# Top 50 Sporting Goods Startup Investors in Europe in June 2026 ## Bpifrance - Type: VC Fund - Location: Maisons-alfort, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 5 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, Information Technology, Health Care Bpifrance provides financial solutions for companies that are booting up the listing on the stock exchange and credit equity. It includes OSEO, CDC Entreprises, FSI, and FSI Regions to offer in your area of financial solutions at every stage of the life of your business. ## Aster - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 5 - Stages: Series A, Series B - Focus: Software, Energy, Manufacturing Aster is a Venture Capital firm with offices in 4 major innovation hubs: Paris, London, Tel Aviv and San Francisco. Since 2000, they have partnered with more than 60 teams of entrepreneurs that are transforming markets with disruptive offers and technologies. They are always open to exploring new ideas related to mobility, energy and industrysectors that they have been covering until now. They invest in all stages, with a preference for the early phase.They are more than investors and they intend to act as an ally for entrepreneurs by connecting them to a valuable ecosystem of experts, influencers and business leaders. From marketing to executive talent, their commitment to the growth of their portfolio companies as well as the entire venture ecosystem also involves the commitment of their dedicated Operations team, their innovation strategy consulting firm (Aster Fab) and a crowdfunding branch to further expand opportunities (Aster Crowd).Some of their success stories include Solairedirect (acquired by Engie in 2015), Digital Lumens (acquired by Osram in 2017) and Avantium (IPOed in 2017). ## 1818 Venture Capital - Type: VC Fund - Location: St. Peter Port, NA - Guernsey, Guernsey - Relevant deals: 3 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Financial Services, FinTech, Software 1818 Venture Capital is proud to invest in portfolios of tech startups that aim to generate wealth for our investors and do good in the world. ## Angels Den - Type: VC Fund - Location: London, England, United Kingdom - Relevant deals: 3 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: E-Commerce, Mobile, Software Join 21,000+ investors backing the top 4% of UK startups. Access vetted, tax-efficient (SEIS/EIS) investment opportunities and exclusive pitch events. ## Seventure Partners - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 3 - Stages: Series A, Series B - Focus: Biotechnology, Software, Health Care Seventure Partners is a French venture capital firm targeting in Tech/Digital and Life Sciences companies. It funds innovation and participates in the entrepreneurial adventure, alongside entrepreneurs and sharing their passion.Founded in 1997, Seventure Partners is one of the European leaders in venture capital, with € 1 billion undermanagement as of December 31, 2023. It is an active partner of innovative companies that, according to the management team, show strong growth potential and evolving in two fields of activity: Digital Technologies and Life Sciences. With more than 20 employees, including some 15 investors, Seventure Partners has a proven track record and in-depth expertise in technology, entrepreneurship, and various private equity operations.Seventure's goal is to identify and support the development of tomorrow's European leaders in order to accelerate their growth. To do this, the firm provides entrepreneurs with the expertise, networks, and know-how of its internal team of investors.The different funds/verticals on which Seventure Partners are focusing on today: - Life Sciences : Biotech, Healthcare, Nutrition - Tech/Digital : B2B SaaS, Fintech, Retailtech, Cybersecurity - Sports & Wellbeing - Blue Economy ## Foresight Group - Type: VC Fund - Location: London, England, United Kingdom - Relevant deals: 3 - Stages: Private Equity, Seed - Focus: Software, Manufacturing, Health Care Foresight Group is a listed infrastructure and private equity investment manager which has been managing funds on behalf of institutions and retail clients for more than 35 years. Foresight has over £7.2 billion of assets under management across a number of funds on behalf of some of the world’s largest institutional investors, family offices,private and high net-worth individuals and retail investors. Foresight's investment strategies are underpinned by a strong environmental, social & governance (“ESG”) focus, which increasingly meets the demands of today’s investors and ensures we are consistently working towards creating a sustainable legacy for future generations. ## Creandum - Type: VC Fund - Location: Stockholm, Stockholms Lan, Sweden - Relevant deals: 3 - Stages: Series A, Seed, Series B - Focus: Software, Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence We support early-stage founders in building global, category-defining companies. From Seed to IPO and beyond. ## LocalGlobe - Type: VC Fund - Location: London, England, United Kingdom - Relevant deals: 3 - Stages: Seed, Series A, Pre-Seed - Focus: Software, Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology Seeding ambitious founders at places like @citymapper, @improbableio,@teamkano, @moo, @songkick,@seedcamp, @transferwise and @zoopla since 1999. Who's next? ## Giovanni Gardelli - Type: Angel - Location: San Francisco Bay Area, California, United States - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: E-Commerce, Fashion, Software Giovanni Gardelli is the Senior Director at Verizon Media. ## Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Investment Fund - Type: VC Fund - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Debt Financing - Focus: Retail, Computer, Consumer CIOSIF is a key part of the government’s vision aimed at boosting the region’s economy ## Autotech Ventures - Type: VC Fund - Location: Menlo Park, California, United States - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Series A, Series B, Seed - Focus: Software, Transportation, Automotive Autotech Ventures is a venture capital firm that manages more than $400 million to invest in start-ups that aim to generate financial returns in the vast $3 trillion ground transportation industry. Connected, autonomous, shared and electrified vehicles and related mobility services have created tectonic shifts in the incumbent ground transportationindustry. Vehicle manufacturers, parts suppliers, dealerships, repair shops, parking operators, ground logistics firms, and road infrastructure providers are all being impacted by ground transportation startups.Autotech Ventures provides startup companies with 1) capital to execute on their business plan, 2) access to its industry contacts - including dozens of ground transportation corporate investors who together represent a global market capitalization of over $500 billion dollars, 3) up-to-the-minute market intelligence on the ground transport landscape, 4) support in recruiting ground transportation industry talent, and 5) fundraising support to raise additional capital from other financially-motivated investors and strategic investors.Start-ups typically innovate quickly then scale slowly, while corporations typically innovate slowly then scale quickly. Autotech Ventures brings startups and corporations together to bridge this gap and build a new transportation future. ## TGFS - Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen - Type: VC Fund - Location: Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, Information Technology, Manufacturing TGFS - Technologiegruenderfonds Sachsen is an early stage VC fund targeting high tech startups with strong growth potential. The fund invests into ventures located in Saxony/Germany, Europe's leading semiconductor cluster. The team has invested into more than 120 companies so far, including more than 40 investments from the currentfund. ## Aglaé Ventures - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Series A, Series B - Focus: Software, Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology Aglaé Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Paris, New York and San Francisco backed by Groupe Arnault, the controlling shareholder of LVMH, global leader in luxury goods. Aglaé invests from € 100k up to € 100m in asset light tech businesses at all stages. Groupe Arnault-backed companies include Netflix, Spotify, Backmarket, Betfair, Airbnb,Slack, Algolia, Lyft and others. ## Grazia Equity - Type: VC Fund - Location: Stuttgart, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Series A, Series B, Seed - Focus: Internet, E-Commerce, Biotechnology Grazia Equity is a venture Capital firm investing in innovative, technology driven startups with high potential.Based in Stuttgart (Germany), Grazia has been supporting a large number of mostly young companies, often from their foundation to the Initial Public Offering or eventual sale. In contrast to other venture capital firms, theypredominantly work with their own capital that they invest as entrepreneurs. ## CASSIUS - Type: VC Fund - Location: Atlanta, Georgia, United States - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Series A, Pre-Seed - Focus: Gaming, E-Commerce, Apps We are early-stage technology investors across North America and Europe. ## Elkstone Capital Partners - Type: VC Fund - Location: Dublin, Dublin, Ireland - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, Health Care, Information Technology Elkstone is an investment firm, focusing on entrepreneurs, senior executives, institutional LPs, the venture community, and the Irish diaspora.The objective of the organization is to boost the economic value and overall well-being of the island of Ireland by expanding a network, facilitating deserving investments, and delivering excellentinvestment performance. ## Eleven Ventures - Type: VC Fund - Location: Sofia, Grad Sofiya, Bulgaria - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Convertible Note, Pre-Seed - Focus: Software, SaaS, Information Technology We empower local heroes to build global success. Eleven is an early-stage VC investing in technology companies