Como Launch Pioneering Startup Platform to Spearhead Athlete-led Investment

Como have launched their latest innovative partnership with the announcement of Como Ventures. 

The Serie A side have made waves on and off the pitch since being acquired by the Djarum Group in 2019, with Como4Como and the Como Cup among a host of initiatives that has seen the club position itself as a global leader when it comes to building a brand beyond the pitch. 

President Mirwan Suwarso has spoken about his desire to build a £1billion business group around Como by 2038, and they have taken the next step on that journey by partnering with The Players Fund – the world’s largest athlete-led venture capital platform – to set up a scheme which gives startups access to the Como brand and network. 

The programme is seeking applications from founders across six themes. These include luxury hospitality and travel, media technology, merchandising and retail infrastructure, health technology and human performance, next generation mobility, and sustainability. 

Those shortlisted will be given the chance to present their ideas at a pitch day, with successful candidates given a six-month opportunity to tap into the club’s resources before a demo day in front of potential investors. Applications are already open. 

Ryan Shelton, Chief Revenue Officer with 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.”

As part of the partnership, Como are also set to receive insight and advice from the The Players Fund. Head of Corporate Venture Andy Marston added: “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.”