Relay Ventures’ Post

I am thrilled to be a part of the esteemed judging panel for SportsPro's Ignition Innovation Competition 2024. The Ignition Innovation Competition is the platform for sports start-ups to demonstrate their solutions in front of industry leaders. The competition is focused on the 5 pillars of Ignition: Media & Consumption; Data & Analytics; Fan Engagement; In Venue and Commerce. The winner will receive an equity-free Growth Support Package of over $100,000 in value delivered by SportsPro as well as three potential opportunities to be positioned in front of the international sports industry.   Are you an innovative entrepreneur or start-up founder making a significant impact in the world of #sportstech?   Share your ground-breaking solution with us for the chance to win an extraordinary $100K Growth Support Package!   Don't miss out on this opportunity, enter for free before the 17th of November 2023 - https://lnkd.in/ek5w7emG Last year's winner ScorePlay, cofounded by Xavier Green and Victorien Tixier, whose investor include the likes of Nicolas Julia, CEO & Co-founder of Sorare, Raphaël Varane, Manchester United footballer, Mario Götze, Eintracht Frankfurt footballer, Alejandro Bedoya, Philadelphia Union footballer, Dominic Thiem, Professional Tennis player, Kevin Durant, a former National Basketball Association (NBA) star, & Rich Kleiman of 35V,  a multi-faceted media and investment company, to name a few, can be found here https://lnkd.in/ehyqg8zq. You too can be the NEXT BIG THING but must apply HERE & NOW https://lnkd.in/ek5w7emG   #Ignition24 #sportsbiz #sportstech #web3 #Blocksport #judge #innovation #entrepreneurs #win #founders #mentoring #support #winners #fanengagement #data #analytics

🚀 A Glimpse of Portugal’s Sports Tech Landscape in 2024 ⚽️ 🏄🏾🥊🏋🏼 💥The 🇵🇹 Sports Market is on an exciting trajectory, projected to grow by 9.62%, reaching a market volume of 3.5 million by 2027, according to Statista 👊 Portuguese Sports Tech ecosystem is experiencing a surge in dynamism, with numerous startups and scaleups capturing the attention of international players seeking merge and acquisition opportunities 📈 Accelerators & Incubators play a crucial role in fostering innovation. Kudos to: Startup Portugal Startup Braga Instituto Pedro Nunes INOPOL Academia de Empreendedorismo Check out some exciting examples from the Portuguese sports tech scene in the image below 👇👇 ✌️If I’ve inadvertently missed any important projects, my sincerest apologies! Let’s keep feeding this vibrant sports tech ecosystem! 🇵🇹🎉 BHOUT 2Play Kiss my Score Tiesports Neroes GoalPoint.pt ⚽ | GoalPoint Partners ScoutDecision Hole19 Emjogo.pt PluggableAI Inygon uReplay Full Venue VO Sports FootAR - Metaverse for live sports. Visible Sports STOP and GO Surf REC ISM Improving Sports ScorePlay RealFevr SAKPROJECT Wisify AirCourts Allez - Sports Ticketing Marketplace Tikitworld X-Plora / VizitAR Field Visible Sports DETU TECH APWin - Advantage Player ViBo Health Splink Overpac #sportstech #startups #innovation #venturecapital #business #technology

The future is bright. The sports tech market is still in its infancy and we're witnessing disruption and innovation in all different areas of the ecosystem. A major shoutout to all the companies mentioned, but just know there are plenty of other builders that are doing real work behind the scenes as well. If you know someone building someone interesting within sports technology, tag em' below ⬇️ Would love to help them gain more exposure and recognition. #sportstechnology #sportsbusiness #sportsindustry https://lnkd.in/gUrh7QNg

Building a business is not for the faint of heart. Especially in the sports industry where there is endless competition. But joining an accelerator can provide funding, mentorship and drastically accelerate your company's growth. If you're a sports tech founder, here are several accelerator programs you should be looking into... 1) Comcast SportsTech 2) Stadia Ventures 3) Techstars Sports Accelerator Powered by Indy 4) SPORTS TECH TOKYO 5) leAD Sports & Health Tech Partners 6) HYPE Sports Innovation 7) PodiumVC 8) Qatar SportsTech 9) Chiliz 10) Wylab 11) SportUp 12) Barça Innovation Hub 13) Sixers Innovation Lab 14) Sportradar 15) Boomtown Accelerators I know there are some I missed. Please comment below if there are any other accelerators to add to the list. (Interested in sports tech news and insights? Join for free: www.thehypereport.xyz) #sportstech #sportstechnology #linkedinsports #sportsbiz

