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Interviewing Sandy Khaund, Founder & CEO @Credenza Credenza enables brands, sports, luxury goods and entertainment clients to integrate web3 technologies into existing operations to enhance direct-to-fan/consumer relationships and create new revenue streams both online and offline. Credenza’s vision of web3 and traditional retail unite to enhance customer experience and engagement. In this conversation, Sandy talks about his journey as an individual working with Fortune 500 companies, investor & now a founder. He also talks about his journey of founding his company Upgraded which was eventually acquired by Ticketmaster/Live Nation in September 2018. He then founded Credenza with a purpose of bringing Web3 tech to sports, entertainment, brands. He then speaks about how blockchain can essentially solve a lot of problems and add value. He then speaks about how NFTs are moving on from a novelty item to becoming a utility item with a lot of use cases. He then moves on to speak about how they at Credenza are making a difference to women’s sports by creating new monetization and revenue opportunities. He then speaks about the upcoming products at Credenza which could be a gamechanger in sports commercialisation. In the last part he puts on his investor hat once again and speaks about the trends he sees coming up in the future. Hosted by Rohn Malhotra from SportsTechX - Data & Insights about SportsTech startups and the surrounding ecosystem.

Interviewing David Hernando, Head of Strategy @SportBoost SportBoost is an accelerator and co-investment platform that specializes in sport, innovation and technology. The accelerator is founded by Spanish legendary footballer Iker Casilas and has partnered with La Liga as their main partner, Wayra is the co-investing partner and ESIC is their educational partner.  SportBoost was formed around innovation, entrepreneurship and investment in sport and provides selected startups with the necessary resources to help them on their way to success. Earlier this month LaLiga Tech & SportBoost launched an open call for Fan Engagement startups to apply for their flagship program, the applications to which are open until the 15th of July 2022. Find out more at https://www.sportboost.es/challenge In this conversation, David talks about how the accelerator supports startups and initiatives with their network, their knowledge and their mentorship from within the SportBoost system and from experts within the sportstech ecosystem as a whole. He talks about adapting to the startups and initiatives and fitting into their journey to support them in a more open and fluid structure. He sheds light on the new SportBoost x La Liga Tech challenge that is specific to Fan Engagement based on La Liga’s commitment to fan engagement and improvements within that front of the sports ecosystem. He also lets us in on news that is to be announced based on work in nutrition, management of clubs/leagues and more. Hosted by Rohn Malhotra from SportsTechX - Data & Insights about SportsTech startups and the surrounding ecosystem.

Interviewing Federico Smanio, Program Director of WeSportUp WeSportUp is Italy’s first innovation hub accelerator specifically for health and wellness. The accelerator is part of the initiative of CDP Venture Capital along with Sport and Health and is managed by Startupbootcamp and Wylab. Fastweb, Renault and Telepass are the corporate partners for WeSportUp. The applications to their flagship 3-month accelerator program are open until the 30th of June 2022. Find out more at https://www.wesportup.it In this conversation, Federico talks about his dual career and his journey as a professional footballer in the Italian Serie B league to the program director of Italy’s first sports accelerator - WeSportUp. The national innovation fund and the government's involvement in the accelerator. The structure of the accelerator involves two public entities, private partners and commercial corporations. He also talks about the invitation to the flagship accelerator for which 20 startups will be shortlisted of which 10 will make it to the acceleration program that starts in September. Hosted by Rohn Malhotra from SportsTechX - Data & Insights about SportsTech startups and the surrounding ecosystem.

Interviewing Thomas Euler, Founder and CEO of Liquiditeam Liquiditeam is tokenizing fandom by using blockchain. It is a fan engagement and financing solutions for professional sports, clubs, athletes and content creators. It enables everyone who has fans to build their own platform. Liquiditeam also uses Web3 content and community management systems. Liquiditeam works at the intersection of three exciting worlds: Professional Sports, the Creator Economy, and Blockchain. Find out more at https://www.liquidi.team/ In this conversation, Thomas talks about how liquiditeam is likened to the shopify of fan engagement. He speaks about the convergence of three exciting worlds and the future of fan engagement. Hosted by Rohn Malhotra from SportsTechX - Data & Insights about SportsTech startups and the surrounding ecosystem.

