Benfica partnered with KickUP Sports Innovation to launch the first European Sports accelerator that emerged within a major sports club.
It’s called KickUP Sports Accelerator and is an international acceleration program, that aims to scout, accelerate and invest in early stage sports business startups. Sports Business Startups? It mean everything related to Sports Performance & Lifestyle Activity, Fan Engagement & Entertainment and Facility Management & Operations.
Taking place in Lisbon, at Estadio da Luz (Benfica’s stadium), the 12 week full-service program gives the opportunity to 10 selected startups to build, execute and validate their business model, find the best international product & market fit, and get funding.
10 startups will be selected for an upfront investment of €10.000 and get access to a mentor network that ranges from sports business founders, experts, and investors engaged to accelerate their business growth.
As founding partners of the program we can see the well known club SL Benfica, Sportz Zone, Luz Saúde, Jazzy, Multipower, CASE, NOS and Nova SBE.
KickUP Sports Acceleration program was designed from scratch with a strong sportive approach so that all the founders will benefit from tailor-made nutrition plans, sports activities & competitions, and mindfulness programs. All startups with projects and ideas related to sports and health are invited to apply until the 12th March.