Mario Götze, the German football icon forever etched in history for scoring the winning goal at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, has quietly cultivated an equally impressive career off the pitch: that of a seasoned angel investor. Through his personal investment vehicle, Companion M, Götze has amassed a portfolio of over 70 companies, demonstrating a keen eye for promising startups across various sectors.
Companion M's success is already evident, with two portfolio companies achieving unicorn status in 2025: Danish fintech Flatpay and German AI startup Parloa. Götze emphasizes a disciplined approach to investing. "I only agree to invest if the startup and its founders check all the boxes," he told TechCrunch, highlighting his commitment to thorough vetting.
A Strategic Investment Focus
Götze typically invests in pre-seed and seed rounds, with ticket sizes ranging from €25,000 to €50,000 ($29,000-$58,000). While these early stages often involve subjective evaluations, Companion M mitigates risk by "focusing on specific areas where we have built profound network and expertise." Surprisingly, direct sports technology is not a primary focus.
Instead, Companion M primarily targets B2B SaaS, software infrastructure, and cybersecurity. Health and biotech also form a significant part of the portfolio, a natural fit for an athlete interested in human performance and wellness. This allows Götze the freedom to explore unconventional opportunities within these fields.
Bold Bets and Market Shifts
One such unconventional move came in 2020 when Götze made headlines for investing in German cannabis startup Sanity Group. At the time, many European institutional investors were hesitant to touch the cannabis sector. However, Germany has since liberalized aspects of its cannabis laws, creating significant tailwinds for Sanity Group, which claimed a 10% share of the German medical cannabis market in 2024.
Despite his investment, Götze, who is still actively playing professionally for German club Eintracht Frankfurt at 33, must wait to personally try cannabis due to athletic competition regulations. He draws inspiration from American athlete-investors like NBA champion Kevin Durant, choosing not to wait for retirement to build his investment empire.
Balancing the Pitch and the Portfolio
Götze is not alone among active European footballers investing in startups; Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappé also participate in the venture space. However, as a father of two young daughters, Götze faces the challenge of balancing his demanding football career with his investment commitments. "I have to schedule calls before or after practices and align meetings with weeks when I don’t have away games or play Champions League," Götze shared.
He doesn't manage his investments alone but has built Companion M into a small, dedicated team that supports his angel investing, partnerships, and other brand-related tasks. This strategic approach is crucial for his long-term brand, particularly for his post-active career, as he explained.
Building a Legacy Beyond Football
The branding aspect of Götze's investment activities is undeniable. When Revolut appointed him as its first-ever brand ambassador for Germany, the fintech company cited his track record as an angel investor as a key incentive. More profoundly, Götze has discovered what he describes as "another passion apart from sport," preparing him for life after professional football.
This passion might be less surprising given his background. While Götze and his brothers pursued football, their father, Jürgen, is a professor of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology. The family even spent time in Houston, Texas, during his father's postdoctoral research at Rice University.
Coincidentally, Götze's investments are primarily concentrated in Europe and the U.S., with notable past investments including Miami-based Arcee AI and Frankfurt-based Qualifyze. Several portfolio companies have successfully raised significant follow-on funding, and Götze has already seen successful exits, such as with Berlin-based KoRo.
Beyond direct startup investments, Götze is focused on long-term wealth consolidation. Companion M also acts as a limited partner, having backed more than 20 venture capital firms across the Atlantic, including prominent names like 20VC, Cherry Ventures, EQT Ventures, Planet A, Merantix, Visionaries Club, and World Fund.
Still under contract with Eintracht Frankfurt and reportedly discussing an extension, Götze plans to fully dedicate himself to his investment activities once he retires from football. "After my career ends, I plan to focus on my investment activities," he told Bloomberg. However, don't expect him to dwell on missed opportunities. "There are plenty of new startups every year, and there will be some that you miss out on. But regretting past decisions leads to making uneducated or impulsive decisions in the future," he wisely shared with TechCrunch. A true sportsman's philosophy: focus on the next goal, not the ones you missed.
