It's that time again - the Athlete Angel Update is here! This blog series provides regular updates on the latest developments in the world of Athlete Angels. Who has made a new investment? Which athletes are taking their first steps in the startup scene? We address these and other questions in this section.
This is the second episode. We look back at the first few months of the still young year 2023. Alongside experienced Athlete Angels, we also have newcomers!
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Mario Götze
The professional footballer from Eintracht Frankfurt has already been part of the first episode. Now, additional investment deals have been announced.
The Paris-based startup Unagi is developing a fantasy sports platform and online gaming in the Web3 space. One month ago, they announced the completion of their seed round, in which Mario Götze also participated. In total, the startup raised 4.7 million euros from various investors for platform development.
Frond describes itself as a community platform. With a new approach beyond traditional conversations, they facilitate community building. Mario Götze is convinced by the idea and invests in the San Francisco-based company. The seed round of 3.3 million US dollars also includes prominent German venture capital fund Cherry Ventures.
The athlete has also invested in the young company comstruct. Based in Munich, this startup focuses on digitalization through a platform. It specializes in the construction industry and aims to automate processes in material procurement. With this investment, Mario Götze diversifies his startup portfolio into another industry. Approximately 1.2 million euros were raised in the completed pre-seed round for the startup.
Timo Baumgartl
The story of Timo Baumgartl is impressive. Months ago, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, underwent surgery, received chemotherapy, and then fought his way back to the football field. The player from Union Berlin has had an experience that not many people can relate to. Due to his story, he comes into contact with ONVY HealthTech by Adrian Kochsiek. The startup is developing a digital health coach using artificial intelligence. The AI Health Coach analyzes individual health data of the user and ensures optimal health and performance. Timo Baumgartl is convinced by the business model, invests in the company, and thus makes his first startup investment.
Sebastian Langkamp
He played for several Bundesliga clubs, and now he is venturing into startup investments. It was recently announced that the former professional footballer has invested in the Cologne-based company GOKIXX. They have developed a platform that supports young footballers on their path to becoming professionals, in addition to their club training. Sebastian Langkamp is not only involved as an investor but also serves as a mentor for the youth program. This is already the second investment by the former athlete. A few years ago, he also invested in One-Versus-One, a sports company that analyzes performance data of professional footballers and clubs.
Serge Gnabry
Serge Gnabry's trip to Paris was a topic of much discussion for a while. Perhaps the Bayern Munich player traveled to the French capital for other reasons. The startup Virón, known for its vegan shoe brand, recently completed its first funding round. By investing in this company, the German footballer confirms his strong interest in the fashion industry and becomes an Athlete Angel at the same time.
Thomas Müller
Another player from FC Bayern Munich who has made a new startup investment. Thomas Müller, like Mario Götze, was already part of our last Athlete Angel update. He can now add Organic Garden to his portfolio. This food tech startup focuses on sustainable and healthy nutrition. It represents a regional, digitized approach to food that individuals can experience at one of their locations. For Thomas Müller, this is already his second startup investment in the field of sustainable food production.
Today's episode features five male footballers, highlighting the growth of the Athlete Angels scene in German football. It's a positive sign that the scene is expanding. Additionally, there is a noticeable trend of investments in digital platform solutions. The digitization and automation of processes continue to be relevant business models.
If you came across terms that you are unfamiliar with, make use of the new Athlete Capital Dictionary or join one of our free webinars! With Athlete Capital, all professional athletes now have the opportunity to take their first steps as investors. Whether you're inexperienced or already active, our community platform and individual support offer a successful start as an Athlete Angel.
References: LinkedIn
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