DSG Ventures has launched with five investments and marks the rare instance of a sports retailer launching a strategic fund.

Photo courtesy of Dick’s Sporting Goods

US sports equipment retailer Dick’s Sporting Goods has become one of the few sports retailers to enter the corporate venture capital world, forming a $50m investment arm called DSG Ventures to back early-stage sports technology startups.

In addition to its funding activities, DSG Ventures is partnering innovation consultancy VentureFuel on a pilot scheme where early-stage companies will work with the unit on…

Robert Lavine

Robert Lavine is special features editor for Global Venturing.