Tennis star Andy Murray is joining the Seedrs advisory board and will make regular investments in tech start-ups specialising in health, sport and wearable technology, the parties have announced.
Murray will also help equity crowdfunding platform Seedrs to grow awareness of its brand both in the UK and internationally as part of the agreement.
The arrangement appears to be a real coup for Seedrs. The arrangement with Britain’s most successful tennis player – along with one of the UK’s most recognisable current sportsmen – is set to increase brand awareness and market share.
The business has already funded nearly 200 deals to date; and is showing month-on-month of 15%.
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Seedrs CEO and co-founder Jeff Lynn called Murray “the perfect partner for Seedrs”.
“In many ways, he represents the exact combination of qualities that entrepreneurs need to be successful: determination, focus, integrity and skill,” he continued.
“We are particularly looking forward to working with him as a member of our advisory board. we believe he can bring a different perspective into certain aspects of the early-stage business community in the health, sport and wearable technology spaces, and we look forward to his input and support.”
Murray said he has “always been interested in investment”.
Being able to get involved in an innovative way to help support British startups really appealed to me,” he added.
“Equally as important was working with people I trusted and who fully understood the huge responsibility of handling people’s money. I’m looking forward to working with Seedrs and the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.”
Lord Young of Graffham, the Prime Minister’s former enterprise adviser and a long-time champion of equity crowdfunding, also welcomed the news.
He said that both “modern tennis and equity crowdfunding have their origins in Britain”.
“It is wonderful to see the two coming together in this unique partnership, and I believe the outcome of it will be to see more great British businesses raising the capital they need, and more investors having the chance to be part of those businesses,” he said.