Interviewing Anirudh Pandita, Founder @Loco Loco is India's leading live game streaming platform that is building the future gaming community in the country. Viewers can watch gaming videos all at one place. What started as a live trivia game show app developed into a platform for India's best upcoming and top gamers and hosts them as they play and stream the top trending games. It also allows fans to follow, support, and engage with the streamers. Find out more at https://loco.gg/ In this conversation, Anirudh talks about releasing a bunch of new features that will make viewing for fans much more interactive. He speaks about how Loco initially launched as a trivia game show app and evolved into a gaming streaming platform as they believe that entertainment is a need and the two biggest trends were short videos and interactive entertainment. He touches upon the evolution of gaming and the way the rest of the world knows it - the right mix of skill and strategy and about developing a new content vertical, a new content format that would require new grammar, tech, community formation Hosted by Rohn Malhotra from SportsTechX - Data & Insights about SportsTech startups and the surrounding ecosystem.

Interviewing Anthony Vennare, Co-Founder @FittInsider Fitt Insider is a newsletter, podcast, and community of industry-leading operators that is building a platform for the future of fitness and wellness. Much like what we at SportsTechX do in the sports tech space, Fitt insider does for the health, fitness and wellbeing space. Fitt Insider has also ventured into angel investing and investment funds along with understanding the underlying needs of consumers when it comes to their health. Find out more at https://insider.fitt.co/ In this conversation, Anthony talks about bridging the gap that he and his brother noticed within the fitness and health industry while pitching to investors and building a huge company from it. He touches upon the needs and trends of the industry and its consumers and how the outdoor space interests Fitt Insider as the industry is growing and evolving at a rapid pace. Anthony also drops some information about an investment fund that Fitt is launching very soon. Hosted by Rohn Malhotra from SportsTechX - Data & Insights about SportsTech startups and the surrounding ecosystem.

Interviewing Sohrob Farudi, CEO & Co-Founder, @FanControlledFootball. Fan Controlled Football is a professional indoor football league that was created in 2017 as the first sports league that is controlled by fans. It is a pro football re-imagined for the modern digital world where real games are played in a single, high tech studio arena and the fans call the plays, set key rules and draft players. It’s also streamed live on Twitch. Find out more at https://www.fcf.io/ . In this conversation, Sohrob talks about building the most engaging fan engagement platform and how the aim was to engage mainly the digital fan, creating an extensive, global fanbase. He also spoke about the expansion plans through a licensing and franchisee model and adapting to the constant changes in the industry. Check the app out at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fanchise.fcf&hl=en_IN&gl=US Hosted by Rohn Malhotra from SportsTechX - Data & Insights about SportsTech startups and the surrounding ecosystem.

Mint is a platform to monetize & market assets using NFTs / digital tokens. They’re building NFT experiences to be more accessible and inclusive through streamlined commerce solutions that provide a simplified platform to mint, market, monetize, and manage digital assets that connect with an engaged community of fans. Find out more at https://www.mint.store/ In this conversation, Matt talks about ‘The Mint Magic’ that he says happens on the backend, almost like reversing the NFT process. He also further dissects the different tiers in the NFT ecosystem and what it means for various stakeholders and how they can engage with audiences, buyers etc. Hosted by Rohn Malhotra from SportsTechX - Data & Insights about SportsTech startups and the surrounding ecosystem.

Interviewing Oliver Howard from Startupbootcamp Sport and Event Tech Melbourne. Startupbootcamp is the world's largest industry-focused accelerator program with a global family of 21 industry-focused programs including IoT & Data Tech, Health, FinTech, Food, Smart City & Living, Transportation, and Energy. They launched its first accelerator program in Melbourne, Australia in August 2017. Find out more at https://www.startupbootcamp.com.au/. In this conversation, Oliver talks about Melbourne being the sports capital of the world, startup’s surviving the last two difficult years and their latest cohort, now open for applications. More details at https://www.startupbootcamp.org/accelerator/sport-eventtech-melbourne/ Hosted by Rohn Malhotra from SportsTechX - Data & Insights about SportsTech startups and the surrounding ecosystem.

