Top 17 professional athlete management investors in Europe
Top 17 professional athlete management investors in Europe
The professional athlete management industry in Europe includes firms that guide athletes and sports teams through contracts, endorsements, and marketing strategies. These companies often focus on brand building, contract negotiation, and financial planning, helping clients maximize their career opportunities. In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in tech-driven solutions, such as data analytics and performance tracking, enabling better management of athletes' careers. Additionally, as sports technology grows, the integration of digital platforms for fan engagement and athlete promotion is becoming essential. This industry is evolving rapidly, shaping how athletes interact with fans and organizations alike.
This diverse group of investors includes venture capital firms, private equity firms, and corporate investors, primarily located in major European cities like London and Paris. Founded between 1982 and 2020, these investors range in size from small teams to large multinational firms, collectively executing over 400 deals in 2024 alone. Their strategic interests span not just athlete management but also sectors like technology and marketing, signaling a robust investment climate. Each investor contributes unique expertise and capital, fostering innovative solutions within the professional athlete management field.
Top 17 Professional Athlete Management Investors in Europe
1. Bpifrance French Tech Accélération
- Website: bpifrance.com
- Type: Venture Capital
- Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
- Founded year: 2015
- Headcount: 1-10
- Number of deals in 2024: 198
- LinkedIn: bpifrance-french-tech-acc%c3%a9l%c3%a9ration
Bpifrance French Tech Accélération is a venture capital investor based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, founded in 2015. As a public entity and financial institution, Bpifrance supports entrepreneurs and businesses in France and internationally through various services, including direct funding, export credit insurance, and private equity investments. The institution aims to foster entrepreneurship and innovation, helping businesses navigate growth and international expansion. Notably, Bpifrance has been involved in several transactions relevant to the sports sector, such as its investment in My Coach Football, which raised $7.5 million in Series A funding, indicating a focus on sports technology and athlete training solutions. Additionally, Bpifrance participated in funding rounds for Sportihome, a startup that, while primarily focused on accommodations, operates within the leisure and sports tourism sector. These transactions highlight Bpifrance's engagement with the sports industry, making it a potential player in professional athlete management.
2. Crowdcube
- Website: crowdcube.com
- Type: Corporate
- Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
- Founded year: 2010
- Headcount: 51-200
- Number of deals in 2024: 3
- LinkedIn: crowdcube-limited
Crowdcube is a London-based crowdfunding platform founded in 2010 that enables businesses to raise capital through equity investments. It connects startups and SMEs with potential investors, facilitating the funding process. The platform promotes diversity and inclusion within its workforce while providing investment management services to its clients. Notably, Crowdcube has been involved in several transactions relevant to the professional athlete management sector, including Playerhunter, which raised significant funds through equity crowdfunding in 2018 and 2020, and Playfinder, which also secured substantial investments in 2019 and 2020. These transactions highlight Crowdcube's engagement with companies that cater to the needs of athletes and sports enthusiasts, reinforcing its relevance in the professional athlete management industry.
3. Almi
- Website: almi.se
- Type: Venture Capital
- Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
- Founded year: 1994
- Headcount: 201-500
- Number of deals in 2024: 7
- LinkedIn: almi-ab
Almi AB is a financial services company based in Stockholm, Sweden, founded in 1994. It specializes in providing loans, risk capital, and business development support to small and medium-sized enterprises. Almi aims to enhance the growth and competitiveness of these businesses through tailored financial solutions and guidance. Among its notable transactions, Almi invested in Sportswik AB, which raised $1,142,700 in a venture round in 2017, indicating a focus on sports technology or analytics. Additionally, Almi led a funding round for World's Marathons, contributing SEK 1.7 million to support the launch of a global marketplace for marathons, further demonstrating its engagement in the sports sector. Other investments include Spiideo and Playmaker, which also relate to sports and athlete engagement, showcasing Almi's interest in the professional athlete management industry.
4. Kima Ventures
- Website: kimaventures.com
- Type: Venture Capital
- Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
- Founded year: 2010
- Headcount: 1-10
- Number of deals in 2024: 50
- LinkedIn: kima-ventures
Kima Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, founded in 2010. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage startups across various sectors, backing two startups per week with financial support and mentorship. Notably, Kima Ventures has participated in significant transactions within the sports technology domain, such as their investments in Sorare, a blockchain-based football game, and ScorePlay, a B2B sports-tech SaaS company. These investments highlight Kima's engagement with innovative solutions in the sports industry, which aligns with the interests of professional athlete management. Their portfolio reflects a commitment to supporting companies that enhance the sports experience and athlete engagement, further solidifying their relevance in this sector.
