LEAD Sports and Health Tech Partners (LEAD) has introduced a groundbreaking investment initiative called LEAD ONE, aimed at pre-seed companies in the sports and health tech arenas. This new venture marks a significant shift from LEAD’s previous accelerator model, reflecting a strategic move to better address the evolving demands of early-stage investment.
With a commitment of $1 million annually, LEAD ONE is set to back up to ten innovative startups each year. The focus areas for these investments include healthcare accessibility, youth sports, food as medicine, media and intellectual property, women’s health, orthopaedics, wellness modalities, gaming, and fan engagement.
Justin Driscoll, Principal of Investments & Portfolio at LEAD, commented on the initiative, stating, “The venture capital market has shifted, as capital is not being deployed at the same velocity due to higher investment criteria for early-stage funds. In response, we have re-launched LEAD ONE to address the needs of pre-seed companies with a founder-friendly opportunity to access our platform and secure the necessary capital to scale.”
Christoph Sonnen, Co-founder and CEO of LEAD, highlighted the importance of ongoing innovation: “Innovation does not sleep; the best companies are incubated within every economic cycle. We are ready to champion these bold entrepreneurs with our global ecosystem of investors, advisors, innovators, athletes, and operators.”
LEAD ONE is designed not just to provide financial backing but also to facilitate direct collaborations with LEAD’s broad network of progressive venture partners. These include professional sports teams, player associations, sports federations, lifestyle brands, performance facilities, and health systems.
In a departure from traditional venture models, LEAD ONE opts to work directly with corporate entities committed to innovation. This strategic approach fosters mutually advantageous partnerships, offering startups not only financial support but also valuable market insights and engagement opportunities.
Based in Lake Nona, FL, and Berlin, Germany, LEAD is set to announce its initial venture partners and investments for LEAD ONE in the near future. This new vehicle represents a fresh approach to supporting early-stage innovation in the sports and health tech sectors.