Interviewing Jordan Fliegel from Techstars Sports, a leading sports accelerator in the US designed for SportsTech companies focused on the future of sport, ranging from new technologies to new business models. Techstars Sports Accelerator powered by Indy is backed by the Pacers Sports & Entertainment, NCAA, Indiana Sports Corp, the Next Level Fund, and supporting partners Indianapolis Colts and Indianapolis Motor Speedway & Indy Car. Techstars Sports is a mentorship-driven accelerator with 150+ mentors who are experienced SportsTech founders, VCs, angel investors, C-level execs at major sports leagues and corporations and strategic celebrity athletes.  Find out more at https://www.techstars.com/accelerators/indy-sports.  Hosted by Rohn Malhotra from SportsTechX - Data & Insights about SportsTech startups and the surrounding ecosystem.

Interviewing Luis Vicente, Chairman, and Antonio Cacorino, Co-Founder & CEO at APEX Capital, — a SportsTech Investment Network allowing athletes to invest in what they understand and can eventually engage with. Counting two current Formula E drivers as Founding Partners - Antonio Felix Da Costa and Mitch Evans, APEX Capital is focused primarily on Seed, Late Seed and Series A Companies. Traditionally speaking, there is a big gap between high performance athletes and the private investment world. APEX aims at reducing the distance between the two, acting as an extension of both the athletes and the businesses. Over the episode we learn more about APEX Capital from Luis and Antonio, their investments and most importantly, plans for 2022. Check them out at www.apex-cp.com.  Hosted by Rohn Malhotra from SportsTechX - Data & Insights about SportsTech startups and the surrounding ecosystem. #SportsTech #Sports #Tech #Investors #Startups #SportsBiz

Interviewing Lloyd Danzig, Founder and Managing Partner at Sharp Alpha Advisors, the venture capital firm specializing in sports betting and online gaming, mostly focusing on deploying capital out of their venture fund in pre-seed and seed companies that are pursuing what they consider to be the future. Adding to the lengthy list, the company consults for professional sports teams and leagues on their innovation strategies as related to sports betting and interactive gaming, offers mergers and acquisition advice, and is backed by some of the world’s biggest Series B and C firms and hedge funds. Tune in to learn more about Lloyd, his passion and knowledge about the industry and the exciting work they’re doing at Sharp Alpha Advisors.Check them out at www.sharpalphaadvisors.com Hosted by Benjamin Penkert from SportsTechX - Data & Insights about SportsTech startups and the surrounding ecosystem.  #sportstech #sports #tech #venture #vc #startups #competitiveentertainment #betting #onlinegaming 

Interviewing Gérôme Vanherf, Co-Founder of SportsTech Belgium whose main objective is to develop the SportsTech ecosystem in Belgium with new initiatives and new startups, and to build long term cross-fertilization strategies between Belgian sports and technology stakeholders, both locally and internationally. Having just recently launched at their Summit in Tubize, Belgium—our very own Rohn Malhotra was lucky enough to be there for it—and with their Accelerator Program well into the application phase, SportsTech Belgium has much much to offer—Investing, Connecting, Venturing, and Hosting forming their ‘4 Pillars’. Tune in to learn more about Gérôme, his love and passion for MusicTech and Entertainment and Sports and where all these intersect, as well as some of their exciting future plans. Check them out at www.sportstechbelgium.be.  Hosted by Rohn Malhotra from SportsTechX - Data & Insights about SportsTech startups and the surrounding ecosystem.  If you haven’t had the chance to check out our Global SportsTech VC Report yet, it just dropped yesterday! Free download available here: https://sportstechx.com/gstvcr/ #sportstech #sports #tech #investors #startups #musictech #entertainment #esports 

