Gary Lineker's podcast group, Goalhanger, has launched a venture capital arm to invest in media startups, following a Netflix deal for its World Cup coverage. The former BBC presenter co-founded the Kennington-based firm and retains a 33 per cent stake, according to company filings.
Goalhanger, the UK's largest independent podcast group, produces shows including The Rest is Football, The Rest is History, The Rest is Entertainment, and The Rest is Money. The new division, Goalhanger Ventures, has already completed two deals: an equity investment in Invisible Media, the economics-focused video platform behind YouTube channel The Invisible Hand, and a commercial partnership with Backyard Cricket, a Yorkshire-based cricket content brand.
Jack Davenport, a co-founder alongside Tony Pastor, said: 'Goalhanger Ventures is about giving exceptional creator-led businesses the infrastructure to grow without losing what made them special in the first place.' The division is also backed by Greg Bettinelli of investment firm The Chernin Group, which previously invested in Goalhanger.
The expansion follows Goalhanger's launch of an incubator programme, The Accelerator, in January. The company has shifted from advertising to paid subscriptions and live events, surpassing 250,000 paid subscribers in January, generating over £15 million annually. In 2025, its content was streamed more than 750 million times.