in Southeast Europe. ## Equity Gap - Type: VC Fund - Location: Edinburgh, Edinburgh, City of, United Kingdom - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, Health Care, Manufacturing Equity Gap is a group of private individuals set up to invest in and support emerging and growing businesses based in Scotland ## Northstar Ventures - Type: VC Fund - Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, E-Commerce, SaaS Northstar Ventures invests venture capital in early and later stage, high growth companies tackling global challenges, focusing on climate tech and healthy ageing. ## SGPA - Type: VC Fund - Location: Neuilly-sur-seine, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, Analytics, Enterprise Software SGPA is a family and independent company that invests in the long term in PME, ETI, and Start-ups. They support, finance and accompany leaders for the development of their business. ## Redrice Ventures - Type: VC Fund - Location: London, England, United Kingdom - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Series A - Focus: Fashion, Retail, Sustainability We support Founders creating premium consumer brands, platforms and related tech solutions. ## Enterprise Ireland - Type: VC Fund - Location: Dublin, Dublin, Ireland - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, Information Technology, Health Care Enterprise Ireland is the government agency responsible for the development and funding of the indigenous business sector. Their mission is to accelerate the development of companies to achieve strong positions in global markets resulting in increased national and regional prosperity. It was founded in 1998 and headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. ## ABN AMRO Ventures - Type: VC Fund - Location: Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Series B, Series C - Focus: FinTech, Financial Services, Software With ABN AMRO Ventures we invest in the most talented and relevant up-and-coming technology companies to boost and accelerate innovation. ## Tony Parker - Type: Angel - Location: Boerne, Texas, United States - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A - Focus: Sporting Goods, Sports, Finance Tony Parker is a French-American former professional basketball player. ## Peter Troensegaard Jensen - Type: Angel - Location: Copenhagen, Hovedstaden, Denmark - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Angel, Seed - Focus: Drones, Retail, Sports Peter Troensegaard Jensen ## Key Capital Partners - Type: VC Fund - Location: Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Private Equity - Focus: Information Technology, Music, E-Commerce Key Capital Partners is focused on the equity gap, making equity investments of between £2 million and £10 million in profitable. ## 10x Group - Type: VC Fund - Location: Munich, Bayern, Germany - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Series A, Series B - Focus: Software, SaaS, Information Technology 10x Group is a group of serial entrepreneurs and founders investing in founders of digital start-ups in Europe and Silicon Valley. ## Turenne Capital - Type: VC Fund - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Series A, Private Equity - Focus: Software, Biotechnology, Medical Turenne Capital is an independant private equity management company, with 4 offices in France : - Paris - Lyon - Marseilles - Lille (joint-venture). Since 1999, Turenne Capital has been taking significant minority or majority equity stakes alongside entrepreneurs who operate SMEs with revenues ranging from €5 million to € 100 million. Itinvests between €1 million and €10 million per transaction. Turenne Capital manages/advises more than € 500 million. 32 people, among which 21 investors work in the Group. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Turenne Capital est une Société de gestion indépendante spécialisée en capital investissement. Turenne Capital accompagne depuis 1999 des entrepreneurs dans leur développement et la transmission de leur société et est implantée à : - Paris - Lyon - Marseille - Lille (filiale) Les tickets d'investissement vont de '1 à 10 millions d'euros en minoritaire et majoritaire dans des PME de 5 à 100 M€ de Chiffre d'affaires. Le Groupe Turenne Capital compte 32 professionnels dont 21 investisseurs, et gère/conseille plus de 500 M€ confiés par des institutionnels et des particuliers. ## Ponooc - Type: VC Fund - Location: Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Series A, Seed - Focus: Energy, Electric Vehicle, Logistics Ponooc is a venture capital fund based in the Netherlands with a focus on sustainable energy or mobility related ventures. We are open to both early and later stage venture deals where the invested capital is used to help the entrepreneurs and their team take the next step. We believe in a hands-on approach and work closely together with managementwhere we think we can add value, either through previous experience or our extensive network. Our geographical focus is Europe. ## Wayra - Type: VC Fund - Location: Madrid, Madrid, Spain - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, Information Technology, SaaS Wayra is a globally connected and technological open innovation hub in the world. We currently operate in 10 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Germany, Mexico, Peru, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela.Through Telefónica our global presence allows us to be at the helm of innovation, shoulder to shoulder with drivenentrepreneurs and in a position to engage the right partners and leaders of industries for business. Our mission is clear, to connect innovators with Telefónica and generate joint business opportunities. We are the interface between Telefónica and entrepreneurial ecosystems across the globe because innovation makes good business sense. ## Jesper Buch - Type: Angel - Location: Marbella, Andalucia, Spain - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Angel, Seed, Pre-Seed - Focus: Internet, Software, E-Commerce Jesper book is the Seed Investor at DIBB Design. ## Rouven Dresselhaus - Type: Angel - Location: Berlin, Berlin, Germany - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series A, Seed, Series B - Focus: Software, E-Commerce, Internet Rouven Dresselhaus is Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Cavalry Ventures. His most notable investments at Cavalry include McMakler, Forto and Planetly (acq. by OneTrust). He also serves on numerous boards, e.g. at BRYTER and Sofía.Rouven started his career at Morten Sondergaard and then moved to Capnamic Ventures. In parallel, as a member of theadvisory board, he spearheaded the digitization initiative of his family business Joseph Dresselhaus GmbH & Co. KG (acq. by Nimbus) comprising core processes such as finance, HR, logistics and procurement.Rouven has invested in more than five dozen startups and participated in over two hundred funding rounds. He is a member of YPO, a global community of chief executives, and has been mentoring young entrepreneurs in formats such as Techstars, Techstars SAP.io, next logistics accelerator and the Axel Springer Plug and Play Accelerator. In addition, Rouven is a supporter of the entrepreneurial charity Founders Pledge. ## Ascension - Type: VC Fund - Location: London, England, United Kingdom - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed - Focus: Software, FinTech, Internet Pre-seed and seed investors backing 300+ ambitious founders from day one. ## Livingstone Ian - Type: Angel - Location: London, England, United Kingdom - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Video Games, Gaming, PC Games Ian Livingstone is based out of Menlo Park, California and is the Co-Founder and Partner of Hiro Capital. Ian previously worked at Flavourworks as a Non Executive Chairman.Ian Livingstone attended Altrincham Grammar School. ## British Design Fund - Type: VC Fund - Location: London, England, United Kingdom - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed - Focus: Manufacturing, Health Care, Medical Device British Design Fund supports enterprise and innovation in the UK by investing in, and supporting, early-stage, well-designed, product businesses. The Fund works with extraordinary entrepreneurs with scalable products who are ready to accelerate growth and build long term value and thriving stand-out businesses. ## Vorwerk Ventures - Type: VC Fund - Location: Berlin, Berlin, Germany - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A, Series B - Focus: E-Commerce, Health Care, Software Backing early-stage startups that drive positive impact for people and planet ## Tim Dempsey - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, SaaS, Financial Services Tim Dempsey is a Managing Partner at Epiphany Capital. He graduated from the University of Manchester. ## Wellstreet - Type: VC Fund - Location: Stockholm, Stockholms Lan, Sweden - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed - Focus: E-Commerce, Software, Retail Wellstreet is an innovation and tech ecosystem that includes an investment company, a strategic consultancy firm and a venture building incubator. ## SWIG Finance - Type: VC Fund - Location: Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Debt Financing - Focus: Women's, Consumer, Sporting Goods SWIG Finance is a not-for-profit company providing loans to South West SMEs and start-ups that can't raise sufficient funds from their bank. ## Animoca Brands - Type: VC Fund - Location: Cyberport, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Blockchain, Gaming, Cryptocurrency Animoca Brands is a metaverse and gaming venture capital firm that focuses on driving digital property rights to gamers and internet users through NFTs. It utilizes gamification and blockchain to develop and market a portfolio of mobile applications, games, and additional products oriented to educational learning to ensure transparency, security,and new business models. ## South East Angels - Type: VC Fund - Location: Brighton, East Sussex, United Kingdom - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Equity Crowdfunding - Focus: Information Technology, Software, E-Commerce A group of credible Hight