We work with professional sports franchises to raise capital from sports-focused retail, sophisticated and institutional investors globally. Through our unique tech platform, we simplify the process of capital raising by allowing the issuer to make offers of securities directly to a global investor base. Our investment platform is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) and adheres to the highest compliance standards.
Capital raises are tailored to issuer requirements and type of investors:
(Un)secured loans
High-yield bonds
Structured products
Convertible bonds
Ordinary / preferred shares
We provide owners, management and investors in sports with industry-specific and best-in-class M&A and capital raising advisory services. Dedicated to sports, we have a deep understanding of the key issues affecting this industry and sports clubs’ ability to raise capital or find investors. Through our vast international network of institutional investors, private equity funds, hedge funds, alternative capital providers, family offices and HNWIs, we are ideally positioned to add significant value to our clients.
Services include:
Strategic advisory
Buy and sell-side M&A
Debt advisory
Private capital raising (private placements, secondary minority stakes)
Structured credit / equity
Valuation and consulting services
Investment Platform
We work with professional sports franchises to raise capital from sports-focused retail, sophisticated and institutional investors globally. Through our unique tech platform, we simplify the process of capital raising by allowing the issuer to make offers of securities directly to a global investor base. Our investment platform is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) and adheres to the highest compliance standards.
Capital raises are tailored to issuer requirements and type of investors:
(Un)secured loans
High-yield bonds
Structured products
Convertible bonds
Ordinary / preferred shares
Advisory
We provide owners, management and investors in sports with industry-specific and best-in-class M&A and capital raising advisory services. Dedicated to sports, we have a deep understanding of the key issues affecting this industry and sports clubs’ ability to raise capital or find investors. Through our vast international network of institutional investors, private equity funds, hedge funds, alternative capital providers, family offices and HNWIs, we are ideally positioned to add significant value to our clients.
Services include:
Strategic advisory
Buy and sell-side M&A
Debt advisory
Private capital raising (private placements, secondary minority stakes)
Structured credit / equity
Valuation and consulting services
Investment Platform
Tifosy’s online platform provides a direct to consumer funding model, revolutionizing the sports industry and transforming how clubs finance themselves. As the first authorized sports investment platform, regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority, Tifosy operates according to the highest legal & regulatory standards
Example capital raise solutions
Every investment opportunity hosted on Tifosy is unique and tailored to the clubs specific financial needs. Our team prides itself on providing clubs with the highest level of expertise and flawless execution at every step of the transaction.
Retail Bond
A retail bond is a debt instrument which has a fixed initial term of typically 3-7 years. It pays a fixed rate of interest, normally on an annual basis.
Terms designed to deliver the right balance of attractiveness and risk
Returns can be made up of cash and/or credit interest
Bonds can be held within a tax-free IFISA or SIPP
Security and financial covenants are case-specific
Equity Offering
Through an equity offering, a club sells a percentage of its share capital to outside investors.
Offering can be through “nominee” company to minimise admin
Voting rights, board representation and governance are case-specific
Option to create investor return through performance-based dividends
Valuation needs to be fair and validated
Convertible Bond
A convertible bond is like a retail bond but can be “converted” into another form. Typically conversion is into club shares, but it can also be into other non-cash items.
Bonds can be made convertible into equity (shares), or credit to be redeemed on season tickets, club merchandise etc.
Coupon, conversion premium and terms are case-specific
Conversion can be at the discretion of the club and/or the investor
Can provide clubs with more financial flexibility (e.g. stadium financing)
Tifosy leads all aspects of the capital raise process
Advice on appropriate choice of instrument, structure & terms to deliver fundraising objectives in context of market conditions and likely level of investor demand
Review Club financial model / assumptions; conduct detailed financial and legal due diligence and ensure conformity of promotional materials with documentation
Drafting of prospectus or other offering document which forms the basis of investment decision (includes description of structure, terms, financials, risk factors etc.)
