The initiative will give start-ups a chance to test and scale.
Italian football club Como 1907 has announced the creation of Como Ventures, a start-up and investment platform powered by The Players Fund. “Start-ups will gain access to Como 1907’s global brand and local operations, while also tapping into The Players Fund’s network of athletes, capital, investors and operators,” said Como 1907 in a statement.
The program began accepting applications on Sept. 17, seeking start-ups in any of six growth themes: luxury hospitality and travel, media technology, merchandising and retail infrastructure, health technology and human performance, next generation mobility, and sustainability. The shortlisted founders will present at a Pitch Day in November. Successful companies will then enter a six-month activation inside the club and participate at a Demo Day later in the season in front of investors, sponsors and media.
Founded in 1907 and reborn after financial difficulties in 2017, Como 1907 returned to Italy’s Serie A in 2024 under the ownership of Indonesian conglomerate Djarum Group. The Players Fund brings together current and former professional athletes to invest in early-stage companies and is the world’s largest athlete-led venture capital platform. The Players Fund advises clubs and rights-holders to unlock new models of growth at the intersection of sport, culture and technology.
