The SPOT to boost start-ups in sports industry

PRESS RELEASE: 15 February 2018

If you are a start-up in the field of sport, physical activity or technology, ThinkSport’s pioneering new event, The SPOT, is here to highlight, promote and award your business ideas.

Scheduled for 15 to 16 May 2018 at the SwissTech Convention Center in Lausanne, Switzerland, The SPOT will provide young and developing businesses with valuable opportunities to network, share and learn. This includes the chance to present innovative concepts and products in front of a knowledgeable audience, cross-sector networking and even pitching, along with other new entrepreneurs, in front of investors and experts from the sports industry.

The inaugural edition of the annual two-day event will focus on the following themes:

1. Connected sport (New Technologies, Data Analytics, Connected Venues)
2. New sport (New Trends, E-sports Global Expansion, E-sports & Sport Governing)
3. Performance & Health (Human Enhancement & Nutrition, New Equipment, Materials & Designs, Sport Innovations & Knowledge Transfer)
4. Media & Marketing (AI & Cloud, OTT & Sponsors, Digital Security)

Start-ups are invited to sign up for a special event package that offers delegate passes, a booth at the Marketplace and the Demo Zone, and access to an invitation-only networking event at Gotham – Lausanne’s biggest co-working space that is full of creative minds. Attractive early bird rates are still available until 25 February 2018. Learn more here.

In addition, start-ups are encouraged to apply for the international start-up contest and other benefits, operated by Venturelab, a partner of The SPOT. A jury of experts will select the 40 most promising start-ups, which will benefit from:

• facilitation of individual one-on-one meetings with sport federations and investors;
• pitching in front of an international, knowledgeable and sports-minded audience;
• a chance to compete for attractive prizes (cash and others) at the final pitch competition on 15 May 2018 in front of investors; and
• a special introduction to the Swiss start-up ecosystem.

The final deadline for start-up registration is 20 April 2018. Find out more here.

ThinkSport signed agreements with several incubators and networks which will support and join in The SPOT. They are Global Sports Innovation Center, KickUp Sports, Le Tremplin by Paris & Co, Smash, leAD, Smash, Sport eXperience, TechTour, Venturelab.
A number of start-ups have also already confirmed their participation, including Alogo Analysis, DigitArena, ASI FieldWiz, GaitUp and Phocus Education.

The SPOT will also feature an exciting conference and workshop programme in an open space and a dynamic atmosphere. Speakers will share their insights with participants and then engage in thought-provoking conversations with each other and with attendees. Confirmed guest speakers include Kim Blair, Senior Manager at Exponent, Inc. and founder of the MIT Sports Innovation Programme , who also has an interesting background as a NASA aerospace engineer. Kim Blair will discuss new technologies at the event. Mike Wragg, Global Head of Research at Nielsen Sports, will share his insights into the global expansion of e-sports, while Dr. Earl Crane of Emergent Network Defense, a former National Security Council member, will give a presentation on digital security.

Check out www.thespot2018.org to learn more about The SPOT and secure an early bird rate by registering before 25 February 2018.

Contact us at info@thespot2018.org, +41 21 601 15 80

PR 11 December 2017: ThinkSport to galvanise innovation in sport with ground-breaking new international event: The SPOT
PR 30 January 2018: The SPOT hits the mark with exceptional list of speakers and innovative programme
PR 15 February 2018: The SPOT to boost start-ups in sports industry
PR 22 March 2018: Conference programme, more world-class speakers announced for The SPOT
PR 16 April 2018: THE SPOT: Leaving outdated ideas at the door