In a key development within the sports and investment sectors, the UK’s first athlete-led venture capital firm, The Players Fund, has onboarded some of the top female athletes as its partners. Notable athletes such as Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Eni Aluko, Allyson Felix, Nikita Parris and Danielle Carter will assist in furthering the firm’s mission to empower athletes in and beyond the field.
- The Players Fund aims to broaden the reach of venture capital to newer, diverse audiences, thus promoting inclusivity in the investment space.
- The athletes joining The Players Fund have significant experience in investing and entrepreneurship, making them well-equipped to drive the firm’s mission.
- The new partnerships represent the firm’s commitment to democratizing investment opportunities for all athletes, particularly supporting women athletes and other non-traditional investor groups.
The added partners reflect a high level of achievement within their respective sports, boasting accolades from representing their countries in World Cups, to winning Olympic Gold medals, and more. They will play a pivotal role in the firm’s efforts to engage female athletes as both investors and entrepreneurs.
The firm offers a reliable platform for athletes to participate in venture capital, thereby making an impact beyond their respective sports fields. Olympic icons Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill and Allyson Felix, for instance, launched their startups – hormonal health startup Jennis and Saysh S, after their retirement from athletics. Meanwhile, Eni Aluko has consistently backed startups and funds and is part of a multi-club ownership group planning to invest $100 million (£78.6m) in women’s football clubs across Europe and Latin America.
Speaking on the new partnerships, Fergus Bell, Managing Partner of The Players Fund, highlighted that the expertise of the new partners brings the firm closer to its goal of creating an athlete investor network. Rowena Samarasinhe, Athlete Committee Chair at the Players Fund, expressed excitement over the influential women joining the firm. Samarasinhe underscored the empowerment that comes from the kind of financial control the firm offers to athletes, as clearly shown in the firm’s commitment to democratizing investment opportunities.
