. Their diverse investments showcase a commitment to supporting companies that enhance sports travel experiences, underpinning unique opportunities in this growing market.


Top 15 Sports Tourism 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 prominent private equity firm based in Luxembourg, founded in 2005. The firm specializes in private equity, credit, secondaries, and infrastructure, managing approximately €193 billion in assets for over 1000 clients, including pension funds and institutional investors. CVC has a diverse portfolio, but its involvement in the sports sector is particularly noteworthy. They acquired Shearings Holidays Ltd, which is related to travel and tourism, and have made significant investments in sports organizations such as Dorna Sports, which oversees the MotoGP, and Six Nations Rugby, a major rugby tournament. Additionally, CVC's investment in Premiership Rugby further emphasizes their commitment to the sports industry, which is integral to sports tourism. These transactions highlight CVC's strategy of delivering sustainable value and growth through strategic investments in sectors that intersect with tourism and sports.


2. HOWZAT Partners

  • Website: howzatpartners.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Luxembourg
  • Founded year: 2006
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 2
  • LinkedIn: howzat-media

HOWZAT Partners is a venture capital investment fund based in Luxembourg, founded in 2006. The firm specializes in investing in digital businesses and provides funding and strategic advisory services to early-stage companies. Their clientele primarily consists of entrepreneurs and startups seeking investment and guidance. Notably, HOWZAT Partners has been involved in several transactions relevant to the tourism sector, including investments in itravel, which raised significant funding in multiple rounds (Series A and B) aimed at enhancing travel services. Additionally, they participated in the funding of Travelcircus, a company that focuses on travel experiences, which aligns with the interests of sports tourism. Furthermore, their investment in GlampingHub, a platform that caters to unique travel experiences, further emphasizes their engagement in the tourism industry.


3. Triton Partners


Triton Partners is a private equity investment firm based in Luxembourg, founded in 1997. The firm specializes in private equity and credit investments in European mid-market businesses, focusing on sectors such as Business Services, Industrial Tech, and Healthcare. Recently, Triton has expanded its portfolio to include significant investments in the tourism sector, notably through the acquisition of Sunweb Group, a leading European online tour operator with a turnover exceeding EUR 600 million and serving approximately 1 million customers annually. Additionally, Triton is set to acquire the tour operating activities of Corendon Holiday Group, which reported a turnover of EUR 515 million in 2018 and serves over 750,000 customers annually in the Netherlands and Belgium. These transactions highlight Triton's commitment to the tourism industry, which includes sports tourism as a vital component.


4. Mangrove Capital Partners


Mangrove Capital Partners is a venture capital firm based in Luxembourg, founded in 2000. They specialize in early-stage investments in innovative technology companies, providing financial support and strategic guidance to entrepreneurs. Their focus is primarily on sectors like digital health and education tech, but they also have notable investments in the travel sector. For instance, they participated in a $30M Series C funding round for Exoticca, a tour operator that aims to enhance travelers' experiences through technology and automation. This investment highlights their engagement in the tourism industry, which can encompass sports tourism, especially as travel experiences often include sports-related activities.


5. 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 that can contribute to sports tourism. Additionally, their involvement in the fitness and health sector through the acquisition of LifeFit Group, which includes the FIT/One Group, further demonstrates their engagement in activities that can intersect with sports tourism.


6. Inkef

  • Website: inkef.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2010
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 4
  • LinkedIn: inkef-netherlands-manager

Inkef is a venture capital firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2010. The firm specializes in early-stage investments primarily in the healthcare and technology sectors, focusing on mission-driven entrepreneurs. However, Inkef has also ventured into the travel industry, making notable investments in companies like Withlocals, a global marketplace for personalized travel experiences, which raised $9 million in Series B funding in 2019 and $4.1 million in Series A funding in 2017. Another significant investment was in Polarsteps, a travel startup that raised €3 million in Series A funding in 2019, aimed at product development and team expansion. These transactions highlight Inkef's engagement in the travel sector, which is relevant to sports tourism.


7. Verlinvest

  • Website: verlinvest.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
  • Founded year: 1995
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 5
  • LinkedIn: verlinvest

Verlinvest is a venture capital investment firm based in Brussels, Belgium, founded in 1995. The firm specializes in high-growth consumer brands across various sectors, including food, beverage, health, and technology. Verlinvest provides long-term capital and strategic advisory services to help brands scale and innovate, with a strong emphasis on consumer needs and sustainable practices. Among their notable transactions, Verlinvest acquired a significant stake in The Climbing Hangar, the leading UK bouldering gym operator, in October 2024, which highlights their interest in the sports and fitness sector. This investment aligns with the growing trend of sports tourism, as climbing gyms attract both local and visiting enthusiasts. Other investments include Sula Vineyards, NUMA Group, The Iconic, and Pedego Electric Bikes, showcasing their diverse portfolio but with a notable focus on consumer engagement and lifestyle brands.


8. 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 is a key player in sports tourism, drawing fans from around the world to its matches. Additionally, Exor has invested in BizAway, a company that could potentially facilitate travel for sports events, further linking its portfolio to the sports tourism industry. These transactions highlight Exor's engagement in the sports sector, particularly in areas that intersect with tourism.


