Global Sports Innovation Center powered by Microsoft and Mediapro open a call to discover innovative initiatives in eSports

Global Sports Innovation Center powered by Microsoft (GSIC) and its strategic partner Mediapro are launching a new competition of technology-based startups within Sport Thinkers program, which this time will be dedicated to eSports.

The Sport Thinkers eSports, designed by GSIC, is aiming to identify and select innovative initiatives that will have a positive impact on the digital treatment of business models associated to eSports to support them and offer collaborative business opportunities with Mediapro.

The companies that register to participate must work on the solutions that can be applied to the following thematic areas:

1. Generation of business linked to professional and amateur eSports (content, cross sales, consumption analysis of pricing and consumer segmentation).
2. New disruptive scenarios in monetization of different platforms and digital assets linked to eSports.
3. Enhance the use of fan profiles, visualization of information and statistics.
4. Generation of personalized content (video, images and audio) and cross-selling of other products / services.
5. Experiences related to immersive and 360º audio technologies.

Iris Córdoba, the General Director of the GSIC, highlights that “We are aware of the impact that eSports are having on the sports industry and that they are becoming increasingly famous at the level of sponsorship and spectators, but it’s true that there is a space to promote innovative initiatives that have an economic impact on the sector. This call is a first step to encourage the development of technology-based startups that can add value to companies that provide services such as Mediapro and benefit from being part of the GSIC ecosystem”.

María Carmen Fernandez, Director of Innovation of Mediapro, recalls that “In Mediapro we have opted for the eSports sector where we see clear opportunities, especially in the field of content, and where new initiatives and formulas must be developed. The experience of eSports content consumption is closely related to the fan experience and consumption of sports content. The collaboration with the GSIC will bring together the best of both worlds: knowledge of the world of sports on TV and its fans, and the consumption of digital content. The challenge is to design new services and products that allow the personalization of the experience with sustainable business models.”

The call is open starting on November 30. All startups that wish to participate in the contest will have to fill out a form explaining, among other things, the experience they already have in the sector and what value they can bring to Mediapro with their projects. The reception of the inscriptions will be open until December 16. After closing the call, the panel composed from professionals of the GSIC and Mediapro, will select for the short list about 20 companies that will later make their online presentations.

In the final phase, 5 startups will be chosen, and on February 2019 there will be an immersion week with Mediapro to learn about their needs and vision regarding eSports. During this immersion week the winning companies will work on a proposal that can further be applied to the eSports line within Mediapro business areas. These winning companies will also become part of the GSIC’s network of partners where they will benefit from mentoring sessions with the best professionals in the sports industry, networking, participation in activities aimed at innovation and applied research, B2B contacts, visibility in international media and events, among others.

To apply, fill THIS FORM