Interviewing Benedikt Jonas Dunse on today’s episode of the SportsTech All Stars Podcast, CEO of the St. Gallen-based Impulse Network, the student-driven not-for-profit movement, founded in 2017 to create impulses for change in the sports industry. Specifically, the Impulse Network set out with the mission to bridge the gap between academia and the sports industry. Having gained a lot of traction in the last years, the network now hosts two main events annually: the Impulse Summit and the Startup Selection. With the intention of giving young professionals and companies access to the sports industry, selected startups will hold a pitch in front of an audience and a jury of investors—this process comprises the Startup Selection. The winner is then selected to participate in the physical event a week later, the Impulse Summit—a space for inter-generational discussion between students and leaders within the sports industry. We are happy to announce that we as SportsTechX will again be joining forces with the Impulse Network this year to moderate and host the Startup Selection! This will be held next week, October 14th, on the topic of Sleep, Nutrition and recovery, and NFTs; the best news is that there is still time to sign up for the event! It is online and it is free: https://www.airmeet.com/e/390ea370-278f-11ec-ae56-1950d9a071b3 Tune in to learn more about Benedikt, the Impulse Network, and the exciting projects in the pipeline! Check them out at www.impulse.network Hosted by Benjamin Penkert from SportsTechX - Data & Insights about SportsTech startups and the surrounding ecosystem.  #SportsTech #Sports #Tech #Investors #Startups #Academia 

Interviewing Petr Zhukov, for the second time, from Indigo Capital Partners—the European SportsTech Fund focused primarily on Seed, Late Seed and Series A Companies. Familiar with Petr and this global VC fund, we dive deeper into the effects of the last year. Having all faced the challenging realities of the Corona pandemic and the resulting industry shifts, we address the ways in which technology has indeed become the way forward for clubs, brands, and athletes to develop, to better monetize, and to ultimately optimize performance. How does the road ahead look and what is in it for a private equity and venture type investment firm like Indigo Capital Partners? Learn even more about Petr and Indigo Capital, their investments and all the developments in the SportsTech megatrends since the last time we spoke! Check them out at www.indigocapital.ru/en. Hosted by Rohn Malhotra from SportsTechX - Data & Insights about SportsTech startups and the surrounding ecosystem.  #SportsTech #Sports #Tech #Investors #Startups #SportsBiz #Megatrends

Interviewing Thomas H. Rudy, Principal of the Lake Nona Sports and Health Tech Fund, a fresh investment fund based in the Lake Nona Region within Orlando, Florida. With eyes set on investing in early-stage, innovative startups shaping the future of sports and health, and as a partnership between the two giants: leAD Sports and Health Tech Partners and Tavistock Group, the Fund’s mission is to support tomorrow’s innovators by turning visions into realities. Lake Nona as a location itself—a modern community focused on health and wellness—offers unparalleled access to state-of-the-art facilities ranging from the Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute to the Lake Nona Performance Club, a major gym and health facility second to none in the United States, as well as several hospitals and medical schools. Considering additionally the arrival of 5G Technology to the region before anywhere else in the country, it goes without saying that the conditions truly are favorable for these future players; the Lake Nona fund offers startups in the seed phase an impressive array of tools, support, and access to flourish into being. Tune in to learn more about Thomas, the Principal behind the Fund, the nature and size of their investments, their venture partners and prominent athlete investors, as well as some sound advice we can all take on board.  Check them out at www.lakenonafund.com. Hosted by Benjamin Penkert from SportsTechX - Data & Insights about SportsTech startups and the surrounding ecosystem.  #sportstech #sports #tech #fund #startups #investment #innovation 

