APEX closes Impact Program with three investments in nutrition, talent identification & development, and fan engagement
APEX, an investment manager investing with 100+ elite athletes (Trent Alexander‑Arnold, Juan Mata, Alexander Zverev, Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz, Valtteri Bottas, Kanoa Igarashi and Rafael Varane to name a few), has announced their inaugural investments as part of their Impact Program, a key component of the firm’s Elite Performance VC Fund. This initiative supports dedicated founders who are developing pioneering early-stage technologies aimed at positively shaping the future of sports, media, and entertainment.
Following the programme, APEX has invested in three companies:
- Hexis, a nutrition platform that provides personalised nutrition plans for individuals, based on their goals and lifestyle. Hexis was founded by leading experts in performance nutrition with extensive clinical research and professional practitioner experience.
- Traits, a sports agnostic, club specific, athlete profiling tool, using objective event data to reflect each athlete’s performance DNA, considering each organisations’ unique sporting philosophy and their specific language. Traits was founded by Dr Dan Pelchen, who previously led data analysis teams at Chelsea FC and Collingwood FC.
- VRTL, a platform that enables sports, media and entertainment organisations to host fan experiences within a virtual environment, e.g. live autograph sessions, 1 on 1 meet and greets, 10,000-person fan fests. VRTL was founded by Courtney Jeffries, who previously worked for the Oakland Raiders, Pac-12 conference and New York Rangers.
Antonio Caçorino, CEO and Founder of APEX, commented: “We chose these companies for their inspiring vision, but also because of our conviction in their team’s ability to execute and navigate the markets they’re targeting. Each founding team has highly relevant experience in their field and have a diversity of background and expertise that personifies why we set up the Impact Program in the first place: to empower standout founders who are building unique early-stage technologies that can transform the worlds of sports, media, & entertainment for the better”.
Dan Pelchen, CEO & Founder of Traits, commented: “The team at Traits Insights is thrilled to be partnering with APEX. The investment will be instrumental in solidifying Traits’ position as a key player in the emerging sports analytics industry. Over recent months, we have cultivated strong working relationships with the APEX team and have enjoyed collaborating with their exceptional network.”
Courtney Jeffries, CEO & Founder of VRTL, commented: “APEX is the ideal investor and partner for VRTL. Their investment lends immediate credibility to our sales efforts with international properties, and their introductions and strategic partnerships give us access to brands otherwise unavailable to us. We expect these connections to further influence our product development to meet the ever changing expectations of global fan engagement.”
The funding will be used by the companies to accelerate growth, support product development, marketing and hiring.
The companies will also benefit from ongoing support from APEX’s experienced Impact Program team, as well as access to athlete partners, advisory panels, and existing portfolio founders. During this time APEX will help companies accelerate their go-to-market by introducing companies to potential clients and partners, alongside the support of APEX’s internationally recognised network in sports, including F1, Premier League, LaLiga, PGA, WSL, Boxing, Rugby Union, NFL, MLB and the NBA.
Additional quotes
David Dunne, CEO & Co-Founder, Hexis, added: “APEX are a true leader in sports, media, and entertainment investments who are continually innovating and influencing. The Impact Program provides a unique opportunity for Hexis to leverage the experiences and perspectives of the APEX team and community, as well as their phenomenal sports ecosystem, to help propel Hexis towards becoming critical infrastructure in sports nutrition”
More information about APEX’s Impact Program, please reach out to Sam Isaacs (sam.isaacs@apex-cp.com) or click the link here.
