The Players Fund is a venture capital firm driven by athletes, aiming to empower the athlete community as investors. This athlete-led fund brings together renowned athlete investors and experienced venture capitalists (VCs) to support exceptional entrepreneurs in digital-first, consumer-facing sectors. The fund, with a capital of €47 million, seeks to bridge the gap between athletes’ off-field lives and startup investments.
The firm was established by a team of world-class athletes, including cricket stars Ben Stokes, KL Rahul, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, and footballers Chris Smalling, Serge Gnabry, and Héctor Bellerín.
The goal is to create a trusted platform for athletes to invest collectively in startups, going beyond endorsements into ownership. The Players Fund consolidates prominent athlete investor groups like 4CAST, ForGood, B-Engaged, and Robbie Earle’s US-based group, creating a unified athlete investor network across the UK and Europe.
The Players Fund introduces a unique approach to venture capital, involving an athlete committee to support operational and technical teams. This innovative model aims to enhance collaboration among athletes and provide a structured path for them to engage in early-stage investing collectively and confidently.
We’ve seen a wave at this new stage of athlete investing with group funds.
