1907 joins forces with the Players Fund, which is supported by cricket star Ben Stokes.
Como 1907, the Italian football club based in the picturesque town of Como, has launched a new startup and investment platform named Como Ventures. The venture, powered by the athlete-led venture capital firm, The Players Fund, has generated excitement among industry insiders.
Andy Marston, from The Players Fund, expressed his delight over the launch, stating that the collaboration creates a "flywheel," surfacing and validating startups for The Players Fund while giving Como a front-row seat to breakthrough innovation.
Cesc Fabregas, a former Arsenal and Chelsea player, who manages Como 1907 and is also a shareholder, welcomed the move. He sees Como Ventures as a unique extension of the club, offering founders a platform they cannot find elsewhere, combining Lake Como's cultural magnetism with global-scale athlete and investor access.
Como Ventures aims to create a "founder-first launchpad," providing start-ups with access to Como 1907's global brand and local operations, as well as tapping into The Players Fund's network of athletes, capital, investors, and operators. This network includes notable figures such as Jessica Ennis-Hill, Stuart Broad, Allyson Felix, and Ben Stokes.
The Players Fund has previously backed Naomi Osaka's media company, Hana Kuma, and has also invested in the high-end ticketing marketplace Seat Unique.
Como 1907, currently ninth in Serie A, has had a mixed start to the 2025-26 season, with a record of one win in their opening three games. They will play against Fiorentina at the weekend, followed by a home match against Jamie Vardy's Cremonese. Their only win so far was against Lazio in the opening day.
Ryan Shelton, the club's chief revenue officer, believes that Como Ventures is a game-changer. He said, "This is a unique extension of the club, offering founders a platform they cannot find elsewhere."
It's worth noting that Como 1907 has its own women's team, separate from the Como women's club owned by Mercury13. The exact founder of Como Ventures is not explicitly named in the available sources; it is established as a joint initiative by the Italian football club Como 1907 together with the sports athlete-led venture capital firm The Players Fund.
The combination of real-world testing, global visibility, and shared ambition is what makes this collaboration between The Players Fund and Como Ventures powerful, according to Marston. This partnership promises to bring exciting opportunities for both start-ups and the sports industry.
Read also:
- Planned construction of enclosures within Görlitzer Park faces delays
- Foreign financial aid for German citizens residing abroad persists
- Hulk Hogan's successful transformation of his wrestling persona into a lucrative business entity
- United States and Russia prepared to delve deeper into negotiations regarding the Sakhalin 1 oil and gas project
