Como 1907 and The Players Fund Launch Startup and Investment Platform.

Roger Hampel

Photo Credit: Como 1907

Como 1907 has announced the launch of Como Ventures, a startup and investment platform created in partnership with The Players Fund, the athlete-led venture capital firm. The initiative is designed to provide early-stage companies with a launchpad to test, grow, and scale by combining the club’s global profile with the fund’s network of athletes, capital, and industry operators.

Founder-First Approach Como 1907 Fund Startup

Como Ventures will give startups direct access to Como 1907’s operations and brand ecosystem, while also leveraging The Players Fund’s international investor and athlete network. Startups selected will be able to validate products in real-world conditions, showcase solutions to global audiences, and accelerate their commercial development.

The program is opening applications across six focus areas:

• Luxury hospitality and travel

• Media technology

• Merchandising and retail infrastructure

• Health technology and human performance

• Next generation mobility

• Sustainability

Shortlisted companies will present at a Pitch Day in November. Final selections will be made by Como 1907 operators and The Players Fund’s investment team. Successful startups will participate in a six-month activation inside the club, concluding with a Demo Day later in the season attended by investors, sponsors, and media representatives.

Strategic Rationale

Ryan Shelton, Chief Revenue Officer at Como 1907, said:

“Como Ventures is a natural extension of what makes this club unique. We are giving founders a platform they cannot find anywhere else, one that combines Lake Como’s cultural magnetism with athlete and investor access at a global scale.”

Beyond the startup program, The Players Fund will advise Como 1907 on wider innovation and investment opportunities, supporting the club’s efforts to align with emerging trends in sport, media, and culture.

Andy Marston, Head of Corporate Venture at The Players Fund, added:

“We’re delighted to be working with Como 1907 to launch Como Ventures. The club’s global brand, distinctive culture, and commitment to doing things differently make it an exceptional partner for us. Together we’ve built a venture platform that creates a flywheel: it surfaces and validates startups for The Players Fund while giving Como a front-row seat to breakthrough innovation. That combination of real-world testing, global visibility, and shared ambition is what makes this collaboration so powerful.”