The Startup award, delivered by Transform Sports, invites young, innovative, and disruptive companies from the stadium, sports, and media sectors to become part of SportsInnovation 2026.
The award offers participating Startups the opportunity to present their solutions to the German Football League (DFL) and its partners, positioning themselves as drivers of innovation. At the same time, it opens valuable doors to connect with investors, clubs, associations, and key decision-makers from the sports and media industry.
How to enter:
Pre-Selection
The 3 highest-rated projects will be selected as finalists and announced.
Final at SI 26
The finalists will be invited to pitch their projects live at the SportsInnovation 2026, held in person on March 3-4.
In cooperation with
Key Information:
Why it pays to participate
1
Exhibition
- Dedicated Startup area at the SportsInnovation
2
Branding & Activation
- Feature of all participating start-ups and their logos across official communication channels
- Logo inclusion in the official Innovation Report
- Logo placement on the event website
3
Networking & Lead Generation
- Exclusive invitation to the SportsInnovation Pre-Opener event for start-ups
- Full access to the event’s networking app & the attendees
- Two tickets to SI26
Participation Fee: 2750€
Deadline for applications
Days
Hours
Minutes
Startup Award Prize
- Prominent Stage Presence at SportsInnovation 2026
- Exposure to key decision-makers from the DFL and its partners across sports and media
- Complimentary start-up networking with the German-speaking market provided by Transform Sports
Participation Requirements
To be eligible, start-ups must meet the following criteria:
- The Product and/ or solution must be relevant to sports organizations in the areas of fan experience, stadium technology, broadcasting, content, or sports performance.
- A functional and validated Minimum Viable Product (MVP) must be in place.
- A dedicated team with international ambition – applications are welcome from anywhere in the world.
- Must be able to attend the final in Düsseldorf on 3 and 4 March 2026
Questions about the Startup Award?
If you have any questions regarding the Award or SportsInnovation, please contact us via the contact form.
Your point of contact
Philipp Klotz, CEO of Transform Sports