ProSiebenSat1 acquires 15 percent of Urban Sports Club

In a current financing round, investors are giving a total of 80 million euros to the Berlin-based start-up. The ProSiebenSat1 Group is taking a stake in Urban Sports Club with its investment arm Sevengrowth, acquiring 15 percent of the company.

ProSiebenSat1 announced that its associated investment arm Sevengrowth is investing in the sports and fitness platform from Berlin. A total of 15 percent of Urban Sports Club will go to Sevengrowth, in return for a mix of capital and placed advertising in the group's programs. In addition to Sevengrowth, other investors in the €80 million funding round include London-based VC Claret Capital Partners, as well as existing investors Rocket Internet, RTP Global and HV Capital.

"With SevenGrowth, we have found the perfect partner to inspire even more people for an active and healthy lifestyle through the reach of media - especially TV," says Urban Sports Club CEO Moritz Kreppel. He founded the platform together with Benjamin Roth in 2012, and today Urban Sports Club is available in 80 cities in Europe. It offers sports and fitness offers with its local partners. Those who are customers in Germany can also use the app in Spain and go to the yoga instructor around the corner.

"It is a very exciting moment to invest in Urban Sports Club. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the global trend towards more fitness and wellbeing and the demand for sports offers is correspondingly high," says Friedrich Thoma from Prosiebensat1 about the investment. At the beginning of the Corona pandemic, Urban Sports Club also struggled with the collapse of its revenues, but then built hybrid and digital sports options, which it plans to maintain now.

For Sevengrowth, Urban Sports Club is its first investment, and its focus is on established businesses. In addition to Sevengrowth, the group also has investment arm Sevenventures for growth companies and early-stage investor Sevenaccelerator.