- APEX has already invested in several sports and VR start-ups in the sports sector
- Cody Gakpo will join a range of high profile athletes who have already invested
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Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo has teamed up with Formula One drivers and rugby union stars by being part of an investment group to the tune of £43million (€50m) for sports-related technology and entertainment.
The fund will invest in plenty of start-ups in the sports sector and the portfolio already includes a tailored nutrition platform for athletes, a virtual reality sports firm; a performance analysis tool and smart-court technology.
Gakpo is joined in putting forward £43m cumulatively with business partners including five-time Champions League winner Marcelo, former world cycling champion Mark Cavendish and England rugby union skipper Maro Itoje.
The APEX sports investment firm already has Formula One drivers Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz, and Valtteri Bottas plus footballers Raphael Varane, Christian Eriksen and Jan Vertonghen. The firm has already invested in Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s company, TMRW Sports.
Gakpo and Co’s investments are set to be announced by APEX this week and the Dutchman said: ‘I’m excited to join the APEX community. As an athlete-investor I think it’s an opportunistic time to explore innovation and tech in sports and I know that every one per cent improvement matters.
‘Our approach as like-minded athletes and supporting entrepreneurs to drive change just makes sense. We play together, we win together, and I look forward to seeing what we can achieve.’
APEX’s CEO and founder, Antonio Cacorino, met Gakpo through the football community and he told Mail Sport: ‘Cody understands he wants to position himself more as an investor. He understands the sports space and wants to invest in it.
‘He believes APEX is one of the most exciting partners out there doing this. The like-minded approach with all these athletes excites him.
‘He will slowly get more involved and be with other athletes who are excited about this.
‘We grew very quickly and, athlete to athlete, the growth is organic and athletes come to us when they decide to be more entrepreneurial. They know we are authentic, athlete-founded and athlete-driven and that makes this unique.’