LaLiga and GSIC launch the largest global competition for startups on disruptive solutions in the football, sports and entertainment industry

- The project seeks to bring innovators and new companies together with LaLiga and GSIC experts during the course of the competition.

- The solutions presented must be aimed at the areas of fan engagement, media, smart venues and sports performance.

- The 10 finalist startups could operate a pilot project together with LaLiga.

Madrid, 29 January 2019 — LaLiga and the Global Sports Innovation Center powered by Microsoft (GSIC) present the 2019 Startup Competition of The Original Inspiration Centre by LaLiga supported by GSIC, a joint initiative to identify the best technological developments in the sports and entertainment industry. The aim is to empower digital talent developing disruptive solutions in the football, sports and entertainment industry which can help continue LaLiga’s growth in the field of technology and innovation, by means of a global technological startups competition starting on 29 January. This milestone represents yet another step forward in the strategy for promoting innovation as part of the collaboration agreement between Microsoft and LaLiga since they began working together on the digital transformation of LaLiga in December 2016.

The competition promoted by LaLiga and managed by GSIC is the result of an agreement signed in September 2018 and aims to create a gateway to the sports and entertainment industry for new companies around the world. The solutions presented in the competition must be based on four cornerstones:

•Media: OTT, broadcasting, social media, digital content, new media, digital marketing, second screens, graphics, analysis, piracy.

•Fan engagement: fan profiles, social media, electronic sports, gamification, social listening, community, commercialisation, VR/AR/MR, digital games.

•Smart venues: security, fan engagement, ticket sales, fan experience, food and beverages, connectivity, cashless payments, access control and guest management.

•Sports performance: analysis, sports training materials, injury prevention, health and lifestyle, research.

•Others such as big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning, etc.

Iris Cordoba, the general manager of GSIC, remarks that "we are committed to innovative companies and organisations that add value to the sports industry in their digital transformation processes. Forming part of this initiative allows us to support LaLiga's innovation strategy and offer the finalist companies membership of GSIC, which has a 200-strong company network, mentors and activities which will facilitate of possibility of launching a pilot project with LaLiga."

Meanwhile, Minerva Santana, LaLiga's Innovation Director, assures that "at LaLiga we are committed to the development of the best technological innovations that help to improve the experience of our fans and the technological growth of our clubs. What’s more, with this kind of initiative, we reassert our commitment to empowering talent in the football industry."

Startups competition

The applications process, which is open until 30 March, will initially conclude with the selection of 25 startups selected by a jury composed of LaLiga, GSIC and Microsoft representatives. These companies will give online presentations on their proposals in May for the selection, in the final stage, of the 10 finalists which could carry out pilot projects hand in hand with LaLiga.

The competition offers finalists a host of benefits:

-Mentoring sessions given by LaLiga executives so they can get to know the organisation better and familiarise themselves with the areas in which the pilot projects will be developed.

-The possibility of implementing their solutions in the different areas of Spanish professional football. They will be able to see their integration into the structure and what results they can offer.

-The possibility of accessing certain LaLiga assets corresponding to the areas in which their pilot projects are developed (for example, aggregate data on the competition, social media, partner network, market research...)

-An immersion week at the end of September, with activities and working sessions to get to know the heads of LaLiga and GSIC, as well as their specific objectives and challenges.

-A cash prize to contribute to roll-out in Spain and their stay during the immersion week.

In the final stage of the project, from September to December 2019, the 10 companies will begin the GSIC acceleration programme with mentoring sessions, investor contacts, digital transformation certification and the possibility of accessing the Microsoft for Startups programme. During this period, the pilot projects approved by LaLiga will also begin development. 

The 10 finalist startups will be able to enjoy free membership of GSIC for six months with all of the services and benefits the centre provides its ecosystem: networking, participation in activities aimed at innovation and applied research, B2B contacts, media coverage and international events, among others.

About GSIC

Global Sports Innovation Center powered by Microsoft (GSIC) is a business cluster created by Microsoft Sports Team that brings together all types of sport entities (clubs, federations, associations), institutions, technology companies, from startups to corporations, research organizations, investors and key figures in the sports industry to provide them with values. To do so, we focus our activities and services on 4 main points: entrepreneurship, business network, applied research and showcase. Based in Madrid, GSIC now has more than 200 partners in 30 countries around the world.

About LaLiga 

Founded in 1984, LaLiga (Liga de Fútbol Profesional) is a sports association comprising the 42 teams that make up the first and second divisions of professional football in Spain. LaLiga, based in Madrid, is responsible for the LaLiga Santander and LaLiga 1|2|3 leagues and the television production, which in the 2017/2018 season reached more than 2.7 billion people globally. The association also has an active foundation and is the world’s first professional football league with a league for intellectually challenged footballers: LaLiga Genuine.