Nolt Raises €1.7 Million Seed to Expand Circular Sportswear and AI‑Powered Customisation

Nice‑based circular sports brand Nolt has completed a significant seed funding round, securing approximately €1.7 million to scale its eco‑responsible sports equipment business and support both product innovation and European growth. The investment, announced in late 2025, underscores continued investor confidence in brands that combine sustainability with digital customisation tools and circular manufacturing models.

Nolt, which stands for “Nothing is Lost,” was founded with a mission to transform how sports equipment — from jerseys to shorts and socks — is produced, used and recycled, embedding the principles of circular economy into mainstream team and club apparel. The brand’s flagship development is the “Maillot Infini,” a 100 % circular sports jersey crafted from recycled polyester and designed for infinite recycling through an integrated QR code system that tracks its lifecycle and ensures end‑of‑life material recovery.

The €1.7 million seed funding round brought together a diverse group of impact‑oriented and strategic investors. Impact Seed Ventures was among the early entrants backing Nolt’s vision, alongside GROUPE RIVE NEUVE via its FCPR Impact Performance fund, which focuses on ventures with measurable social and environmental impact. Other key participants included Matthieu Pigasse, founder of Combat Holding, Les Gars des Eaux, ve2.ventures, and experienced professionals such as Omar da Fonseca, further strengthening the company’s capital base and strategic credentials. The fundraising process was led by Rosenpick & Associés, a strategy and advisory firm guiding Nolt through this pivotal growth phase.

This seed round builds on a previous €500,000 fundraising round that Nolt announced in 2024, which was supported by a group of business angels including Impact Business Angels and Santiago Lefebvre, co‑founder and CEO of ChangeNOW. That round enabled Nolt to begin strengthening its digital “Direct to Club” offering and increase its eco‑responsible impact on the sports equipment market, while securing partnerships and visibility ahead of larger European events.

The freshly raised capital will be used to industrialise Nolt’s circular manufacturing process, particularly the production of its signature jersey, and to lay the foundation for a B2B commercial structure with a dedicated team based in Paris. As part of its growth strategy, Nolt is also deploying an enhanced 3D configurator powered by artificial intelligence, aimed at enabling clubs, teams and organisations to customise apparel digitally, improving design experience and lead times.

In addition to product industrialisation and digital tooling, Nolt is forming strategic partnerships to strengthen its position in the circular value chain. One notable agreement is with ReGNR, a European circular logistics player, which will support warehousing and logistics aligned with Nolt’s sustainability objectives. These partnerships are expected to accelerate deployment of the company’s end‑to‑end circular apparel ecosystem.

Nolt’s community traction and market validation are reflected in its existing client base, which includes more than 500 teams across France and Belgium, spanning football, volleyball and other amateur sports clubs. The company’s products have been adopted by organisations such as the Racing Club de Cannes and the Ligue Nationale de Volley, showcasing growing commercial demand for sustainable, locally customised sportswear with a circular lifecycle.

Leadership at Nolt attributes its growth to the convergence of eco‑responsible manufacturing, digital customisation and circular design principles, which resonate with athletes, clubs and partners seeking alternatives to traditional linear fashion and sports equipment supply chains. Founders Paul Guinard and Olivier Guigonis have emphasised that the company’s approach — from material sourcing to end‑of‑life recyclability — is designed to embed sustainability across every stage of the product journey.

The funding news comes at a time of heightened awareness around textile waste and environmental impact in the sporting goods sector, with players across the industry exploring circular models and sustainable innovations. Nolt’s emphasis on closed‑loop design, digital engagement and AI‑augmented customisation positions it as a noteworthy example of how brands can combine performance, sustainability and technology.

Looking ahead, Nolt plans to leverage this seed capital to deepen its industrial capabilities, expand its presence across key European markets, and scale its digital configurator to serve more clubs and organisations, positioning itself as a leading circular sports equipment brand in a competitive global landscape.