Sourcing
Origination is privileged
The best sports-tech deals originate inside clubs, labs and elite testing environments, not on open markets.
Sport · Health · Performance · Technology
Where elite sport meets venture capitalhuman performancefrontier technologyglobal fandomventure capital
An early-stage venture firm investing at the intersection of sport, human performance and technology, sourcing and co-investing alongside Barça Innovation Hub, the innovation and venture arm of FC Barcelona.
Seed–Series AInvestment stage
$150K–$3MInitial check
GlobalEurope + North America
BIHUBCo-investment alliance
Overview
1899 Innovation Fund brings C-suite operators, investors and elite sports professionals together with a historic football club and its venture arm, in a way no fund has done before.
1899 is the year FC Barcelona was founded. It is also our standard: we back companies built to hold up in the most demanding proving ground in sport, with initial checks of $150K to $3M and reserves to follow on into our strongest companies.
- Stage & check
- Seed–Series A$150K–$3M initial, with follow-on reserves
- Focus
- Sport × technologyHealth & performance, sports tech, fan engagement, venues
- Geography
- GlobalEurope + North America
- Alliance
- Barça Innovation HubShared sourcing, side-by-side co-investment
Investment focus
Four verticals. One intersection.
We invest where elite sport meets frontier technology: companies validated by elite athletes and infrastructure, then scaled through a global sporting ecosystem.
Human performance & health
Biomarkers, wearables, recovery science and AI-driven performance optimization, validated in elite training environments before scaling to the wider wellness market.
Gaming & esports
Next-generation gaming ecosystems, digital identity and immersive competition, where a global fanbase meets interactive entertainment.
Fan engagement & new media
Creator platforms and digital experiences that connect hundreds of millions of supporters to the sport they follow.
Smart venues & infrastructure
Smart stadiums, energy systems and connected venues: technology that changes how the largest gathering places are built and run.
Why now
Sport, health and technology are converging
Capital
Capital hasn't caught up
Generalist investors struggle to reach or validate these companies. Founders need partners who understand elite sport.
Timing
The window is open
Health, performance and fan technology are maturing at the same time, and the companies that will define the next decade of sport are being built now.
The best deals no longer surface at conferences. They surface inside elite institutions.
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