5. Frasers Group
- Website: frasers.group
- Type: Corporate
- Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
- Founded year: 1982
- Headcount: 10001+
- Number of deals in 2024: 20
- LinkedIn: frasers-group
Frasers Group plc is a corporate investor based in London, England, founded in 1982. The company operates various brands in the sports and fashion sectors, including Sports Direct and Jack Wills, offering a wide range of products such as clothing, footwear, and sporting goods. In recent years, Frasers Group has made several strategic acquisitions that highlight its commitment to the sports industry. Notably, they acquired a 41.98% stake in Hudson Holdings Limited, a Maltese retail company known for its Urban Jungle sportswear chain and exclusive distribution rights for NIKE in over 29 countries. This acquisition, announced in January 2025, positions Frasers Group as a significant player in the sportswear market. Additionally, their acquisition of Coventry City's stadium from Wasps rugby club in December 2022 demonstrates their involvement in professional sports management. Furthermore, the acquisition of Umbro in 2005 and Direct Golf UK Ltd. in 2015 further solidifies their presence in the sports sector. These transactions indicate that Frasers Group is not only a retail giant but also an active investor in the professional sports landscape, making them a noteworthy entity in athlete management.
6. 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 investments. CVC has made notable investments in the sports sector, including the acquisition of Dorna Sports in 1998, which oversees the MotoGP racing series. Additionally, CVC has participated in significant funding rounds for various sports leagues, such as the Liga de Futbol Profesional, which raised over $3 billion in 2021, and Six Nations Rugby, which raised over $500 million in the same year. These transactions highlight CVC's strategic focus on delivering sustainable value and growth within the sports industry, making it a relevant player in professional athlete management.
7. Wpp
- Website: wpp.com
- Type: Corporate
- Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
- Founded year: 1985
- Headcount: 10001+
- Number of deals in 2024: 2
- LinkedIn: wpp
WPP plc is a leading advertising and communications company founded in 1985, headquartered in London, England. With over 10,000 employees, WPP provides a wide range of services including advertising, public relations, media buying, and market research. Notably, WPP has made significant strides in the sports marketing sector through its acquisitions of agencies like Two Circles, a UK-based sports marketing agency, and Global Sportnet, which enhance its capabilities in managing sports-related branding and marketing. Additionally, WPP's acquisition of Prism Sport + Entertainment further solidifies its position in the sports management landscape, allowing it to leverage its advertising expertise to support professional athletes and sports organizations in enhancing their visibility and engagement with audiences.
8. Seedcamp
- Website: seedcamp.com
- Type: Venture Capital
- Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
- Founded year: 2007
- Headcount: 11-50
- Number of deals in 2024: 40
- LinkedIn: seedcamp_2
Seedcamp is a London-based venture capital firm founded in 2007, specializing in early-stage startups across Europe. With a focus on technology-driven companies, Seedcamp provides financial backing and support to founders, helping them achieve product-market fit and access a vast network of investors. Among their notable transactions, Seedcamp has invested in Gameplan, a SaaS startup aimed at enhancing athlete management, and Sportlyzer, which assists in tracking athletes' performances. Additionally, their investment in Sorare, a blockchain-based football game, highlights their engagement with innovative sports technology. These transactions reflect Seedcamp's commitment to supporting ventures that contribute to the professional athlete management landscape.
9. Seedrs
- Website: seedrs.com
- Type: Corporate
- Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
- Founded year: 2009
- Headcount: 51-200
- Number of deals in 2024: 2
- LinkedIn: seedrs
Seedrs Limited (trading as Republic Europe) is a crowdfunding platform based in London, England, that connects investors with startups and businesses seeking capital. Founded in 2009, Seedrs specializes in equity crowdfunding, providing investment opportunities and advisory services to both individual investors and businesses. The platform has facilitated access to early-stage investments and serves as a marketplace for capital raising. Among its notable transactions, Seedrs has invested in PledgeSports, which raised $114,174 in 2015 to support athletes in securing sponsorships, and FootballINDEX, which raised $1,598,219 in 2016, a platform that allows users to trade shares in football players. These investments highlight Seedrs' involvement in the sports sector, particularly in areas that intersect with professional athlete management.
