- Former Red Bull driver Mark Webber joins investor line-up
- TMRW looking to create ‘progressive approaches’ to sports, media and entertainment
Formula One drivers Lewis Hamilton, Alex Albon, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz have invested in TMRW Sports, the new technology-focused venture from Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
For seven-time world champion Hamilton, the outlay follows his investment in the National Football League's (NFL) Denver Broncos, which saw the 37-year-old acquire a minority stake.
Hamilton had previously revealed that he wanted “to get more and more involved in teams” as he really believes in “Black ownership, because there is a lack of it within sports, and Black equity”.
Joining Hamilton and his fellow three Formula One contemporaries is retired driver Mark Webber, who racked up nine Grand Prix victories during his spell with Red Bull Racing.
The group are one of several athlete investors in TMRW Sports, joining the likes of the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Stephen Curry, the NFL’s Josh Allen, Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Trea Turner, the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Sidney Crosby, US soccer star Alex Morgan and tennis icon Venus Williams.
In total, TMRW Sports announced 26 ‘cultural icon’ investors, which also features the World Surf League’s (WSL) Kanoa Igarashi and professional gamer Tyler ‘Ninja’ Blevins.
The institutional investment was co-led by Connect Ventures and 25madison Ventures. The likes of Apex Capital, Excel Sports Management and Misfits Gaming Group are also on board.
“Over the past year we’ve assembled a team of investors who will help deliver on the TMRW Sports’ mission to positively impact how sports are experienced in the future,” said Mike McCarley, chief executive of TMRW Sports. “And we’ve been intentional about diversity of expertise, thought and backgrounds as we mobilised this strategic group co-led by Connect Ventures and 25madison Ventures,
“From the very beginning our plan has been to partner with the best-in-class in every way imaginable and Tiger, Rory, and I value the support of this unrivalled team of investors, advisors, and ambassadors who believe in our vision to harness technology to create progressive approaches to sports.
“Their combined broad reach and cultural relevance will expand potential opportunities and fanbases for TMRW projects. Plus, many share a passion for golf that only adds more fuel to TGL, our first project in partnership with the PGA Tour.”