Latest news with #Team8
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
5 Smart Deals That Turned Roger Federer Into A Billionaire
Image via Instagram/Roger Federer Roger Federer has officially smashed records off the court—becoming one of the rare billionaires in global sports. While his $130 million in prize money from 20 Grand Slam wins is remarkable, it's just the tip of the iceberg. Federer's billion-dollar fortune was built by making power moves in the business world—long after the final point was played. The Swiss Maestro mastered the art of brand building, smart investments, and lucrative endorsements, creating a personal empire worth $1.3 billion. In this article, we break down the five most game-changing business strategies Federer used to become a global billionaire athlete, offering a blueprint for success beyond sports. 1. A Game-Changing $300 Million Uniqlo Deal In 2018, Federer made global headlines by walking away from his long-term deal with Nike. Critics called it risky, but Federer had a smarter play. He signed a jaw-dropping $300 million, 10-year deal with Japanese retail giant Uniqlo—without any performance or appearance clauses. This means Federer earns millions annually, even in retirement. The partnership allowed Federer to build a lifestyle brand rather than just being another sports ambassador. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like A stress-relief game that everyone around me is playing Elvenar - Play on Browser Learn More Undo Today, the Uniqlo deal is a masterclass in long-term brand value. 2. The $500 Million Sneaker Bet on 'On' When his wife introduced him to Swiss running shoe startup 'On,' Federer didn't just sign a sponsorship deal—he became a co-owner. In 2019, Federer took a 3% stake in On instead of a payout. Fast forward to 2021, the company went public with a staggering $11 billion valuation. Federer's stake is now valued at over $500 million, with On continuing to soar globally. This move shows how Federer evolved from brand ambassador to equity shareholder, reaping exponential returns. 3. Building the Money-Making Machine: Team8 In 2013, Federer took athlete representation into his own hands by co-founding Team8, a management agency, alongside his trusted agent Tony Godsick. Team8 doesn't just manage Federer—it scouts and represents elite players like Coco Gauff and rising stars, creating a revenue-generating platform. Team8 also co-produces premium events like the Laver Cup, giving Federer equity in global sports entertainment. This brilliant vertical integration means Federer profits from multiple levels of the sports industry. 4. Breaking into Luxury Fashion with Oliver Peoples Federer's business genius doesn't stop at sports. In 2023, he teamed up with luxury eyewear brand Oliver Peoples under Essilor Luxottica to launch the exclusive RF x Oliver Peoples collection. With sleek designs inspired by Federer's personal style, the brand quickly became a hit among luxury shoppers. This move expanded Federer's brand identity into high-end fashion, showing how sports stars can thrive in luxury markets. 5. Cashing in Big on Premium Endorsements and the Laver Cup Federer's off-court fortune is supercharged by long-term global endorsements with powerhouse brands like Rolex, Mercedes-Benz, Moët & Chandon, Barilla, Wilson, and Lindt. In 2023 alone, Federer banked over $95 million from endorsements. Plus, the Laver Cup—co-founded by Federer—is now a global tennis event generating millions in sponsorships and ticket sales. Federer's ability to keep cash flowing even after retirement proves why he's called the 'Billion Dollar Gentleman' of tennis. Roger Federer didn't just dominate tennis—he reinvented athlete entrepreneurship. With sharp business instincts and world-class brand-building skills, Federer turned his sports legacy into an unstoppable financial empire. His journey from tennis champion to billionaire businessman proves one thing: true greatness isn't just about winning titles—it's about creating lasting value. Federer's business playbook is a masterclass in wealth-building, inspiring athletes and entrepreneurs worldwide to think beyond the game and invest in their future. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Bloomberg
6 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Cybersecurity Bosses Are Growing Increasingly Worried About AI Attacks and Misuse
Nearly a quarter of cybersecurity bosses said their companies have experienced an attack powered by artificial intelligence in the past year, according to a new survey in which AI risk emerged as the defining challenge. The number of AI-enabled attacks is likely underestimated because they are often hard to differentiate from human-led efforts, according to a report from the Tel Aviv-based venture fund Team8, which focuses on cybersecurity, AI, data, fintech and digital health. For the survey, the firm queried about 110 chief information security officers, who expressed both fear of malicious uses of AI and hope that it could improve cyber defenses.