Sports Tech is an entire ecosystem! Not just wearables - but health tech, fintech, consumer loyalty, education, and media, and more ... Share with your favorite founders & see you at demo day for amazing companies lifting off to their next level! #sportsindustry #sportsmedicine #sportsbiz #sports #sportsbusiness #sportsmarketing #sportsmedia

We’re dangerously close to Glue Yourself to the Couch and Not Move For 16 Hours SZN. This week, we're exploring the venture scene behind the games we love, focusing on Sapphire Sport, a firm that's fueling the next age of innovation in sports and tech. Founded in 2019, Sapphire Sport is leading the charge in early-stage startups at the intersection of sports and tech (#sportstech). With average check sizes ranging from $3-$10 million and an oversubscribed Fund II raising $181 million, they're making waves in the industry. Their portfolio includes exciting names like Manticore Games Inc., a massive metaverse, Buzzer, an API service for streaming platforms, and PlayVS, a platform for organized scholastic esports. The global sports industry is growing rapidly, expected to reach $623 billion by 2027. With sectors like #Esports, #SportsBetting and #Fantasy, and #Media and Tech on the rise, Sapphire Sport is well-positioned to capitalize on these trends. Founded by industry veterans Doug Higgins and Michael Spirito, the team combines unique industry and financial expertise to find the biggest sports brands of tomorrow. Want to dive deeper into the world of sports innovation? Check out the full article below:

🚀 Dive into the Sportech scene with us at PULSAR! 🏆 We're crafting an in-depth report on Europe's Sportech ecosystem. Are you a mature Sportech startup ready to make waves? 💡 Let's connect and explore opportunities together! #Sportech #PULSARVC #Startups"

While the general market for fundraising may have contracted in 2023, “#sportstech” is one area that’s bucking convention as a positive performer. Per a recent research report from Drake Star, sports tech funds raised roughly $6bn of new capital in H1 alone, with the trend set to continue in H2.   Few industries can blend data science and intellectual property with an active and loyal consumer base quite like sports. As investors look to the sports economy for growth opportunities and ROI, it’s more important than ever to recognize the different verticals within conventional sports tech, their unique behaviors, and distinct paths to value creation. Fan engagement, content distribution, athlete performance, venue management, digital commerce, health & fitness, sponsorship measurement, and consumer sports participation are some of the exciting areas in-play. They all have their strengths, but no two behave exactly the same.   As our industry continues to evolve, innovate, and attract more sophisticated sources of capital, catch-all terms like sports tech may need a rethink if companies and investors are to align and realize their full potential. It’s a positive sign of how far sports has come, and an indicator of its bright future.   #sports #media #instiutionalinvesting #privateequity #venturecapital #fanengagement #content #datascience #intellectualproperty #ecommerce #health #fitness #sponsorship

Sportstech is a growth engine. In 2022 alone: • 1,014 new deals worth $90B • 6x YoY increase in M&A activity • 19 $100M+ raises and 9 $500M+ raises Plus, Ares Management, Redbird IMI, Will Ventures and more raised over $5B in new capital — planning continued investment in the category’s rise. A global pastime and source of entertainment, sports was already an endlessly profitable business. Now, add skyrocketing innovation to the equation, fueling ramped up ancillary revenue across esports, fan engagement platforms, multimedia, performance tech, apparel, and more… Growth potential appears limitless — a win for athletes, leagues, and fans alike.

Thank you, George Pyne, for bringing attention to the #SportsTech sector, which is rapidly expanding. Huge thanks are also due to Drake Star for featuring #MyPlay in the Global Sports Tech Report Q2 2023. 🌍📰 This recognition fills us with immense pride and gratitude, knowing that our commitment to #innovation and #digitalization is making an impact 😊 As startups, investors, and stakeholders, we are undeniably the driving force behind the phenomenal expansion of the #sports market. 📈 Check out the report here: https://lnkd.in/eu5jjVwS Let's continue to empower the future of sports technology! 🚀🎯 #SportsTech #Innovation #GlobalSportsTechReport #sportsmedia #sportsbusiness