Venture infrastructure,
embedded inside
the rights holder.
TPF Labs builds the corporate venture and innovation function that clubs, federations, and leagues don't have in-house — sourced, diligenced, and operated with institutional VC discipline, not a curated startup list.
Built as a fund. Operating as infrastructure.
TPF Labs began as a venture capital firm and now deploys that discipline to build embedded venture and innovation infrastructure inside rights holders.
Deeply connected to VC
A proven co-investment track record alongside tier-one funds including Seedcamp and Cherry Ventures. Portfolio thinking, equity structuring, and founder diligence on every programme.
Embedded in sport
Live operational programmes inside major European rights holders — not advisory relationships. Founders working against real commercial and performance challenges, inside club infrastructure.
AI-native
SCOUT, our proprietary platform, powers sourcing, diligence, and portfolio intelligence — built and shipped by our own engineering team. We don't advise on AI without having built it.
One infrastructure. Two ways to run it.
Every rightsholder starts from the same question: back companies for equity, or use the club as a live testbed with no capital at risk. Toggle to see how each model is built, delivered, and where it fits.
The opportunity
What it solves
Two ways to engage. Sequenced to grow with the organisation.
Innovation Programmes
A live testbed inside the organisation's own operating environment. The department sets the thesis, SCOUT filters the market, and the strongest companies pilot with clear scope and measurable outcomes — no procurement or equity decision required to get started.
Corporate Venture
New revenue by exchanging non-commercialised assets for equity in promising early-stage, venture-backed businesses — sourced and diligenced by The Players Fund, structured to sit alongside existing sponsorship rather than compete with it.
Como 1907 Ventures
TPF Labs' blueprint corporate venture programme — driven by venture returns, structured separately from sponsorship to protect both sides.
“Como Ventures is a natural extension of what makes this club unique — giving founders a platform they cannot find anywhere else.”Ryan Shelton, Chief Revenue Officer, Como 1907 — via SportsPro
Como is investing alongside VC investors who allocate for returns — getting into deals alongside the likes of Concept Ventures and Octopus. TPF Labs ran the full sourcing funnel end to end, with zero internal Como headcount spent on sourcing, diligence, or structuring.
Juventus Forward
A needs-driven innovation programme, extending the club's internal innovation function and creating new value for its commercial partners.
“Working with The Players Fund is a win-win deal, where startups provide services, and we provide validation, access & visibility.”Carolina Chiappero, Innovation Manager, Juventus — via Sports Business Journal
An extension of Juventus' internal team without adding headcount — TPF Labs lends specialist capability, from VC sourcing and pilot structuring to AI implementation, that the club would otherwise need to hire across multiple roles.
Sourcing, diligence, and programme intelligence — run by SCOUT.
Built and operated in-house. SCOUT scouts proactively across 400M+ data points, so the rightsholder only ever sees companies worth its time.
AI-powered sourcing & assessment
Proactive outbound scouting scores every company against each rightsholder's specific thesis — filtering the market before anyone sees a pitch.
Frontier voice AI assistance
Programme teams interact with SCOUT conversationally — surfacing insights and querying the database at every stage of a live programme.
Quantitative assessment algorithm
Every company scored on a consistent framework — founder quality, product maturity, market fit, thesis alignment. If a company doesn't meet the bar, it doesn't enter the programme.
Supported by VC experience.
The Players Fund — proven co-investment track record alongside tier-one funds, and an experienced investment committee.
Operators, not intermediaries.
Flora Bell — speaking, Juventus Forward panel ]
Flora Bell
Leads Innovation & Corporate Venture partnerships across sport, media, and technology. Previously LALIGA Studios.
Andy Marston — on stage, Como 1907 Pitch Day ]
Andy Marston
Designs and delivers bespoke programmes for high-profile clubs and rightsholders. Previously CSM Sport & Entertainment.
Jonathan McCallum — SCOUT platform demo ]
Jonathan McCallum
Leads the AI audit practice. Six years at Kantar Media directing global technology programmes across 40+ markets.
What's live right now.
Programme milestones, press coverage, and announcements — published directly by the TPF Labs team.
Publish an update
Wireframe only — in production this connects to a CMS/API. Entries here are illustrative and won't persist on reload.
Each rightsholder gets one strategy. Not a template.
We only engage where the value proposition is genuinely compelling — and avoid programmes that risk overlap or cannibalising deal flow. Secure your place early.