10. EQT Group
- Website: eqtgroup.com
- Type: Private Equity
- Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
- Founded year: 1994
- Headcount: 1001-5000
- Number of deals in 2024: 30
- LinkedIn: eqt-partners
EQT Group is a private equity investment firm based in Stockholm, Sweden, founded in 1994. The firm specializes in a diverse range of investment strategies, including private equity, infrastructure, real estate, growth equity, and venture capital. EQT serves institutional investors by providing expertise in managing diverse investment portfolios across multiple sectors and geographies. Notably, EQT has made significant investments in the professional athlete management context, including a strategic investment in United Talent Agency (UTA), where it became the largest outside shareholder to support talent, innovation, and international expansion. Additionally, EQT has invested in Sportradar, a company that offers data and analytics services to the sports industry, and has previously engaged with Sportfive, a sports marketing agency. These transactions highlight EQT's active role in the sports and athlete management sectors, reinforcing its relevance in this space.
11. Apex
- Website: apex-cp.com
- Type: Venture Capital
- Headquarters: Caxias, Lisbon, Portugal
- Founded year: 2020
- Headcount: 11-50
- Number of deals in 2024: 5
- LinkedIn: about
Apex Capital is a venture capital firm based in Caxias, Lisbon, Portugal, founded in 2020. The firm specializes in partnering with professional athletes to invest in the Sports, Media, and Entertainment industries. Apex focuses on venture capital and private equity investments, utilizing the unique insights and connections of its athlete partners to identify lucrative opportunities. In 2022, Apex participated in a venture round for TMRW Sports, raising approximately $14.7 million, which indicates their active role in the sports sector. They also led a pre-seed funding round for Hexis, securing £1.6 million to enhance technology infrastructure and strengthen partnerships with sports organizations and athletes. Additionally, they are involved in the Series A funding for ScorePlay, a B2B sports-tech SaaS company, further showcasing their engagement in the sports technology space. Their clientele includes athletes and investors seeking to engage in these dynamic sectors, reinforcing their relevance in professional athlete management.
12. Permira
- Website: permira.com
- Type: Private Equity
- Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
- Founded year: 1985
- Headcount: 501-1000
- Number of deals in 2024: 8
- LinkedIn: permira
Permira is a London-based private equity investment firm founded in 1985, specializing in private equity and credit solutions. The firm partners with management teams and entrepreneurs to drive growth and create long-term value across various sectors, including technology, consumer, healthcare, and services. A notable transaction in the context of professional athlete management is Permira's acquisition of YMU, a UK-based talent management firm, for approximately USD $76 million. This acquisition followed YMU's financial restructuring and aims to bolster its financial standing and growth potential, highlighting Permira's commitment to transforming businesses into market leaders. Additionally, Permira has participated in funding rounds for companies like Zwift, an online fitness platform, which, while not directly in athlete management, indicates their interest in the sports and fitness industry.
13. Hiro Capital
- Website: hiro.capital
- Type: Venture Capital
- Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
- Founded year: 2019
- Headcount: 1-10
- Number of deals in 2024: 5
- LinkedIn: hirocapital
Hiro Capital is a venture capital firm based in London, England, founded in 2019. The firm specializes in investing in innovative companies within the gaming, esports, and technology sectors. With a focus on building the future of games, digital sports, and metaverse technologies, Hiro Capital plays a significant role in these industries. Notably, they led a $2.3 million Series A funding round for PlayerData, a company that aims to enhance growth across multiple sports through data analytics. Additionally, they participated in a funding round for Team Liquid, an international esports organization, which raised $35 million to support various initiatives, including fan engagement and infrastructure development. Furthermore, Hiro Capital is leading a seed round for Soccerverse, a blockchain-based soccer management simulation, showcasing their commitment to innovative sports management solutions. These transactions illustrate Hiro Capital's active engagement in the sports and esports sectors, making them a key player in the professional athlete management landscape.
14. Octopus Ventures
- Website: octopusventures.com
- Type: Venture Capital
- Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
- Founded year: 2008
- Headcount: 51-200
- Number of deals in 2024: 37
- LinkedIn: octopus-ventures
Octopus Ventures is a venture capital firm based in London, UK, founded in 2008. The firm focuses on backing founders and startups across various sectors, including B2B Software, Bio, Climate, Consumer, Deep Tech, Fintech, and Health. Notably, Octopus Ventures has made significant investments in the fitness sector, such as Glofox, a fitness software startup that raised $10 million in Series A funding to expand its operations in the US and enhance its product offerings. Additionally, they invested in Harbiz, which secured $5.45 million to expand its fitness pro platform, indicating a strategic interest in the fitness and wellness industry. These transactions highlight Octopus Ventures' role in supporting businesses that align with the needs of professional athletes and the fitness community.
