The Players Fund

The Players Fund is the UK's first athlete-led venture capital firm, founded in 2023. It invests in early-stage, tech-enabled startups from Pre-Seed to Series A. The fund was established by a group of world-class athletes and is managed by Fergus and Ruari Bell. It was formed through the consolidation of several athlete investment groups, including 4CAST, ForGood, and B-Engaged. The firm's first fund is £40 million (approximately $51 million USD) and focuses on sectors such as health, sports technologies, social media, and smart commerce. The fund operates as a co-investor alongside other established VC firms, with initial check sizes ranging from £50,000 to £300,000.