Design bespoke investment pages for public and private phases incorporating key terms, hosting of offer documentation, ISA for UK taxpayers and investor FAQs
Investor support including Q&A events, helpline, dedicated email and live chat functionality; Tifosy handles all communications with investors through the term
Hold funds on behalf of club; record applications and maintain allocation list as part of the offer; facilitate cash interest payments to investors on behalf of the club
Advice on appropriate choice of instrument, structure & terms to deliver fundraising objectives in context of market conditions and likely level of investor demand
Legal and Regulatory
Provide guidance on legal aspects of the offering (offer documents, regulatory compliance, financial promotion restrictions, AML/KYC)
Financial and legal due diligence
Review Club financial model / assumptions; conduct detailed financial and legal due diligence and ensure conformity of promotional materials with documentation
Documentation Drafting
Drafting of prospectus or other offering document which forms the basis of investment decision (includes description of structure, terms, financials, risk factors etc.)
Platform design & testing
Design bespoke investment pages for public and private phases incorporating key terms, hosting of offer documentation, ISA for UK taxpayers and investor FAQs
Capital raise strategy
Market sounding & capital raise strategy design (private/public phases); ensure maximum conversion and manage a detailed tracker to monitor investment
Multi-channel investor support
Investor support including Q&A events, helpline, dedicated email and live chat functionality; Tifosy handles all communications with investors through the term
Marketing & PR strategy and execution
Develop bespoke marketing strategy and detailed plans including analysis of investor appetite and potential investor benefits
Live analytics and optimisation
Regular analytics reports covering traffic analysis and conversion funnel, marketing effectiveness, investor demographics and location analysis
Escrow and registrar activities
Hold funds on behalf of club; record applications and maintain allocation list as part of the offer; facilitate cash interest payments to investors on behalf of the club
A passionate team obsessed with sports
Tifosy are based in London, United Kingdom. We are a team of experts from the fields of finance, law, sport, technology and marketing.
Fausto Zanetton
Founder & CEO
Fausto Zanetton is the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Tifosy, which he founded after seeing an unprecedented need for professional advisory services and financing solutions in sports. Fausto directs the firm’s strategy and is responsible for managing the business as well as being actively involved advising clients on large M&A and financing transactions.
Fausto is one of the most sought-after and trusted advisors in the sports industry with over 20 years’ experience advising global media, sports, entertainment and technology companies. He is the former Head of Sports and Entertainment at Morgan Stanley having previously held positions at Goldman Sachs (TMT London) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (Brussels and Boston). Select former clients include Vodafone, RTL Group, Perform Group (DAZN), Walt Disney, Discovery, Mediaset, F1 Group, AS Roma, Spotify, Endemol and various large TMT-focused private equity firms.
Fausto holds an MBA from London Business School, is a qualified chartered accountant (US CPA) and is fluent in several European languages.
Fausto Zanetton
Founder & CEO
Gianluca Vialli
Co-founder
Gianluca is the co-founder of Tifosy and serves as a non-executive on the Board. His experience in professional sports encompasses a stellar international playing career, as well as extremely successful careers in first-team management and sports analysis. Gianluca is actively involved in advising the firm’s clients on sports and business strategy.
Alongside his responsibilities at Tifosy, Gianluca represents Italy as Head of the National Team Football Delegation and is the co-founder of Fondazione Vialli e Mauro which funds research into Cancer & Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
As a professional player, Gianluca played 488 times at senior level for clubs including Cremonese, Sampdoria, Juventus and Chelsea. He was the winner of 10 major domestic trophies and four European cups including the Champions League as captain of Juventus. He represented Italy 59 times, scoring 16 goals, and was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame in 2015. After retiring as a player, Gianluca managed Chelsea football club, winning five trophies, and also Watford FC before becoming a Sky Sports commentator, football analyst and media personality in respect of Serie A, the Premier League and European competitions.
Gianluca Vialli
Co-founder
Tommy Aylmer
Managing Director / Chief Legal Officer
Tommy is a Managing Director and the Chief Legal Officer at Tifosy. Tommy joined the firm in 2017 and is actively involved advising clients on M&A and financing transactions, legal documentation and sports regulation. Tommy also oversees the wider team and the firm’s investment platform activities as a regulated entity.
