Ex-professional footballer is now causing revolutions in sport

Technology is bringing about revolutionary changes in the world of sports, both for professionals and amateurs. This inspired former professional footballer Mark Snijders to make investing in sports technology possible. A gap in an exponentially growing market.

For Snijders, it was a surprise that no one had yet filled that gap. So he did, at the end of 2020. Together with his management team – consisting of Eric van der Maarel (financial and sales professional, entrepreneur and investor) and Alexander Janssen (economist, entrepreneur and sport tech investor) – he founded Dutch Sport Tech Fund. “People then say: ‘What does Snijders know about investing?’ My strength is bringing the right people together to become champions.”

He once saw the power of the team on the field; he played professionally for AZ and the English club Port Vale. “I was certainly not the best player, but I did work hard to win together.” In addition to playing football, he studied Architecture and Business Administration. After his football career – he retired at 28 – he became an entrepreneur in the sports world and worked in sports technology. So, the step to Dutch Sport Tech Fund wasn’t that big after all.

Dutch Sport Tech Fund is the only fund in the Netherlands that facilitates investments in innovative and scalable sports technology companies. And that is a smart investment, says Snijders. “The global sports tech market is expected to grow to around 30 billion dollars in 2024 and to 50 billion dollars in 2030.”

It’s no surprise, then, that one innovation after another is being presented. From sensors in shoes that collect data to improve performance to solutions that enable clubs to better train players and coaches. It’s certainly not just about companies coming up with ways to make top athletes even better, but also about solutions aimed at amateur athletes.

“Vitality is an important theme for everyone,” Snijders explains. “A lot of people are working on living healthier lives, and there are many ways to work towards a different lifestyle.”

The six sectors defined by Dutch Sport Tech Fund are: Athlete performance, Data & Analytics, Fan engagement, Athlete branding, OTT (Over The Top content), and Esports, fantasy sports & betting. “We invest in a mix of more than forty interesting scale-ups and start-ups. Because it involves multiple companies – both national and international – the risk is spread. Currently, there are six participations, but ultimately the portfolio should consist of more than twenty participations.” Dutch Sport Tech Fund expects to achieve an annual value growth of 10 percent with these participations.

Among the current participations is, for example, the Spanish company Horizm, a pioneer in the field of digital sports sponsorship. But also the English company Circl, a social betting app where you can place a bet with your friends during a sports match. Esports is an interesting market, according to Snijders. “Did you know that the final of League of Legends – an online game – is watched more than the broadcast of the Super Bowl?”

Dutch Sport Tech Fund invests in the verticals Athlete performance, Data & Analytics, Fan engagement, Athlete branding, OTT (Over The Top content), and Esports, fantasy sports & betting.

But how do you determine which company is worth investing in? In other words: how do you pick the best from the bunch? Snijders and his management team have gathered experts who carefully assess everything they bring forward. “We have specialists in the field of media rights, e-commerce, data, but also accountants and people with legal expertise. After that, it goes to the board.”

There is also a team of ambassadors from various sports disciplines associated with the fund. Former top athletes such as Marianne Timmer (speed skating), Roelant Oltmans (hockey), and Stanley Menzo (football). “They have experience in sports, so they are the right people to assess innovations. In this way, we have built a very strong team around us to determine whether a company is viable or can move to the next phase.”

Snijders is just as eager to collaborate with the companies his fund invests in. “If we believe in a product or solution, we also want to contribute to the growth of that company. Not: here’s some money. But: how can we ensure that your product or solution becomes an even greater success?”

Investing in the Dutch Sport Tech Fund is now possible starting from 100,000 euros. “We focus on wealthy individuals who see a future in this branch of sport.” Snijders and his partners are also considering issuing certificates for lower amounts. “This market is actually very interesting for more people than just professional investors. Young people understand very well that this market is booming, because they are part of it themselves. Maybe in the future we will also focus on them.”

(Source: Telegraaf.nl)