Equity investments will target very young start-ups. They will be supported by a team of champions.
Have champions as supporters. This is the bet made by Blaise Matuidi, Ilan Abehassera and Salomon Aiach, three of the co-founders of Origins, an investment fund dedicated to very young start-ups. “We wanted to bring the world of tech closer to that of sport. In the United States, it’s common, athletes regularly invest in tech. Not in Europe“says Ilan Abehassera.
Origins has a double particularity. Half of its investors are big names in sport. Alongside Blaise Matuidi, we note in particular the presence of Antoine Dupont. A football world champion in 2018 and the best day of rugby 2021: the poster has something to seduce. The Origins dream team brings together around fifty athletes, 80% of whom are footballers, well-known entrepreneurs, such as the founders of The Sandbox, Sophie Mechaly (Paul&Joe), Maurice Levy from Publicis,senior Facebook and Apple executives»… The FDJ group is also an investor.
160 millions de followers
«We will rely on their networks to promote the companies in which we investexplains Ilan Abehassera. When we see how much start-ups spend on advertising… We prefer to bet on smart money!“. Former of Facebook, Salomon Aiach has “seen how much clubs spend on advertising. On average, 20-40% of venture capital money raised by mainstream start-ups was reinvested into customer acquisition on social media platforms».
In total, Blaise Matuidi and his co-investors have 160 million followers on social networks. A good base audience to talk about the companies that will be supported. Logically, the fund will target start-ups positioned on the general public market, more likely to be interested in the recommendations of their sports idols.
Win the Startup World Cup
«The goal is to make stories all together, because we want to do it. It is a source of pride to say that we represent these start-ups. This is not limited to advertising for a brand, we want to get involved as much as possible“Adds Blaise Matuidi before confessing”sometimes I do too much, I learn every day with Ilan and Salomon. It’s done in stages, like when he made his football career. Now we have to win the Start-up World Cup».
«Footballers are not at all invested in tech even though they are heavy users. We will help them investadds Blaise Matuidi, all smiles. You have to be aware that a football career is short, and think about the future“. He confesses “a real desire to open the mind“. Initially the world champion first brought together relatives and faced with the enthusiasm aroused, he decided to go further. “It is not necessarily a question of bringing together the highest paid footballers, but also sportsmen who have influence and those who are interested in the project.».
Origins plans to take stakes of between 100,000 and 500,000 euros. The fund has already made two investments. The first in Ugami, “a bank for gamers”, which offers them financial services and rewards. The second in Yumon, an NFT platform.