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The region’s first sports tech accelerator
How Qatar SportsTech became the region’s first sports tech accelerator, drawing more than 400 applications for a first cohort of 10 startups.
Client
Qatar SportsTech
Sector
Sport
Services
Accelerator design, partner network, startup selection
Delivered
Programme structure, cohort design, year-one delivery
The outcome
400+
first-cohort applications
More than 400 startups applied for the first cohort, which began in February 2019.
10
startups per cohort
Each three-month cohort worked with partners such as Qatar Airways, IBM and Ooredoo.
45
alumni, nearly USD 10m raised
By June 2021, 45 alumni had raised nearly USD 10m between them.
The Challenge
Qatar was investing heavily in sport ahead of the 2022 World Cup, but founders had nowhere in the region to test ideas with clubs, venues and federations. Qatar Development Bank wanted an accelerator that would bring startups to Doha and give them access to real sporting assets, with a plan to accelerate 40 startups over three years.
WHY IT MATTERS: INDUSTRY DATA
>
400
Applications
For the first cohort
10
Startups per cohort
Over three months
$
40
k
Grants up to
From $15k per startup
What we did
1
Designed the structure
We designed the programme: 10 startups per cohort over three months, with partners, mentors and a demo day at the end.
2
Brought the partners in
Aspire Zone hosted and partners from the Supreme Committee to Qatar Airways, IBM and Ooredoo gave startups real problems and real venues.
3
Delivered year one
The first cohort started in February 2019, with startups working on athlete analytics, fan engagement and club software.
What happened next
By June 2021, 45 alumni had raised nearly USD 10m. Later cohorts grew the network, with more than 500 applications for cohort two and new partners including beIN, PSG and Microsoft for Startups. QST was named Most Innovative Company at the 2019 Qatar Business Awards.