Prior to joining Tifosy, Tommy was a senior corporate lawyer at leading European law firm Arthur Cox specialising in M&A and corporate finance. He has a wide range of experience including advising on public and private M&A, high-yield bond issuances, private equity, IPOs, finance structures and corporate governance. Select former experience includes advising Goldman Sachs on Activision Blizzard’s $4bn takeover of King Digital, Shire Pharma’s on its $12.1bn high-yield bond issuance and Greencore Group plc on the US$747.5 million acquisition of Peacock Foods.
Tommy holds a bachelor’s degree in business and law from University College Dublin and professional solicitor qualifications from the Law Societies of Ireland and England & Wales.
Tommy Aylmer
Managing Director / Chief Legal Officer
Marco Re
Managing Director
Marco Re is a Managing Director at Tifosy and head of the Italian office. Marco joined Tifosy in 2020 and as well as having responsibility for the Italian market, also leads the firm’s strategic client coverage as an adviser to top tier clubs and clients across Europe. Marco has an in-depth knowledge of the sports industry and is valued by clients for his holistic view on the sports financing market.
Prior to joining Tifosy, Marco served as Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Board at Juventus FC where he held responsibility for all financial and non-sporting operations. During his twenty years at Juventus, Marco led various capital market transactions including leading the club through its IPO, €300m rights issue, stadium construction financing, J Village financing (real estate fund structure) and €175m high yield bond issuance. As an experienced CFO, Marco has a detailed understanding of not only industry specific financing arrangements, such as factoring of broadcasting and player receivables, but also related developments having assumed senior leadership roles in the J Medical and J Hotel projects.
Marco holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Turin and has been enrolled in the Italian Register of Chartered Accountants and in Register of Auditors since 2003.
Marco Re
Managing Director
Maxime Budin
Executive Director
Maxime Budin is an Executive Director at Tifosy and a core member of our client coverage team. Maxime is actively involved in the execution of M&A and financing transactions.
Prior to joining Tifosy, Maxime was an Investment Banking Associate at Goldman Sachs where he acted as advisor to financial institutions (FIG), building extensive experience working on various M&A transactions, IPOs and debt financings. He also worked at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Deutsche Bank.
Maxime holds a master’s degree in Management from ESCP Europe / Cass Business School and is fluent in French, English and Spanish.
Maxime Budin
Executive Director
Simone Bonfiglio
Executive Director
Simone Bonfiglio is an Executive Director at Tifosy and a core member of the client coverage team. Simone is actively involved in the execution of M&A and financing transactions.
Prior to joining Tifosy, Simone was an Investment Banking Associate at Credit Suisse, where he advised in the media, sports and telecom sectors on financing solutions, growth strategies and capital structure optimisation. He also worked as a Sales Associate on the Financial Analytics team at Bloomberg.
Simone holds a master’s degree in Finance from Esade and in International Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Bocconi and is fluent in Italian, English and Spanish.
Simone Bonfiglio
Executive Director
Nicola Verdun
Head of Business Development
Nicola Verdun is the Head of Business Development at Tifosy. Nicola is responsible for the firm’s business development strategy and various senior relationships within the sports industry across Europe.
Prior to joining Tifosy, Nicola was Head of Global Partnerships and International Development at Juventus FC where his responsibilities included developing the club’s brand and commercial footprint on a global basis as well as securing sponsorship contracts with major international brands. He also worked at Nielsen Sport (formerly Repucom) where, as European Business Development Director, he provided full-service sponsorship, marketing analysis and evaluation to rights holders and brands seeking to maximise their assets and return on investment within sports and entertainment.
Previously Nicola was Account Director at MEC Access, a sports marketing agency specialising in research, negotiation, strategy, activation and evaluation for international clients such as Procter & Gamble, Nestle, Pirelli, Xerox, Visa and Sony Ericsson.
Nicola holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Turin.
