Teampact closes €20M fund with pro athletes as LPs: 'Fundraising is an Olympic sport'
18 nov. 2025
06:00
A World Cup–winning footballer helps a CEO stay calm under pressure. A rugby star helps a founder boost her self confidence. A handball pro coaches biotech entrepreneurs on strategic decision-making.
What sounds like an odd match-up has become the core investment model of Teampact Ventures, which today announced the final close of its first fund at just over €20m.
Impact Loop spoke to rugby pro–turned–VC Benjamin Kayser about the fund, the thinking behind pairing athletes with founders, and what comes next for Teampact’s debut vehicle.
What sounds like an odd match-up has become the core investment model of Teampact Ventures, which today announced the final close of its first fund at just over €20m.
Impact Loop spoke to rugby pro–turned–VC Benjamin Kayser about the fund, the thinking behind pairing athletes with founders, and what comes next for Teampact’s debut vehicle.
Paris-headquartered Teampact Ventures has closed its first fund at over €20m, targeting early-stage deep tech startups in climate and health – but it doesn’t have your typical LP lineup.
Some 60 athletes anchored the fund, including pro rugby player Antoine Dupont, handball champion Nikola Karabatic, and World Cup-winning footballer Raphael Varane. The sports stars also other tailored coaching for founders in Teampact’s portfolio.