LEAD Sports and Health Tech Partners (LEAD), a globally recognized venture corporation in the sports and health tech sectors, has announced the launch of LEAD ONE, a new direct investment vehicle focused on pre-seed companies. This initiative marks a strategic evolution from LEAD’s previous accelerator model, tailored to meet the dynamic needs of the global early-stage venture market.
With an annual allocation of $1 million, LEAD ONE aims to invest in 10 companies each year that are innovating in areas such as healthcare accessibility, youth sports, food as medicine, media/IP, women’s health, orthopedics, wellness modalities, gaming, and fan engagement.
“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,” said Justin Driscoll, Principal of Investments & Portfolio at LEAD.
Christoph Sonnen, Co-founder and CEO of LEAD, emphasized the importance of continual 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 not only provides financial support but also offers startups the chance to collaborate directly with LEAD’s extensive network of forward-thinking venture partners. These partners include professional sports teams, player associations, sports federations, lifestyle brands, performance facilities, and health systems.
The structure of LEAD ONE redefines the traditional venture partner model. Instead of relying on individual representatives, LEAD ONE collaborates directly with corporate organizations dedicated to continuous innovation. This approach allows for strategic, mutually beneficial partnerships that provide startups with valuable engagement opportunities and market insights.
Operating from offices in Lake Nona, FL, and Berlin, Germany, LEAD plans to announce the LEAD ONE venture partners and its initial investments in the coming months.
