MADRID, 10 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The business investment vehicle Gasol16 Ventures, chaired by former basketball player Pau Gasol; the accelerator of startups linked to the world of sports SportBoost, founded by former soccer player Iker Casillas; and Wayra, Telefónica’s open innovation program; They announced this Tuesday a collaboration agreement to look for the “most disruptive” sports, health and well-being startups that have “impact.”
Under the name GameChangers3, the new alliance aims to “promote a sector in constant growth”, at a time when physical health and well-being are “increasingly priority” factors for society.
In this context, the three entities come together to invest in disruptive companies called to revolutionize the current paradigm of the ‘sports tech’ sector, with support that could reach up to one million euros jointly.
As conditions, the interested startups must be in advanced stages and be specialized in the fields of health, well-being, sports and nutrition at a global level. Wayra will support them in their business development through Telefónica’s different business units, in addition to organizing face-to-face or online meetings to promote networking and facilitate their access to Wayra’s investment ecosystem.
Likewise, it will offer work space in any of the seven ‘hubs’ that it has distributed throughout Europe and Latin America, which will help promote the internationalization of the selected companies.
For their part, SportBoost and Gasol16 Ventures will support startups in their business development by facilitating access and contacts in the sports field, and promoting networking with sports entities, clubs and institutions, as well as personalized advice through a wide network of mentors.
They will also offer the possibility of scaling the entrepreneurs’ business to the North American market, in which both companies have a strong presence and network of contacts.
In this call, which seeks projects that are taking advantage of the full potential of technology in the areas of sports, health, well-being and nutrition, startups will be able to present themselves starting today and for one year.
The ‘Chief Digital Officer’ of Telefónica, Chema Alonso and former athletes Iker Casillas and Pau Gasol presented the details of the new agreement this Tuesday at a press conference at the Wayra Madrid headquarters. “We want to give that push to startups that have impact and are more disruptive, that can become great companies,” Alonso explained during the event.
“Working hand in hand with two world leaders in sports such as Iker and Pau will help us detect and promote even more projects in the sports and health technology sector. The possibilities offered by artificial intelligence, web3 and “Immersive technologies for the development of new experiences are a goldmine for the definitive explosion of the sector and will help startups meet the demand of millions of users who are increasingly concerned about their well-being and a healthier life,” he added.
With this new alliance, the three entities intend to “go faster and share analysis” to select these startups, as well as “join efforts and complement roles.” “I am a firm defender of teamwork, especially when pursuing ambitious goals. We have an important challenge ahead of us in the field of sports, health and well-being, and I believe that technology can help us provide innovative solutions that improve people’s lives,” Gasol said.
“I feel fortunate to be able to join Wayra and SportBoost, with whom I share this concern, to move together towards a healthier future,” added the president of Gasol16 Ventures.
For his part, Casillas was “convinced of the strength of this alliance with Wayra and Pau”, on which they have been working “for the last three years.” “We are looking for talent to give that definitive push to those startups that, in this case, have disruptive solutions in the world of sports,” he reaffirmed.
After a debate on the three pillars of the agreement, sport, health and well-being, moderated by Andrés Saborido, global director of Wayra, a round table took place in which the startups Indya and Idoven, companies co-invested by Wayra, SportBoost, participated. and Gasol16 Ventures as an example of the strategy they will follow from now on in their investments.