Nicola Verdun
Head of Business Development
James Pollock
Chief Marketing Officer
James Pollock is the Chief Marketing Officer of Tifosy. James is responsible for developing the firm’s overall brand, marketing, content and digital strategy, as well as leading the marketing and distribution strategy for transactions on the Tifosy Investment Platform.
Prior to joining Tifosy, James spent 14 years leading business, commercial and marketing strategy on multinational brand portfolios. He worked across a wide range of consumer goods categories as strategy consultant to Nestle, Heineken, Arla, Coca Cola and Starbucks across EMEA markets before most recently joining Unilever as Global Strategy Director for the company’s €10Bn Refreshment portfolio, defining strategic focus areas and leading of key initiatives to drive profitability and return on assets and owning the category M&A funnel.
James began his career at Procter & Gamble, where he spent four years in local markets driving strategic and brand initiatives before moving to Geneva to assume leadership of the $500m Western European household cleaners business, with responsibility for business, portfolio and brand/marketing strategy, sales & operations planning and P&L for four brands across seven market units.
James holds a master’s degree from the University of Cambridge.
James Pollock
Chief Marketing Officer
Mrinal Sinh Smith
Chief Product Officer
Mrinal Sinh Smith is Chief Product Officer at Tifosy. Mrinal has overall responsibility for the product strategy and development of the Tifosy Investment Platform as well as leading platform innovation, operations and overseeing certain tech-enabled regulatory functions.
Prior to joining Tifosy, Mrinal was Head of International Publishing at the Guardian News & Media. As part of the senior management team that led the Guardian to becoming the most-read newspaper in the world, he held responsibility for consumer revenue products including core news business representing 65% of revenue as well as launching the Guardian's apps and digital subscription products. Mrinal also worked at global advertising agencies Saatchi & Saatchi and McCann, leading digital, data and membership strategies for brands including Visa, Costa Coffee and Philips.
Mrinal holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Mrinal Sinh Smith
Chief Product Officer
Geoff Tidey
Chief Technology Officer
Geoff Tidey is the Chief Technology Officer at Tifosy. Geoff leads the team responsible for the technical development and maintenance of the Tifosy Investment Platform and integrated company website.
Prior to joining Tifosy, Geoff had over 20 years of professional development experience in multiple programming languages, development processes & environments. He worked at SiS (Satellite Information Services), Kelkoo and Lovefresh building bespoke and complex systems for real-time gambling & live television, online retail & fintech.
Geoff holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of De Montfort.
Geoff Tidey
Chief Technology Officer
Daryl Watson
Lead Developer
Daryl Watson is a Lead Developer at Tifosy. Daryl is responsible for the development and implementation of new platform features as well as overall site upgrades and maintenance.
Prior to joining Tifosy, Daryl began his career in the luxury hospitality industry before retraining as a coder at the prestigious Makers Academy in London where he went on to coach other students. Daryl is now a full-stack developer with experience using Ruby on Rails, Javascript with Backbone and ES6, and PostgreSQL.
Daryl Watson
Lead Developer
Alex Kossmann
Finance Director
Alexander Kossmann is Finance Director at Tifosy. Alex is responsible for the firm’s finance, corporate affairs and investor relations. He also oversees data analytics for the Tifosy Investment Platform.
Prior to joining Tifosy, Alex was a Client Associate at Julius Baer and before that at Merrill Lynch, trading and delivering portfolio analysis and research in the equity, fixed income and currency markets. He also worked as a financial analyst at Tenaris, a large multinational in the oil drilling industry.
Alex holds a master’s degree in finance from the London Business School and a bachelor’s degree in banking and finance from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Montevideo and is fluent in Spanish, German and English.
Alex Kossmann
Finance Director
Giovanni Malacarne
Analyst
Giovanni Malacarne is an Analyst at Tifosy. Giovanni supports both the origination and execution of M&A and financing transactions as well as conducting detailed industry research.
Prior to joining Tifosy, Giovanni gained experience at Bank of America Merrill Lynch working in the Italian Corporate Banking team based in Milan focusing on origination and execution of corporate finance transactions.
