TLDR:
- APEX Capital has closed the second round of its €50 million Elite Performance Venture Capital Fund dedicated to transforming the sports, media, and entertainment sectors.
- The fund includes investments from star athletes such as Marcelo, Cody Gakpo, and Mark Cavendish, and has already made significant investments in companies like Hexis and VRTL.
Sports-focused investment firm APEX Capital has announced the second close of its €50 million Elite Performance Venture Capital Fund. The fund aims to transform the sports, media, and entertainment sectors by investing in innovative companies from Pre-Seed to Series A stages. APEX initially launched its athlete-driven VC Fund in September 2023, attracting early investments from well-known athletes such as Carlos Sainz, Lando Norris, and Valtteri Bottas. Since its inception, APEX has closed 18 investments with the support of over 100 athletes across multiple sports.
The fund has recently welcomed new star athletes like Marcelo, Cody Gakpo, and Mark Cavendish, expanding its portfolio and reach within the sports industry. Some of the notable investments made by APEX include Hexis, a tailored nutrition platform for athletes; VRTL, a provider of immersive virtual reality sports experiences; and Traits Insights, specializing in scouting and data analysis for sports teams.
In a statement, Marcelo, a Brazilian footballer currently playing at Fluminense, expressed his excitement about investing with APEX and contributing to the growth of the sports industry globally. APEX Founder & CEO Antonio Cacorino highlighted the fund’s success in combining athletic excellence with strategic capital to drive transformative change in the sports and entertainment sectors.
Over the past few months, APEX has strategically acquired minority stakes in emerging and premium sports properties, including investments in the Alpine F1 Team and the San Francisco Franchise competing in TGL, Tiger Woods’ new PGA-backed golf venture. The fund has structured deals with athletes like Alex Albon and John Stones to invest alongside co-owner Steph Curry in the golf franchise, showcasing its unique approach to sports-focused investments.
