HYPE Global Virtual Accelerator 2.0 – Off to a Flying Start

On a warm spring day just on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, a member of the HYPE Team clicks “Begin Meeting.” In doing so launches a project that has been in the works for over 10 months, with over 1 440 startup applications, 150+ Startup Interviews from 32+ countries around the globe. It all comes down to this moment.

The Opening Session of HYPE GVA 2.0 (AKA #HYPEGVA21)

Rewind a year, the beginning outbreak of a global pandemic our founder and president, Amir Raveh decides we need to take immediate action and after a long meeting, a new accelerator is born… The Global Virtual Accelerator, (GVA) focused on pilots and fundraising. Following the success of this GVA, we set out once again to make it even bigger and better in the form of GVA 2.0. 

February 2021, over 50 Global sports brands, clubs, and federations join as partners and share their specific challenges with a handpicked (literally) selection of sports tech startups. In a series of “sports vertical” focused sessions, labelled “Partner Presentation” each partner presents their challenges and takes questions from the startups that have joined. The startups then have 2 or so weeks, to prepare, adjust and pivot if necessary their solution to cater and solve the challenges of each partner.

March 2021, it’s the startups time to shine now, the Startup Pitching days commence, with Clubs & Federations kicking off the proceedings. The startups bring their A-Game and receive loads of interest and positive feedback from the partners who are bombarded with innovation and new tech solutions, catered specifically to their needs.

April 2021, Showtime. The partners have now heard from all the startups and it is time to share which startups have been “DRAFTED” into their shortlists. In a series of events, we coined “The HYPE GVA 2.0 DRAFT Days” the partners share 1 by 1 which startups they have selected and why. With over 150+ potential pilots in the mix, it is safe to say the sports tech industry should be ready for a BOOM of Innovation. Kicking off the HYPE GVA 2.0 Draft Days was a combined event of the Clubs & Federations vertical as well as the Media & Broadcasting vertical… with over 1.5K views the excitement was felt all around the world, on and off social media. 

Monday, April 12 the final startup announcements were shared for the esports & gaming vertical, as well as the sports, betting vertical. With this, we complete an intensive selection process of premium startups, tasked with solving the sports industry’s greatest challenges, and some even tipped to become the next “sports-tech unicorns!” 

We can now officially introduce the HYPE GVA 2.0 in full force! 70 Startups, 51 Partners, 8 Verticals with 1 goal. Solving the sports industry’s real challenges. 

Yesterday, April 13 we kicked off the accelerator program with a festive session lead by Michał Grundland, VP Global Programs and Business development (replacing Elinor Yakobson, on maternity leave) as well as Amir Raveh the “Steve jobs of sports tech” as recently referred to by a program mentor.

To share a few immediate results and reactions from startups: 

Imagine AR, a platform designed to create engaging content in augmented reality has already sealed a 3-year white-label deal with Motorsports vertical partner, Automotive Industries. 

Marcus Harrington, co-founder of wintersports vertical startup “Sidelynes” said after their startup was selected by SnowHow CHINA:

“Wow, absolutely exceeded my expectations, but goes to show you put in the hard work & go the extra mile? Things may turn out the way you couldn’t even imagine… Only wish my father was alive to see this momentous time in my life… Thank you HYPE Sports Innovation and all partners & teams involved!”

Sven van de Perre, founder of Trops AR a startup that has cashed in with partner selections across multiple verticals is clearly loving it as he shared on LinkedIn

“Even the saying ‘biblical proportions’ doesn’t do this justice. HYPE Sports Innovation is stuff of legend.  Any tech start-ups out there reading this -> sign up for the next edition NOW.” 

Well, it’s now time for the startups to make it big and win big with partners such as Lululemon, Atlanta Hawks, Inter Miami, SK Gaming, the Bundesliga, and more industry giants! 

Let the games begin.