Net Worth individuals based in the South East of England looking to invest in ambitious founders. ## Livingbridge - Type: VC Fund - Location: London, England, United Kingdom - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Private Equity, Seed - Focus: Software, Information Technology, Consulting Livingbridge is a leading mid-market private equity firm. We empower your business to unlock its true potential. This is investment done the right way, built on ambition and experience. ## Bonsai Partners - Type: VC Fund - Location: Madrid, Madrid, Spain - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series A, Seed - Focus: Software, E-Commerce, Marketplace Bonsai Partners is a Venture Capital investment company based in Madrid, Spain. We invest in both primary and secondary opportunities in Tech startups from Europe. ## Boost Fund - Type: VC Fund - Location: St. Helier, NA - Jersey, Jersey - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Information Technology, Mobile Apps, Software Capital Pilot is a Boost Fund that provides entrepreneurs with the opportunity to gain access to fast, data-driven investment. Apply now for an Investability Rating and see if you qualify for automatic funding! ## Inventure - Type: VC Fund - Location: Helsinki, Southern Finland, Finland - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, Information Technology, Health Care Inventure is a venture fund that specializes in helping its portfolio companies with talent and expansion. Since 2005, the team has been in venture with over 70 companies ranging from deep tech to consumer internet brands, including Wolt, Detectify, Blueprint Genetics, Swappie, and Insurello. With its €230 million assets under management, Inventurefocuses on Seed and Series A investments across Nordics and Baltics, with offices in Helsinki and Stockholm. ## IQS Tech Factory - Type: VC Fund - Location: Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Biotechnology, Health Care, Information Technology The IQS entrepreneurship center works with the objective of contributing to industrial development by converting disruptive technologies into business opportunities. The IQS Tech Factory promotes entrepreneurship and provides support to all those entrepreneurs who decide to create companies with promising scientific and technical bases. ## Co-FundNI - Type: VC Fund - Location: Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed - Focus: Software, Health Care, Information Technology Through Co-Fund NI £12.5million will be made available to invest alongside business angels and business angel syndicates (hereafter referred to as "private investors" or "syndicates") into eligible SME's based in Northern Ireland. When matched 45% public with 55% private investors on a deal-by-deal basis this will give anoverall "fund" size of £28m.This initiative is provided by Invest Northern Ireland and part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the Invest for Growth and Jobs Programme 2014-2020. ## Thomas Rebaud - Type: Angel - Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A, Pre-Seed - Focus: Software, Information Technology, Social Media Thomas Rebaud is 28 years old when he founds Meero in 2016, driven by the desire to make the Internet more beautiful. The story begins in 2007 when he joins EMLyon Business School. Still a student, he becomes president of the Junior branch of the World Entrepreneurship Forum, a cooperation present in 15 countries whose aim is to developentrepreneurship as a vector of growth and employment in the world. Through this, Thomas develops a solid knowledge of good business practices. In 2013, with a second Masters under his belt, he sets up his first Internet-free loan comparison company, which works well but doesn’t take off. So he takes up an opportunity with Diji, a new kind of IT consultancy and engineering company. And that’s it. His progress at Diji leads him to discover the professional photography market, which is just waiting to be disrupted. Thomas gets it and seizes the opportunity by creating Meero! ## Growth Engine - Type: VC Fund - Location: Milan, Lombardia, Italy - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Secondary Market, Convertible Note - Focus: Software, E-Commerce, Information Technology Growth Engine is a Venture Capital holding investing in Pre-Seed and Seed high-potential opportunities. With a current portfolio of more than 40 companies, most of them evolved in successful Scaleups, Growth Engine is a diversified asset class by sector and stage. Growth Engine Shareholders are entrepreneurs who have built companies from the groundup, collectively creating billions in value, and top executives managing companies with multi-billion-dollar valuations. ## Stonebridge PLC - Type: VC Fund - Location: London, England, United Kingdom - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: CRM, Pet, Fashion Stonebridge is a private investment firm backed by family office capital. We empower visionary entrepreneurs with Growth capital investment and a world-class network to build the global leaders of tomorrow.