Associated Press
08-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Team8 Expands Cyber and AI Focus with New Partner Appointments, Ori Barzilay and Matthew Schoenfeld, and Accelerates Investment Activity with Five New Investments
TEL AVIV, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 8, 2025-- Team8 a global venture fund that builds and invests in companies across cybersecurity, data, AI, fintech, and digital health, as well as their intersections today announced the appointment of two new partners, Ori Barzilay and Matthew Schoenfeld, who join the fund's executive teams. These appointments reflect Team8's growing momentum in cybersecurity and AI, underlining its commitment to increasing investments at the earliest stages, scaling startups into global players, and strengthening Israel's cyber and AI ecosystems. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Left: Matthew Schoenfeld, Right: Ori Barzilay (Photo: Nir Selkman and Team8) In the past six months alone, Team8 has already deployed significant capital in 11 new companies and in follow-on investments across the group's 40 other portfolio companies. Team8 currently manages over a billion dollars in assets under management and supports its portfolio companies from day one with a dedicated team of 100 experts, accelerating growth across go-to-market, talent acquisition, AI, and finance functions. Ori Barzilay has been appointed to Partner and will lead investments in cybersecurity, enterprise infrastructure, and AI. Ori joined Team8 two years ago as a Principal, working closely alongside Liran Grinberg, Team8's Co-Founder and Managing Partner. He played a role in key Team8 portfolio investments including Port, a leader in developer experience which has raised $58 million from top funds including Bessemer and Accel, as well as Sawmills in the observability space, and a number of stealth investments, 4 in the cyber space and 1 in the AI space. Prior to Team8, Ori held the role of Senior Associate at Pitango and was a Product Manager at cybersecurity company Adaptive Shield, which was acquired by CrowdStrike for $300 million. He also specialized in energy and IoT at PDP as a Product Manager and began his career as a tech-operational intelligence officer in one of the elite IDF units, earning a badge of honor from the Military Intelligence Directorate for operational excellence. In 2024, Forbes Israel named him among its list of promising young leaders in their 30under30 List. Matthew Schoenfeld joins as Operating Partner and will support portfolio companies with go-to-market strategy guidance in addition to helping to scale their respective Sales functions. Matthew is a veteran cyber executive with over 20 years of experience leading high- performing sales teams and building differentiated go-to-market strategies for high-growth cybersecurity startups and public companies. Previously, he was an EIR at the Silicon Valley based fund, Greylock Partners, and acted as a Board and GTM advisor to leading cyber firms, including Axonius, Awake, Lyra Health and Abnormal. His executive Operational background includes serving as President of Fortra, a private equity owned cybersecurity company valued at $1 billion, Chief Revenue Officer at Absolute Software, and SVP Sales at FireEye, where he managed annual revenues exceeding $500 million. Liran Grinberg, Team8 Co-Founder, and Managing Partner, said, 'I'm excited to announce the addition of two exceptional partners to Team8. Ori Barzilay will lead investments in cybersecurity, software infrastructure, and AI as we expand and accelerate activity in these key areas. Over the past few years, Ori has played a key role in intensifying Team8's activities across these verticals, which has made five investments in the last two months alone, some of which were carried out even during wartime. Having worked closely with Ori over recent years, during which he has guided dozens of companies and hundreds of entrepreneurs, he has earned great respect from Israeli founders and the venture ecosystem. Ori brings deep insight, wisdom, experience, and unique interpersonal skills crucial to closely partnering with founders on their journey to build large, meaningful companies. Now, as my partner, I'm confident that Ori will go on from here to become one of Israel's most promising investors.' Liran added, 'Matthew Schoenfeld has proven to be a secret weapon for any B2B company on its path to growth from early stage to scaling. From serving as a strategic advisor to Team8 and its portfolio companies, Matthew is now joining full-time as an Operating Partner, reinforcing Team8's commitment to building a unique fund dedicated to delivering real value across all domains, especially in go-to-market strategy. Matthew will join Team8 and will work closely with portfolio entrepreneurs as a resource to ensure they are applying a deep /repeatable methodology and honing in on sales strategy, hiring, and channel partnerships that ensure differentiation and maximum growth. His partnership is great news for current and future portfolio companies.' Team8 continues to grow and build a unique fund in the Israeli landscape, with deep expertise in core verticals (cybersecurity, AI, software infrastructure, fintech, and digital health), backed by an internal platform team of approximately 100 specialists across marketing, sales, talent acquisition, finance, technology, and AI. Alongside this, Team8's Village communities unite hundreds of industry leaders from major global organizations: the CISO Village includes over 600 cybersecurity leaders focused on the US market, complemented by parallel Villages in infrastructure, data and AI, fintech, and digital health. Amid the outbreak of conflict with Iran, Team8 hosted its flagship annual CISO Village Summit in Florida, gathering over 100 cybersecurity leaders (CISOs) from the world's largest enterprises and 15 of Team8's cyber portfolio companies. This summit has become one of the premier events globally for CISOs, with 100% of attendees recommending it to colleagues and naming the Team8 CISO Village Summit among their top three professional events annually, ahead of dozens of other industry conferences. View source version on CONTACT: Ilan Fisher Global Media Manager [email protected] +972-50-460-7429 KEYWORD: ISRAEL MIDDLE EAST INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TECHNOLOGY SECURITY FINTECH TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SOFTWARE NETWORKS INTERNET ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SOURCE: Team8 Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 07/08/2025 12:26 PM/DISC: 07/08/2025 12:26 PM
