UEFA launches new start-up challenge linked to the 2024 UEFA Champions League Final

Last week, UEFA launched Champions Innovate, a new start-up challenge catalysing innovation around the UEFA Champions League Final taking place next year in London. The aim: involve fans as active contributors in enhancing the social and environmental impact of the event and in leaving a lasting positive impact on the Host City.

This fresh proprietary initiative of the UEFA Innovation Hub is based on a partnership between UEFA, the Greater London Authority, and some of the prestigious commercial partners of the competition – PepsiCo, Mastercard and Just Eat Takeaway.com. In recent months, UEFA has collaborated closely with these partners to identify key challenges of shared importance around the overarching theme of sustainability, in the fields of green energy, food and delivery tech, fin tech and fan engagement.  This year, the challenges focus on how fans can actively be involved in enhancing the final’s social and environmental impact.

Partners will eagerly mentor the selected start-ups throughout the testing phase, which will take place in London. If successful, the pilot projects will be used as part of the organisation around the UEFA Champions League Final. All pilot solutions will finally be unveiled and celebrated at a showcase event in London scheduled two days prior to the final.

The application phase for start-ups interested in participating remain open until 20 October for the challenge in partnership with PepsiCo, and until 4 December for the challenges specific to Mastercard and Just Eat Takeaway.com. Detailed information is available here, and proposals can be submitted via this link.

Read here UEFA’s full press release.