The First Global Sports Acceleration Network is Launched by HYPE Foundation Together With the Best Sports Institutions

BARCELONA, Spain, Oct. 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- HYPE Foundation, a global platform that connects and invests in sports innovation, today announces its official launch of the "SPIN Lab", partnering with some of the best sports institutions in the world. This is a global acceleration program, focusing on developing innovation in sports. The program is launching simultaneously with four host partners, spread over three continents, creating the biggest sports - acceleration network in the world. Representatives from partners and the HYPE Foundation board celebrated the launch in a meeting at the home of Barcelona FC, Camp Nou.

Applications for startups will be available from October 2017 with the first accelerator taking place in January 2018 - Startups can apply here.

The SPIN Lab network is a significant milestone in HYPE's mission to impact people's lives through the power of sports and innovation. The accelerators will recruit, discover, nourish and grow innovative sports startups, navigating them to address specific market needs and predicted trends.

HYPE Foundation's Partner and Chief Innovation Officer, Dr. Ilan Hadar noted: "The SPIN Lab initiative is a perfect complement with HYPE's activities in the sports innovation space. By teaming up with top partners, the program will get the highest level of local and global mentoring. We are committed to creating a go-to program for entrepreneurs, looking to fulfill their dreams in the sports technology business."

The four SPIN Lab partners are:

• Loughborough University London, Institute for Sport Business, UK. Ranked as the number one Sport university in the world.
  
• The University of Queensland, (UQ) Australia - combining its schools of  Human Movement, Nutrition Sciences and Engineering and IT. UQ is ranked in the top 5 in the world for sports science research.
  
• San Jose State University, California, U.S.A
  
• Trentino Sviluppo and The University of Trento, Italy  

Professor James Skinner, Director of the Institute for Sport Business at Loughborough University London noted: "I'm excited to launch the SPIN Lab and partner with the HYPE Foundation. This is a powerful program that takes sports startups to the next level, and as a university that proved to be at the forefront of sports management studies, we are certain this collaboration will be fruitful and impactful from academic and business standpoint."

In addition, HYPE is raising its SPIN Fund, dedicated to investing in sports startups and launching the application for its 2018 "TOP 50" program for the most innovative startups in the world of sports - startups can apply here.

About HYPE Foundation:
HYPE Foundation is the largest sports innovation ecosystem with over 26,000 leaders and key decision makers in the field of sports, including sports and tech global brands, academia, investors and startups. HYPE is the host for global competitions, teaming up with Google, ASICS, Microsoft, and Sky Sports among others. In 2017 HYPE Foundation conducted several Sports Innovation (SPIN) Final competitions alongside the UEFA Champions League Final, NFL Draft and the 2017 Taipei Summer Universiade.

HYPE Foundation is the impact division of MG Equity partners, (EMGI), a British investment house, operating since 2003, a Member of the IHUB.EU - A European Union organization.
For more information visit:  www.hype-foundation.org

Contact:

Lirone Glikman
VP Partnerships
HYPE Foundation
[email protected]  
www.hype-foundation.org

SOURCE HYPE Foundation