Japan Times
29-06-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Roger Federer's long-term deals make him a tennis billionaire
Tennis superstar Roger Federer is now one of the few athletes who can now count themselves as a billionaire. Federer, who won 20 Grand Slams between 2003 and 2018, amassed $130.6 million in prize money during a 24-year playing career that ended in 2022. But the bulk of the Swiss star's wealth has come via a series of bumper sponsorship deals, alongside an astute investment in a local sneaker brand. His net worth is about $1.3 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, putting him in elite company. Michael Jordan's wealth hit an estimated $3.5 billion after the sale of his stake in the Charlotte Hornets in 2023, while last year Bloomberg calculated Tiger Woods' wealth at about $1.36 billion. Federer is worth considerably more than $1 billion, according to people close to him who spoke on condition of anonymity. Bloomberg's valuation takes into account Federer's career earnings, investments and endorsement deals, adjusted for prevailing Swiss tax rates and market performance. Many of his deals have lasted decades, from sponsorships with Credit Suisse bank (now UBS Group), watchmaker Rolex and Swiss chocolatier Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprungli. Federer has also built a close advice network around him, including through Team8, the management company he co-founded with longtime agent Tony Godsick in 2013, and also Swiss firm Format A, which helps manage various investments and his charitable foundation. "Federer is totally scandal free. He never says the wrong thing,' sports analyst Bob Dorfman said. "He hasn't been a John McEnroe, feisty personality type. But in terms of marketability, he's been one of tennis's best.' Federer's biggest deals came near the end of his career. By 2018, a rolling contract with Nike — first signed in 1996 — had come up for renewal. Tennis was not a core market for Nike, allowing Godsick to test the water with other potential partners. Uniqlo, owned by Fast Retailing, offered Federer $300 million over 10 years to be one of its flagship sports icons. Federer was 37 and close to retirement and the deal had no strings attached, even if he stopped playing. It was a no-brainer. Still, it wasn't Federer's most successful deal. That was an investment that came via an accidental introduction by his wife, who bought a pair of sneakers from up-and coming Swiss brand On. There are plenty of bankers and lawyers in Switzerland, but not many sports brands. Founded in 2010, On had become known as a high-end jogging shoe. Its distinctive sole, with more empty space than rubber, was based off a prototype made by co-founder Olivier Bernhard — a former pro-Ironman — taping offcuts of a garden hose to the base of his trainers. Unlike with Nike, Federer could hunt for a footwear sponsor because Uniqlo doesn't make shoes. A sneaker nut who owns well over 250 pairs of trainers (not including ones he played in), Federer called On's founders for dinner in Zurich. Godsick also had a connection with them via an angel investment in the firm. Eventually, a deal was struck for Federer to buy a roughly 3% stake in On Holding and to spend time in its lab designing his own shoe. On is now worth close to $17 billion, making Federer's stake worth at least $500 million, according to Bloomberg's wealth index. Federer has so far avoided overexposure via commentary roles or dubious sponsorships. He recently waved the French flag to start the Le Mans endurance car race and launched a new Uniqlo clothing collection in Paris. He's also likely to be at Wimbledon — home to his greatest triumphs — when it begins Monday.
South China Morning Post
28-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Roger Federer's long-term deals see him become tennis' first billionaire
Tennis superstar Roger Federer is now one of the few athletes who can count themselves a billionaire. Federer, who won 20 grand slam titles between 2003 and 2018, amassed US$130.6 million in prize money during a 24-year playing career that ended in 2022. But the bulk of the Swiss star's wealth has come via a series of bumper sponsorship deals, alongside an astute investment in a local sneaker brand. His net worth is about US$1.3 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, putting him in elite company. Michael Jordan's hit an estimated US$3.5 billion after the sale of his stake in the Charlotte Hornets in 2023, while last year Bloomberg calculated Tiger Woods' wealth at about US$1.36 billion. Federer is worth considerably more than US$1 billion, according to people close to him who spoke on condition of anonymity. Bloomberg's valuation takes into account Federer's career earnings, investments and endorsement deals, adjusted for prevailing Swiss tax rates and market performance. Many of his deals have lasted decades, from sponsorships with Credit Suisse bank (now UBS Group AG), watchmaker Rolex and Swiss chocolatier Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprungli AG. Roger Federer and his wife, Mirka, at Paris Fashion Week in the French capital on Friday. Photo: AFP Federer has also built a close advisory network around him, including through Team8, the management company he co-founded with long-time agent Tony Godsick in 2013, and also the Swiss firm Format A AG, which helps manage various investments and his charitable foundation.
