"Formula 1 sailing with Italy, Snow League and women's football, I reveal the new frontiers of investment in sports" - The interview

The appeal of SailGp? "It's a League, an entertainment platform all year round. Unlike the America's Cup which is held every four months, with a couple of intense months, then after... poof there's nothing left. Here instead the aim was to create a Formula 1 on the water". Assia Grazioli-Venier, founder of Muse Capital and Muse Sport - venture capitalists in the tech, health and sports sectors - who strongly believed in this championship, purchasing the SailGP Italia team, told Affaritaliani.it.

Two years ago, the manager, born in Rome and raised in New York, invested in the American team. "I got behind the scenes of the league and I understood that it is an excellent commercial platform. However, I noticed that the Italian team was missing. I am very proud of my Italianness and I also know that sailing has always had a place in our DNA..."

At that point... "I did some research and found out that Jimmy Spithill wanted to launch the Italian team. I went to meet him, to convince him that my consortium - with Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo (founder of Festina Lente Capital, an entrepreneur with experience in luxury, fashion and entertainment, ed.) would be the best and most strategic"

And so the Red Bull Italy SailGP is taking shape. Yes, but why invest commercially in the Formula 1 of sailing? "It is a very interesting platform. All the boats are the same, they go at an absurd speed, the teams are national and there cannot be more than one per nation". Then there is a budget cap "of 10 million and you cannot go beyond that. It was modeled to have a sustainable commercial platform", Assia Grazioli-Venier underlines to Affaritaliani.it.

Economic sustainability and values ​​in the world of this competition... "Both women and men are in the same team. A beautiful social opportunity to grow also in the world of sailing by the female world - neglected for many years - as well as a commercial opportunity, because both men and women are fan base in the same product, so it amplifies opportunities"

A very important element is the common data sharing. "Everyone can see the data of the other boats"

Not only that. "Italy is a country with a huge sailing culture, we have 70% of the coastline and the Made in Italy brand is one of the most powerful in the world. This - as I said at the beginning - is a circuit that travels the world twelve months every month in a more beautiful country. From Saint Tropez to Sydney, passing through New York... And being able to bring the 'best made in Italy' around the world every month is something we are very proud of. Gianluca has a past that speaks for itself in the world of fashion, I have an investment fund, so between us we think we can enhance the product. And it is a huge responsibility to do it for Italy"

Another interesting aspect of Sail Gp? Yes, it's sailing, but... "85% of the fanbase are Racing fans". In short, the passion for racing that goes beyond the confines of a circuit and sails to the F1 of the sea.

Which are they, since you deal with emerging sports, which are the new sports to focus on and above all which young people go to? Assia Grazioli Venier has no doubts: "We have focused on the Washington Spirit, one of the biggest teams in America in women's soccer. I invested in 2020 with a valuation of 5 million". Now to give an idea of ​​how much the phenomenon is growing, "the Los Angeles team after three years is worth 250 million. We are seeing the revenues that are continuing to grow"

But there are other interesting leagues... "Shaun White, a very famous American snowboarder has launched Snow League, a very interesting platform in development. I have become Chairman of the board of the new women's baseball league - the founder of Muse Capital and Muse Sport underlines to Affaritaliani.it - ​​There are various opportunities in the world of emerging sports. Having said that, there is also the possibility of saturation and therefore we must be careful and make sure that we enter an emerging sport with proven and existing commerciality"

For almost 10 years Assia has lived football as a protagonist within Juventus. Yes, but what must the world of football do to continue to make inroads into the hearts of the new generations?

"I have been on the Juventus board of directors since 2012 for nine years and we launched various commercial platforms there such as J Medical, J Hotel, J Museum and also Juventus Women in 2016/2017. This is what gave me the ' itch ' to enter the world of women's sports. From the point of view of the future of football in general, digital innovation is essential. One of the things we have learned with Covid is that we need to create a platform that can survive even 'outside' the match. Because young people no longer watch the entire match, but some parts on YouTube: we need to find other ways to entertain them and engage them commercially as well"

And then... "I would say that one of the biggest opportunities is linked to women's football. I suggest all men's teams to create a women's team, investing in that platform and doing it in a careful way: it is an opportunity that allows you to talk to new and innovative brands".

"We need to see women's soccer as a laboratory of innovation and a new platform to manage, because it doesn't have hundreds of years of history - explains Assia Grazioli Venier to Affaritaliani.it - ​​It's a history that can be created". In a certain sense, women's soccer "is a start-up. And we need to see these teams as entertainment platforms".

Furthermore...

... the secrets of SailGp (the F1 of sailing), the sports to invest in (and not just sports...). THE VIDEO INTERVIEW OF ASSIA GRAZIOLI VENIER ON AFFARITALIANI.IT

SailGP Italia - The new ownership structure with the strategic acquisition of the Muse Sport consortium, led by Assia Grazioli-Venier and Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo

SailGP Italia, the team that represents Italy in the prestigious SailGP world championship, has been acquired by a consortium of investors and entrepreneurs in the sports sector led by Muse Sport. This is a historic moment for the global circuit: with this operation, Red Bull Italy SailGP is born, the first team in the competition with a female-led ownership, marking the beginning of a new era for high-performance sailing in Italy.

The strategic objective of the new ownership is to amplify the growth of the championship , which has always been characterized by mixed crews, composed of men and women. The initiative combines excellent sports leadership, entrepreneurial vision and a solid experience in the development of brands and media strategies.

Leading this new chapter

Jimmy Spithill , SailGP champion and two-time America's Cup winner, as CEO, founder and co-owner

Assia Grazioli-Venier, founder of Muse Capital and Muse Sport, venture capitalists in the tech, health and sports sectors, as Board Director and co-owner

Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo , founder of Festina Lente Capital, entrepreneur with experience in luxury, fashion and entertainment, appointed Chairman of the Board and co-owner

The Consortium is composed of a group of leading international investors , including MFO Certuity, Yeh Capital, Anne Hathaway, Adam Shulman, Alexander Gilkes, Evan Yurman, Italian actress Miriam Leone, along with leading figures in business and sports such as Julie Eddleman, Heather Karatz, Peter Delgrosso and Dr. Jennifer Ashton.

This acquisition positions Italy at the forefront of a discipline often referred to as the “Formula 1 of the sea.” SailGP is an innovative, adrenaline-fueled international league in which national teams—composed of male and female athletes—compete on identical F50 foiling catamarans, capable of speeds in excess of 100 km/h. Races take place in some of the world’s most iconic locations, including Sydney, Saint-Tropez, San Francisco and Dubai.

The Italian team for 2025 stands out for its team of extraordinary talent, including

Ruggero Tita, two-time Olympic gold medalist, as Driver

Maelle Frascari, two-time world champion, as Strategist

Kyle Langford , three-time SailGP champion and America's Cup winner

With Red Bull as Title Partner, the goal is to establish itself as one of the most innovative and recognizable entities in the entire championship. The “Made in Italy” consortium combines the excellence of the sporting elite, cutting-edge technologies and distinctive cultural storytelling, giving life to a new model of sporting enterprise, ambitious and global.