March 30 – LaLiga has combined with SportBoost to create opportunities for athletes and ex-athletes by connecting them technology startups.
The thinking is that the tech start-ups will expand athletes’ career horizons and skills, whil the tech start-ups will benefit from greater visibility, exposure and funding generated from their association with the athlete.
Sportboost is an international accelerator in the world of sport and founded and run by former Spanish international Iker Casillas. It supports, accelerates and invests in startups that have a direct link to sport and technology.
The project with LaLiga will have as its central hub the Player Entrepreneur Office (PEO), a body that will manage and promote this relationship between players and startups, with the players being able to support the companies in five listed ways: Mentoring, Sponsorship, Entrepreneurship, Employment opportunities and Investment.
“This is a very important agreement for SportBoost because with this partnership we are able to provide athletes with the possibility of finding opportunities after retirement, a moment that can cause anxiety. In addition, startups can reach out to these athletes and benefit from everything they have to offer,” said Casillas (pictured left).
Initially a four-year agreement, the PEO, working with other Spanish sporting bodies, will match athletes to start-ups.
LaLiga president Javier Tebas (pictured right) said: “Teaming up with Iker [Casillas] and SportBoost means continuing our commitmentto technology and innovation in LaLiga. One of our goals is to boost the sports industry in general, not just that offootball, and with this kind of partnership we are making sure that this is the case.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1714052089labto1714052089ofdlr1714052089owedi1714052089sni@n1714052089osloh1714052089cin.l1714052089uap1714052089