The First Global Sports Innovation Accelerator Network Is Growing

LONDON, Sept. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- HYPE Sports Innovation, a platform that connects and invests in sports innovation globally, today announces the kick-off of its second Sports Innovation - SPIN Accelerator® program cohort. HYPE Sports Innovation formally launched the new accelerator cycle at a meeting held at Chelsea FC Stamford Bridge Stadium together with six host partners, including leading football clubs and universities from different countries. The four-month program is tailored for the unique needs of sports-technology startups and connects them to industry leading investors and strategic partners. The upcoming SPIN cycle will open throughout November 2018. HYPE Sports Innovation aims to establish at least 25 accelerator host partners by 2021.

For more information and to apply to the most relevant program for you, please click here.

HYPE Sports Innovation President and Co-Founder Amir Raveh noted: "I look back and remember how the SPIN Accelerator® was just a vision, and today we are starting our 2nd cycle, after a successful program that exceeded all expectations. This could not happen without our outstanding host partners and the industry leaders that accompany us. We are committed to the next cycles being even more successful, in order to positively affect the technological transformation happening in the world of sports."

The second SPIN Accelerator® cycle includes the following partners:

• 1. FC Köln
• FC Shakhtar Donetsk
• MEF University and 1907 Fenerbahce
• Maccabi Haifa FC
• National Chiao Tung University in Taiwan

Each accelerator will conduct a similar curriculum, featuring lectures from both their local arena and sports industry leaders such as UEFA marketing director Guy-Laurent Epstein, Washington Redskins vice president of sports marketing and sponsorships Rod Nenner, former Reebok president Uli Becker, and others. The SPIN accelerators invite sports startups from all over the world to apply.

In establishing a tenth location for its accelerator network in 18 months, HYPE Sports Innovation is ensuring that every place on earth will benefit from the wide reach of its sports ecosystem. Moreover, a recent extensive survey and analysis published by HYPE Sports Innovation identified key megatrends that are shaping up the investment landscape for the sports-technology space: speeding up the games, increasing fan engagement by sophisticated sensors, using big data to elevate on-field performance, and elevating the power of the individual athlete.

Craig Meek, co-founder of ARIVAL, which raised 380,000 USD during HYPE's first accelerator cyclenoted: "The SPIN Accelerator®program was hugely helpful in defining our vision and brought our team together to focus on future objectives. I would highly recommend this program for any inspired startups in sports innovation."

The first SPIN Accelerator® ran simultaneously with 3 partners: University of Loughborough in London, Australia's University of Queensland and Italian Trentino Sviluppo. Out of 33 participating startups, 12 received investments totaling $3.5m USD throughout the program. Through the network the accelerator provides, 70% of the startups announced collaborations with other companies and 36% acquired new clients.

About HYPE Sports Innovation:

HYPE Sports Innovation is the largest global ecosystem in sports innovation. With over 30,000 members, including retail brands, sports clubs, federations, and academia. Together with over 10,000 startups, HYPE Sports Innovation has an unrivaled capacity for outreach to global partners across all sectors in this highly diverse field. The company's business model is to leverage this platform to grow from the surging needs of the sports industry to innovate. Since its inception, the company has created and expanded unique offerings and services, all with unprecedented success and value added for investors, partners, and consumers. Among its clients are UEFA, Adidas, Spalding, Silicon Valley Bank, Asics, Google, and many more. The company's mission is to impact people's lives through the power of sports and innovation. Visit HYPE Sports Innovation at: www.hypesportsinnovation.com

Contact
Yariv Barak 
Global Director SPIN Accelerator®
[email protected]

SOURCE HYPE Foundation

Related Links

http://www.hypesportsinnovation.com