15. Venrex
- Website: venrex.partners
- Type: Venture Capital
- Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
- Founded year: 2002
- Headcount: 11-50
- Number of deals in 2024: 11
- LinkedIn: venrex
Venrex is a venture capital firm based in London, England, founded in 2002. The firm specializes in early-stage investments in technology-enabled businesses within consumer industries, providing funding and strategic support to help these businesses grow in competitive markets. Notably, Venrex has been involved in several transactions relevant to the professional athlete management context, including investments in Cricviz, a company that provides analytics for cricket, and Sponswatch, which focuses on sponsorships in sports. Additionally, their investment in Aphetor, which may relate to sports performance, and Runna, a platform that could be associated with athletic training, further highlights their engagement in the sports sector. Venrex operates from its offices in London and New York, and has made 11 investments in 2024 alone, indicating an active investment strategy.
16. Partech
- Website: partechpartners.com
- Type: Venture Capital
- Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
- Founded year: 1982
- Headcount: 51-200
- Number of deals in 2024: 24
- LinkedIn: partech
Partech Partners is a venture capital firm founded in 1982, based in Paris, Île-De-France, France. The firm specializes in providing funding and support to startups across various sectors, particularly in technology. Partech operates globally and has a diverse portfolio of companies. Notably, they have invested in Sorare, a platform for digital sports collectibles, which raised $10 million in a seed round in July 2020. Additionally, they participated in funding rounds for Urban Sports Club, a provider of sports flat rate memberships, which secured significant financing to expand its network and marketing efforts. Partech also invested in Glofox, a fitness software startup, which raised $10 million in Series A funding. These transactions highlight Partech's engagement in the sports and fitness sectors, suggesting a potential interest in areas related to professional athlete management.
17. Seed Capital Denmark
- Website: seedcapital.dk
- Type: Venture Capital
- Headquarters: Frederiksberg, Frederiksberg, Denmark
- Founded year: 2004
- Headcount: 1-10
- Number of deals in 2024: 5
- LinkedIn: seed-capital-denmark
Seed Capital Denmark is a venture capital firm based in Copenhagen, specializing in providing seed funding and advisory services to technology startups in Denmark. Founded in 2004, the firm has a strong track record of successful investments, particularly in sectors such as SaaS and Fintech. Notably, Seed Capital has invested in Tonsser, a football app that raised €5.5M in Series A funding in December 2018, and previously raised funds in earlier seed rounds. This app is designed to support football players in managing their careers and connecting with opportunities, showcasing Seed Capital's engagement in the sports technology sector. Additionally, they have been involved with Sportcaster, which also aligns with sports management, although details on the funding amount remain undisclosed. These transactions highlight Seed Capital's potential relevance in the professional athlete management industry.
Professional Athlete Management Insights: Key Investors in Europe
| Investor | Headquarter | Size | Founded | Deals 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bpifrance French Tech Accélération | Paris, Île-De-France, France | 1-10 | 2015 | 198 |
| Crowdcube | London, England, United Kingdom (UK) | 51-200 | 2010 | 3 |
| Almi | Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden | 201-500 | 1994 | 7 |
| Kima Ventures | Paris, Île-De-France, France | 1-10 | 2010 | 50 |
| Frasers Group | London, England, United Kingdom (UK) | 10001+ | 1982 | 20 |
| Cvc | Luxembourg | 1001-5000 | 2005 | 16 |
| Wpp | London, England, United Kingdom (UK) | 10001+ | 1985 | 2 |
| Seedcamp | London, England, United Kingdom (UK) | 11-50 | 2007 | 40 |
| Seedrs | London, England, United Kingdom (UK) | 51-200 | 2009 | 2 |
| EQT Group | Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden | 1001-5000 | 1994 | 30 |
| Apex | Caxias, Lisbon, Portugal | 11-50 | 2020 | 5 |
| Permira | London, England, United Kingdom (UK) | 501-1000 | 1985 | 8 |
| Hiro Capital | London, England, United Kingdom (UK) | 1-10 | 2019 | 5 |
| Octopus Ventures | London, England, United Kingdom (UK) | 51-200 | 2008 | 37 |
| Venrex | London, England, United Kingdom (UK) | 11-50 | 2002 | 11 |
| Partech | Paris, Île-De-France, France | 51-200 | 1982 | 24 |
| Seed Capital Denmark | Frederiksberg, Frederiksberg, Denmark | 1-10 | 2004 | 5 |
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