Como 1907 and The Players Fund launch startup accelerator program Italian Serie A club #Como1907 has teamed up with London-based #VC The Players Fund to launch #ComoVentures, a new accelerator designed to support early-stage startups. The program will focus on sectors closely tied to sports and entertainment, including health and human performance, hospitality and travel, media technology, retail, mobility, and sustainability. The initiative gives selected startups access to Como’s team, facilities, and stadium operations in exchange for equity, with the football club leveraging its entrepreneurial approach — which already includes ventures in brewing and tourism — to integrate innovation into its operations. Como’s Chief Revenue Officer C. Ryan Shelton noted that the program aims both to enhance fan experience, from ticketing to transport, and to identify new business opportunities for the club. The Players Fund, an athlete-backed investment platform, will lead startup selection and oversee daily management of the accelerator. According to Andy Marston, Head of Corporate Venture at The Players Fund, three to four startups will be chosen for the first cohort, beginning in January 2026 with a six-month program that concludes with a demo day alongside Como’s commercial partners. Applications remain open until October, with pitch day scheduled for November. The article on The Sport Business Journal in the first comment.
Michele Mattei
1mo
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Como 1907 🤝 fintech Michele Mattei exciting to have one of your posts about us!
Viraj Acharya
1mo
Lets get the players fund on VENTURES 🚀
PHALGUN VENKAT
1mo
Thanks for Sharing
Viraj Acharya
1mo
also Charlie Stebbings are you all over this ?
Un esempio di come un club possa unire sport e innovazione per creare valore sia per i tifosi che per l’ecosistema delle startup. 🚀
Fintech expert | Manager | Investor | Advisor
1moThe article on #Sportbusinessjournal: https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/09/17/como-1907-the-players-fund-launch-accelerator/