9. PPF Group

  • Website: ppfgroup.nl
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 1991
  • Headcount: 501-1000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 1
  • LinkedIn:

PPF Group is a diversified private equity firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1991. The company operates across multiple sectors, including telecommunications, media, financial services, and biotechnology. Notably, PPF Group has made significant investments in the travel and tourism sector, particularly through its involvement with Culture Trip, a London-based travel site that has raised substantial funding to monetize travel services and experiences. PPF Group led a Series B funding round for Culture Trip, contributing to a total of around $103 million raised by the company. Additionally, PPF Group has backed Flash Pack, a company specializing in boutique trips for solo travelers, indicating its engagement in the travel industry. These transactions highlight PPF Group's commitment to innovative solutions in the travel sector, which can intersect with sports tourism.


10. Accurafy4

  • Website: accurafy4.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Luxembourg
  • Founded year: 2018
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • LinkedIn: accurafy4

Accurafy4 is a venture capital fund based in Luxembourg, founded in 2018, that specializes in investing in early-stage technology companies across Europe. The fund emphasizes sustainable investments and provides tailored support to startups, helping them grow and achieve their business objectives. Notably, Accurafy4 has invested in Sportihome, a startup that raised 2 million euros to expand its offerings of accommodations for sports tourism, aiming to increase its available listings significantly and enhance its reservation platform. This investment highlights Accurafy4's commitment to supporting innovative companies that cater to the sports tourism market. Additionally, Accurafy4 has participated in funding rounds for other startups, such as Fanprime and Santexpat.fr, although these are less directly related to sports tourism.


11. Airbridge Equity Partners

  • Website: airbridge.nl
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2017
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: airbridge-equity-partners

Airbridge Equity Partners is a venture capital investment firm based in Amsterdam, specializing in providing funding to scalable technology companies across Europe. Founded in 2017, the firm aims to support entrepreneurs by offering not only financial investment but also active involvement to accelerate business growth. In 2019, Airbridge invested in Travelcircus, a platform that connects travelers with various travel experiences, which may include sports tourism activities. More recently, in December 2023, they provided €2M in growth funding to Campercontact, a Dutch-based motorhome information provider, to support its European expansion. This investment aligns with the travel sector, particularly appealing to sports tourists who often utilize motorhomes for accommodation during events. Overall, Airbridge's focus on technology and travel-related companies positions them as a relevant player in the sports tourism investment landscape.


12. 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. In 2021, Peak Capital led a seed round for Heja, a youth sports management social platform, raising $4.2 million to support team growth and product development. This investment highlights their engagement in the sports sector. Additionally, they have participated in various funding rounds for other companies, although these are not directly related to sports tourism. Their focus on innovative founders and early-stage companies positions them as a potential investor in the sports tourism industry.


13. 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, offering comprehensive solutions for live events, including outside broadcasting, post-production, and digital streaming. They cater to a diverse clientele, including sports federations and television channels, ensuring high-quality media production and innovative technology. Notably, EMG has made strategic acquisitions to bolster its presence in the sports sector, such as the acquisition of Netco Sports in September 2015, which specializes in sport second screen solutions, and EBD in May 2017, a key player in graphic enhancement and statistics for sports in Italy. These transactions highlight EMG's commitment to enhancing the sports viewing experience, making them a relevant player in the sports tourism industry.


14. 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 the 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 2023, LeanSquare participated in significant transactions within the sports sector, including a seed funding round for CityLegends, which aims to broaden its marketing efforts in the sports domain, and an investment in Raw Stadia, a sports tech company focused on the NFL market. These transactions highlight LeanSquare's commitment to fostering innovation in the sports industry, particularly in areas that could enhance sports tourism.


15. Endeit Capital


Endeit Capital is a venture capital firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2006. The firm specializes in growth capital investments for European tech scale-ups, focusing on sectors such as AI, fintech, and climate tech. Endeit Capital provides strategic support and portfolio management to entrepreneurs, helping innovative companies grow through expertise and resources. Notably, Endeit Capital has invested in TourRadar, which raised $50 million in a Series C round in June 2018 and $10 million in a Series B round in October 2017. TourRadar is a platform that allows users to book tours, including those related to sports events, making it relevant to the sports tourism industry. Additionally, Endeit Capital has invested in Paylogic, a ticketing platform, which could also intersect with sports tourism by facilitating ticket sales for sports events.



Sports Tourism Insights: Key Investors in Benelux


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
CvcLuxembourg1001-5000200516
HOWZAT PartnersLuxembourg1-1020062
Triton PartnersLuxembourg201-50019976
Mangrove Capital PartnersLuxembourg11-5020005
Waterland Private EquityBussum, North Holland, Netherlands201-50019997
InkefAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands11-5020104
VerlinvestBrussels, Brussels, Belgium11-5019955
Exor N.V.Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands11-50200926
PPF GroupAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands501-100019911
Accurafy4Luxembourg1-1020180
Airbridge Equity PartnersAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands1-1020173
PeakAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands11-5020088
Euro Media GroupCharleroi, Wallonia, Belgium1001-500019820
LeanSquareBelgium1-1020143
Endeit CapitalAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands11-5020061


Want to find more investors focusing on the sports tourism industry?

If you want to find more investors that are active in the sports tourismindustry, you can do that with Inven. We built this list and analysis throughInven's Investor Search, and there are a lot more private equity, venturecapital, and corporate investors like these globally.

With Inven, you'll also get to know:

  • Deal History: Number of deals and their sizes.
  • Portfolio: Companies they've invested in.
  • Contact data: Key dealmakers, including their emails and phonenumbers.
  • ...and much more!