Soft Closure
Dutch Sport Tech
DSTF 1

Dutch Sport Tech Fund (DSTF), founded in 2021 and focused on sports innovations, announces a soft closing and will stop recruiting new investors for their current DSTF 1. 

With 17 companies in the portfolio, the goals outlined in the prospectus have been achieved faster than planned, and the targeted funding has been raised. This highlights the strong interest and confidence of investors in DSTF. The focus on groundbreaking technologies that contribute to sports performance, health, and accessibility attracts both institutional and private investors.

Dutch Sport Tech Fund (DSTF) was the first initiative in the Netherlands and one of the first in Europe to combine technology and sports. “From the very beginning, there was confidence in our approach, which led to immediate success,” says Alexander Janssen, CEO of DSTF. “Technology and data are transforming the world of sports, from professionals to amateurs. With an annual market growth of over 20%, this sector is attractive to investors and developers. Technology has now become essential for the development of every athlete.”

DSTF invests in 18 start-ups and scale-ups that are developing innovative solutions at the intersection of technology and sports. The soft closing marks an important milestone and provides opportunities to support companies in areas such as data-driven training tools, sports infrastructure, communities, and fan engagement. “This milestone not only underscores the strength of DSTF 1, but also the growing demand for technological innovation in the sports world,” says Janssen. “We thank our investors for their trust and look forward to the next steps.”

For further growth, application development, scalability, and distinctive GTM (go-to-market) strategies are needed. Dutch Sport Tech Fund provides the means to achieve this. The prospects for returns for participants were good and are getting even better, especially given the immense volume in the amateur sports market.

Alexander: “Because we were the first, we can cherry-pick and collaborate with participations that have the highest growth figures or market potential. DSTF has a 5+2 term, with five years of build-up and two years of wind-down with exits. The soft closure allows us to focus on optimally utilizing the investments already secured and achieving maximum returns. DSTF 1 is closed to new investors but remains open for existing investors to expand their investments. With active participants, multiple exit candidates, and sufficient market dynamics, we have the necessary foundation for this strategic decision.”

The focus is now on managing DSTF 1 so that the participations are guided to a good destination and achieve excellent returns. From now on, the outside world will see a different image of DSTF. Previously, marketing and communication were aimed at attracting investors, but from now on, they will report on the progress made by DSTF 1’s participations. In addition, we are currently busy with our plans for DSTF 2.

DSTF remains open to new investors in DSTF 2 who want to contribute to the further development of the Dutch Sport Tech Fund and the realization of impactful innovations. Full funding is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. Developments can be followed via the website and social media.