Giovanni holds a master’s degree in international management from EADA Business School in Barcelona and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Plymouth and is and is fluent in Italian, English and Spanish.
Giovanni Malacarne
Analyst
Charlie Compitus
Senior Marketing Manager
Charles Compitus is a Senior Marketing Manager at Tifosy. Charlie is responsible for marketing strategy and execution with a focus on digital community development and content creation.
Prior to joining Tifosy, Charlie was Media Officer at Millwall Football Club, responsible for producing graphic and video content. He has is an experienced creative developer with skills in video production and design, photography and graphic design and animation.
Charlie holds a bachelor’s degree in contemporary media practice from the University of Westminster.
Charlie Compitus
Senior Marketing Manager
Tom Murray
Marketing Manager
Thomas Murray is a Marketing Manager at Tifosy. Thomas is responsible for marketing strategy and execution with a focus on digital community development and content creation.
Prior to joining Tifosy, Thomas worked as a Graphic Designer on various premium lifestyle brands including London food retailer Sourced Market, luxury homeware brand British Colour Standard and contemporary artist Lauren Baker. He has advanced expertise in 2D and 3D design practices across traditional and digital media, and experience of a wide range of design applications, CAD software and video production techniques.
Thomas holds a bachelor’s degree in design from Central Saint Martin’s University of the Arts, London.
Tom Murray
Marketing Manager
Are you with the press?
Forbes -
“If clubs start to default on these payments it could have a domino effect on others”
Minibond Frosinone Calcio: cedola 8% per cinque anni
Anche il mondo del calcio sbarca sul mercato dei minibond. Si è infatti appena conclusa con successo la campagna del Frosinone Bond sulla piattaforma Tifosy. Il Frosinone è stata infatti la prima società sportiva...
Il Frosinone vanta di essere la prima squadra italiana di calcio ad aver concluso con successo il lancio di un mini-bond. La campagna, denominata Frosinone Bond, sulla piattaforma Tifosy, si proponeva di raccogliere un milione di euro e invece ha superato le aspettative...
Frosinone calcio, i tifosi investono 1,5 milioni per rilanciare il club
Guardiamoci negli occhi e diciamoci come stanno le cose. Qual è la vera ambizione del tifoso di una squadra di calcio? Sì, va bene vincere. Che goduria, portare a casa un derby al novantesimo e magari con un autorete...
Il mini-bond del Frosinone raggiunge l’obiettivo: raccolti 1,5 milioni di euro
Si è chiusa la campagna del Frosinone Bond sulla piattaforma Tifosy con un doppio successo: la raccolta raggiunta che si sono sommati all’entusiasmo e il seguito che questa operazione ha generato non solo fra i tifosi e la comunità...
Il Frosinone si finanzia con i mini-bond: già raccolti più di 400 mila euro
Il club di Maurizio Stirpe è il primo in Italia a lanciare un'iniziativa di questo tipo: i soldi serviranno per investire sulle strutture all'interno e nelle vicinanze dello stadio di...
Il tifoso diventa investitore, il crowdfunding del Frosinone
La società laziale è la prima nel calcio italiano a lanciare una nuova tipologia di mini-bond per disporre di risorse da utilizzare in progetti legati al club...
Un club de la Serie B busca un millón vía ‘crowdfunding’ para renovar su estadio
El Frosinone, que hace dos años militó en la Serie A, ha lanzado una emisión de bonos a través de Tifosy, portal lanzado por el exfutbolista Gianluca Vialli...
Frosinone, Stirpe: "Niente ansie, o ci facciamo del male da soli"
Poco meno di un quarto d’ora. Sempre pacato e chiarissimo. Il presidente del Frosinone, Maurizio Stirpe, è intervenuto in diretta sulle frequenze dell’emittente Radio Day...
Il Frosinone Calcio lancia un crowdfunding per completare lo stadio
Dal 4 dicembre partirà la campagna di crowdfunding del Frosinone Calcio, con tifosi e investitori che potranno sottoscrivere i mini-bond della società sportiva italiana. I titolari delle obbligazioni riceveranno ritorni finanziari...
