TLDR:
Apex has added new athlete investors to its €50 million venture capital fund, including soccer stars Marcelo, Cody Gakpo, and William Troost-Ekong, English rugby player Maro Itoje, cyclist Demi Vollering, and former MotoGP rider Cal Crutchlow. The fund aims to invest in companies across sports, media, and entertainment.
Summary:
In a recent announcement, sports-focused investment firm Apex has revealed the addition of several prominent athletes to its Elite Performance Venture Capital Fund. The fund, with a total value of €50 million, has secured backing from athletes representing soccer, cycling, and rugby union industries. Notable investors include soccer stars Marcelo, Cody Gakpo, and William Troost-Ekong, English rugby union player Maro Itoje, cyclists Demi Vollering and Mark Cavendish, as well as former MotoGP rider Cal Crutchlow. These athletes join a lineup that already includes Formula One drivers and other sports professionals.
Apex originally launched the athlete-driven venture capital fund in September 2023, with a community of over 100 athletes from various sports. The firm also has investments in the TGL golf league and the Alpine Formula One team. The recent influx of athlete investors is expected to provide strategic capital and expertise for the fund’s investments in sports, media, and entertainment companies at different growth stages. Antonio Cacorino, Apex’s founder and CEO, expressed excitement about the fund’s future and the transformative impact of combining athletic excellence with strategic investments.
Looking ahead, Apex plans to utilize the capital from the Elite Performance Fund to support investments in companies ranging from pre-seed to Series A stages in the sports, media, and entertainment sectors. The addition of these new athlete investors is seen as a significant step in shaping the future of sports and entertainment industries through the unique perspectives and experiences of elite athletes.
