This module focuses on the entrepreneurial journey of a sports tech founder, exploring the different stages of development - from opportunity identification and problem validation to product development, growth, maturity and potential exit. It highlights the specific characteristics of building a company within the sports ecosystem, integrating key sector realities such as seasonality, reliance on pilot projects with federations or clubs, and long partnership cycles. The module further examines how growth trajectories differ when working with traditional sport structures compared to newer actors such as digital platforms or privately organised competition formats.

This module addresses the critical role of the team in building and scaling a sports tech startup. While ideas evolve, it is the strength, complementarity, and resilience of the team that ultimately determine success. Participants will explore how to build a solid foundation, define clear roles and responsibilities, and adapt leadership structures as the venture moves from early-stage experimentation to growth and scaling. Particular emphasis is placed on combining entrepreneurial expertise with sports industry credibility. In the European sports ecosystem, understanding federations, clubs, communities or fitness ecosystems - alongside leveraging strong networks - can significantly accelerate trust and adoption. From an investor perspective, team quality is often one of the first criteria assessed in funding decisions, with strong preference given to complementary skill sets, execution capacity, and the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments.

This module explores how sports tech startups can identify, achieve and sustain product–market fit within the unique dynamics of the sports ecosystem. Participants will learn practical tools and strategies to test assumptions, measure traction, and understand when their solution truly meets market needs. In sports, adoption often depends on pilots and partnerships rather than pure growth metrics, making validation with federations, clubs, fitness chains, brands, communities, and health actors essential. The module equips founders to navigate these relationships strategically, ensuring that product–market fit is both meaningful and sustainable.

This module provides a practical introduction to business models, exploring their definition, core features, and evolution over time. Participants will learn how to design and adapt a business model, understand key financial metrics such as customer acquisition cost, lifetime value, unit economics, and develop robust financial planning skills. The module highlights how business models differ across sports tech, including B2B partnerships with sports organisations, subscription-based fitness services, hardware-plus-content offerings, and community platforms, while examining the impact of longer sales cycles on revenue and growth planning. Inspiring real-world examples illustrate diverse approaches and applications, giving founders concrete insights into building sustainable, scalable ventures.

This module focuses on the unique dynamics of the sports market and the strategies needed to reach diverse audiences effectively. Participants will examine digital and traditional channels, including social media, PR, paid and earned media, and influencer partnerships, while understanding how credibility, athlete ambassadors, and cultural identity influence brand perception. The module also considers emerging trends such as boutique fitness and participation movements, demonstrating how these shifts shape brand positioning and engagement. By combining practical tools with sector-specific insights, founders learn to create authentic, impactful marketing strategies that resonate with both communities and partners.

This module focuses on how sports tech startups can engage effectively with corporates and organizations within the sports ecosystem. Participants will learn who the key stakeholders are, the types of startups they prefer to collaborate with, and how to position their value proposition accordingly. The module covers stakeholder mapping across federations, clubs, venues, cities, brands, and health systems, and provides strategies for navigating complex, multi-layered decision-making processes. By combining practical sales tools with an understanding of the sector’s unique structures, founders gain the skills to build partnerships, secure contracts, and accelerate adoption within the sports ecosystem.

This module examines the practical and regulatory realities of building a sports tech startup. Participants will explore federation rules, safety standards, data protection, brand management, and operational realities across competitions, gyms, and public environments. It also addresses inclusion, accessibility, and safeguarding, highlighting how these considerations are integral to designing responsible and sustainable solutions. By understanding the constraints of the real-world sports ecosystem, founders are better equipped to navigate compliance, mitigate risk, and implement innovations that are both effective and widely adoptable.

This interactive, hands-on module teaches participants how to effectively pitch their sports tech ideas. Founders will explore what a pitch is, how to tailor it to different audiences, and approaches to strengthen both content and delivery. The module covers key do’s and don’ts, with practical exercises to train pitching skills, and includes guidance on explaining the sports market clearly to general investors while articulating ecosystem complexity without sounding niche. Participants gain the tools and confidence to present their venture convincingly, combining compelling storytelling with strategic insight.

This module explores who funds sport, whether fundraising differs from a “regular” startup, and the specific opportunities and challenges within the sector. Participants will learn about crowdfunding, both equity- and rewards-based, as well as public funding linked to participation, health, or innovation programmes. When it comes to investors, the module examines how to attract and engage the right backers, how to navigate the fundraising process step by step, and practical strategies to create momentum, secure the right timing, and optimise terms. Participants gain actionable insights and tools to manage fundraising effectively while adapting to the unique dynamics of the sports ecosystem.

This module provides participants with insights into the final stage of the startup journey through real-world experiences, making the session both engaging and practical. It is delivered in a panel discussion format featuring a seasoned sports tech founder and an investor who has been involved in a successful acquisition. The discussion can also be broadened according to the needs of participants to explore typical acquirers in the sports ecosystem, such as leagues, media groups, fitness platforms, and equipment brands. Participants will examine experiences, challenges, and lessons learned, gaining a practical understanding of how exits unfold, what makes a startup attractive to buyers, and how strategic decisions throughout the lifecycle shape long-term value creation.