Il Frosinone Calcio presenta il crowdfunding: il mini-bond renderà l’8% annuo
Il Frosinone Calcio ha presentato la campagna di crowdfunding con la quale punta a collocare, attraverso la piattaforma Tifosy, mini-bond per un importo compreso tra 1 milione e 1,3 milioni di euro...
EVENTI – FROSINONE CALCIO, OGGI CONFERENZA PROGETTO MINI-BOND “TIFOSY”
Giornata quasi storica per il Frosinone che oggi ha indetto una conferenza stampa su un tema molto interessante, quello della vendita di mini-bond della società attraverso il crowdfunding online...
Frosinone, si ferma Soddimo: condizioni da valutare per il Parma
Il centrocampista giallazzurro ha interrotto anzitempo la seduta pomeridiana che ha visto Moreno Longo e i suoi calciatori impegnati alla Cittadella dello Sport. Dopo il pareggio contro Venezia la squadra si ...
Tifosy, la piattaforma di crowdfunding per il calcio di Vialli e del banker Zanetton
Prosegue la crescita di Tifosy, la piattaforma di crowdfunding per finanziare le società di calcio, lanciata dall’ex calciatore della Sampdoria e della Juventus, Gianluca Vialli, assieme a Fausto Zanetton, ex banchiere di Goldman Sachs e Morgan Stanley...
Decolla il crowdfunding di Vialli: “Facciamo diventare i tifosi veri partner dei club che amano”
Risultati molto positivi per l’ultima intuizione dell’ex allenatore del Chelsea: Tifosy permette ai supporter di investire nella loro squadra del cuore. La start up vale già più di 10 milioni di sterline e ha coinvolto club come Parma, Carpi,...
We recently reported on the success of Stevenage in raising funds for a new stand through a mini-bond, even though the cluib has a wealthy owner. This was done through Tifosy which claims to be 'the only fully authorised sports crowdfunding platform' after being...
Gianluca Vialli launches crowdfunding campaign for sports finance
Former star footballer Gianluca Vialli is looking to strengthen ties between fans and clubs, seeking funding for a venture that aims to tap the growing trend of sports teams using alternative ways to bolster their finances by looking to supporters.
Stevenage FC’s ‘shoulder to shoulder’ new stand crowdfunding campaign succeeds, in English Football League first
The campaign for the club’s Lamex Stadium, launched alongside the Tifosy fanfunding platform co-founded by Chelsea and Italy legend Gianluca Vialli, attracted hundreds of backers...
Basket, accordo Lega-'Tifosy': i fan potranno sostenere attivamente i club di Serie A
Tramite il Fan Funding - orientato da progetti trasparenti della Lega - i tifosi potranno investire in progetti volti a migliorare le infrastrutture della propria squadra del cuore: 'Le società hanno il dovere di diventare...
Web Summit. O que vem cá fazer esta gente do desporto?
Luís Figo, Rui Costa, Bruno de Carvalho, Patrícia Mamona, Tiago Pires, Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Louis Saha, Mathieu Flamini, atletas olímpicos e muitos outros estarão por cá a pensar o futuro do desporto.
Lega Serie B, Lampedusa: un nuovo campo sportivo per l'integrazione
Le 22 squadre cadette, assieme a B Solidale Onlus e i fondi raccolti da Tifosy.com, realizzeranno la nuova struttura. Per abbattere paure, barriere e diffidenze bisogna conoscersi, e un buon modo per conoscersi è giocare insieme: da qui nasce l'idea di costruire...
Sports look for new tactics to raise cash from fans
Portsmouth Football Club needed a new place for young players to train. Lancashire Cricket Club wanted to build a hotel on its ground. Surfers in Bristol hoped to dig a huge artificial lake in a field outside the city.They all turned to fans for the money.
Racheté par ses fans en 2013 après une dégringolade en D4, Portsmouth compte sur le financement participatif (crowdfunding) pour poser les bases de son futur centre de formation. La collecte de dons a débuté mardi via Tifosy, une...