Interviewing Elliott Rayner, CMO of ARION, the company dedicated to truly understanding movement and in so doing, helping athletes and running enthusiasts alike to discover their own unique running identity, refine their technique and ultimately reduce the risk of injury. With ARION Coach, the ultra-thin smart running insoles with pressure-sensitive sensors and a personal coaching AI program, users become aware and conscious about every detail of their movement. From a range of data collected of metrics ranging from cadence, footstrike, contact time and much more, ARION allows for a deep understanding of technique, how to optimize it and ultimately, optimize running performance. Tune in to the podcast to hear more about the ways in which ARION is making waves with individuals through ARION Coach and additionally, branching into the retail environment with ARION Hub and ARION Studio, enabling consumers to find that ideal running shoe as they team up with top running brands to produce better, safer shoes. Learn more about ARION and the technology they’ve built to create a better understanding of every runner’s unique technique. Check them out at www.arion.run. Hosted by Rohn Malhotra from SportsTechX - Data & Insights about SportsTech startups and the surrounding ecosystem.  Check us out on our YouTube channel at Hello SportsTech next month; we’ll be testing ARION Coach ourselves and providing you with all the details of that experience ;) #sportstech #sports #tech #running #movement #AI #sensors #insoles #coach

Interviewing Mustafa Ghouse, CEO of JSW Sports, the sports vertical of the JSW group—the Indian multinational conglomerate company, based in Mumbai. Appointed as CEO in 2012, and with the inception of JSW Sports aimed initially at supporting Indian Olympic athletes through the creation of a funding program for the lead up to the 2016 Rio Olympics, and an additional youth development program targeting Indian athletes in the crucial years between the ages of 12 - 18, providing them with the right exposure, training and advice, Mustafa and the team have been working, and successfully so, towards maximizing the sporting potential of Indian athletes. Since then JSW Sports has added teams in the Indian Premier League, Pro-Kabaddi League and Indian Super League to its portfolio. As a former professional tennis player and with his experience in sports management and a deep passion for the sports world, Mustafa has identified the need to push and encourage a culture of sports in India, introducing a more structured approach to sporting events, increasing access to both athletes and spectators, creating a clear vision for the trajectory of athletes and teams, and establishing ties between the sport and corporate worlds. Recently moving into the SportsTech scene, JSW Sports has also launched its accelerator program, aimed at supporting a variety of startups existing within the intersection of the sports and tech spheres. Tune in to learn more about the man behind the company and the many branches they’ve established at JSW Sports. Check them out at www.jsw.in/sports. Hosted by Rohn Malhotra from SportsTechX - Data & Insights about SportsTech startups and the surrounding ecosystem. #sportstech #sports #tech #athletedevelopment #youthdevelopment #sportculture #suppport

Interviewing David Dwinger, founder of the revolutionary player development football platform, JOGO! Using groundbreaking data technology including artificial intelligence (AI), machine vision (MV), and insole sensor tech, the company provides insights into the future faces of football. Having identified the need for objective and relative data with regards to youth development, as opposed to mere opinion, David and the team set out to offer just that. JOGO’s technology allows for the measurement of everything related to acceleration, deceleration, ball touches, shot power, leg distribution, flight time, time on the ball, type of ball touches, and much much more, providing very customized feedback to players and coaches with regards to individual players and the whole team. Tune in to learn more about the man behind the company and the technology they’ve built to create and predict tomorrow’s football legends. Check them out at www.jogo.ai. Additionally, you can catch more info and insights into JOGO in our August Newsletter—stay tuned! Hosted by Benjamin Penkert from SportsTechX - Data & Insights about SportsTech startups and the surrounding ecosystem.

Interviewing Jaime Reneses, founder of Retrofootball, a European online platform dedicated to the revival of sports legends through vintage sportswear—specifically, jerseys. Upon identifying the appreciation and passion that football fans feel when it comes to the legends and the ecosystem they exist within, he realized the huge market potential existing in the football fanbase. Simply put: fans want to have their team jerseys but often times these are unavailable on the market. This is where Retrofootball comes in, offering fans this tangible connection to the teams and the legends they identify with. Tune in to hear more about Jaime and Retrofootball and the upcoming plans—a move into the NFT realm! Check them out at www.retrofootball.eu. Hosted by Rohn Malhotra from SportsTechX - Data & Insights about SportsTech startups and the surrounding ecosystem.