Sports Tech HQ

What Sports Tech HQ does

Sports Tech HQ Inc. is an Indianapolis-based nonprofit organization founded in 2022 as a joint initiative of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) and Indiana Sports Corp to position Indiana as a global hub for sports technology. Operating with a core team of four and co-located at the Indiana Sports Corp office, STHQ functions as an ecosystem builder rather than a technology developer, curating a collective of 40+ sports-technology companies (including Fitasy, Telemetry Sports, RefReps, Ekkobar, ScoutSync, and Edge Sound Research) and connecting them with Indiana's concentration of professional teams (Colts, Pacers, Fever, Indy Eleven), national associations (NCAA, USA Football, USA Gymnastics, USATF), premier venues (Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis Motor Speedway), and 50+ marquee annual events (NFL Combine, Final Four, Indy 500).

STHQ's core offering is the Sports Tech HQ Collective, a curated network providing member companies with ecosystem access, state-administered incentives (grants, matching funds, tax credits, VC pathways), and event-driven showcase opportunities. Complementary products include a weekly Sports Tech Podcast, a news/blog platform, and innovation showcases staged at NFL Combine, Big Ten Championship Weekend, NCAA Final Four, and CES. The organization leverages a diversified marketing mix — podcast, newsletter, organic social, PR (NPR, Inside Indiana Business, Indianapolis Business Journal), and in-person events — to amplify member companies and the Indiana sports-tech brand.

The business model is grant-funded: cumulative state funding totals $7M ($2.5M in May 2023, $4.5M in May 2024) from the IEDC, with no membership fees charged to collective companies. Revenue mechanics are therefore tied to state-level appropriations and partner support (Techstars Sports Accelerator, Purdue Research Foundation, Elevate Ventures, IU Ventures). Distribution is operated through a website contact form (self-serve SMB intake), event-based direct engagement at major sports venues (regional enterprise outreach), and ecosystem partner referrals from IEDC, Indiana Sports Corp, and the research foundation network. Strategic positioning is reinforced through flagship partnerships with PEAK 2026 (Las Vegas), the NCAA Final Four Innovation Showcase presented by AT&T, Purdue's Ray Ewry Sports Engineering Center, and Marvella (a youth female-athlete complex).

Name

Sports Tech HQ

Legal name

Sports Tech HQ Inc.

Website

https://sthq.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sports Tech HQ is an Indianapolis-based nonprofit that curates a collective of 40+ sports-technology companies and connects them with Indiana's professional teams, national associations, venues, and marquee events. Founded in 2022 with state backing, it provides ecosystem access, showcases, and media exposure in lieu of paid services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Technology Ecosystem Services

NAICS

Spectator Sports (7112)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Community Relations & Grassroots Program Management (MPAKAKAJ)

Keywords

• Sports technology ecosystem
• Ecosystem development services
• Collective membership network
• Innovation showcase events
• Ecosystem partnership facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. State Funding: Sports Tech HQ Inc. is an initiative launched by the Indiana Economic Development Corp. that secured $4.5 million in state funding to support operations and growth over two years. This is the primary funding source for the nonprofit organization.
2. Ecosystem Incentives for Members: The organization facilitates access to grants, matching funds, free services, growth resources, tax credits, and venture capital access for small businesses in the collective.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sports Tech HQ is a nonprofit ecosystem builder that connects sports technology startups and innovators with Indiana's world-class sports industry. It curates a collective of 40+ sports tech companies, facilitates introductions to professional teams, leagues, associations, facilities, and major events, and hosts innovation showcases at flagship sports events. The organization is funded by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation to position Indiana as a global hub for the sports technology industry.

Product overview

Sports Tech HQ is a nonprofit organization that operates as a sports technology ecosystem platform, connecting innovators and startups with Indiana's world-class sports infrastructure. The organization offers a collective network of sports tech companies, a podcast platform, news coverage, and business development resources. Rather than a unified product with modules, Sports Tech HQ provides an umbrella ecosystem connecting member companies to professional teams, facilities, events, and educational institutions across Indiana's sports landscape.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sports Tech HQ Collective

Quantifiable outcome

• 40+ companies joined the collective
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• PEAKflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 February 2026Sports Tech HQ partnered with PEAK as a headline partner for PEAK 2026, the premier global gathering for SportsTech and innovation. The partnership formalizes a shared commitment to convening founders, investors, executives, and innovators. Sports Tech HQ will play a visible role in spotlighting emerging technology, elevating founder voices, and connecting Indiana's SportsTech ecosystem to a global audience of 1,000+ leaders.
• Indiana Economic Development CorporationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Indiana Economic Development Corporation partnered with Indiana Sports Corp to create Sports Tech HQ as a platform to foster innovation, collaboration, and growth in Indiana's sports tech sector. IEDC provides primary funding ($4.5M state funding) and strategic support.
• Indiana Sports CorpflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndiana Sports Corp partnered with IEDC to create Sports Tech HQ. The nation's most storied sports commission provides operational co-location and deep sports industry connections. Sports Tech HQ is co-located at the Indiana Sports Corp office in Indianapolis.
• Techstars Sports Accelerator Powered by IndycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechstars Sports Accelerator leverages connections for founders in the Indianapolis sports ecosystem. Sports Tech HQ works with the accelerator to support sports tech startups.
• Purdue Research FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPurdue Research Foundation supports the sports tech ecosystem through research partnerships and investment activities. Represented on the Sports Tech HQ Board.
• MarvellacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports Tech HQ was named Official Innovation Partner of Marvella, a state-of-the-art sports complex designed for young female athletes. The partnership brings cutting-edge innovation to the Marvella project through the Sports Tech HQ Zone.
• Purdue University Ray Ewry Sports Engineering Center (RESEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPurdue University's Ray Ewry Sports Engineering Center partnered with Sports Tech HQ to bridge the gap between engineering and athletics through interdisciplinary research and education focused on enhancing performance, safety, and fan engagement.
• Butler University Esports ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports Tech HQ partnered with Butler University Esports Park to support esports innovation and development in Indiana's sports tech ecosystem.
• Eleven ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports Tech HQ serves as a technology advisor for Eleven Park, a major sports and entertainment development project.
• CosmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports entertainment firm Cosm is considering Indianapolis as a potential market for its high-tech immersive video and hospitality venues. City sports tourism officials (linked to Sports Tech HQ ecosystem) have been pursuing the company for about nine months. Two downtown sites under consideration with development costs ranging from $80M to $90M.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• HYPE Sports Innovation: HYPE operates a global sports tech innovation ecosystem with accelerators, showcases, and an annual summit, connecting startups with sports industry stakeholders across multiple geographies. Closely comparable as a multi-stakeholder sports tech platform, though globally distributed rather than anchored to a single state/region.
• N3XT Sports: N3XT Sports is a sports innovation agency that supports startups, leagues, and brands in sports tech adoption, including innovation programs and ecosystem development. Directly comparable as a sports tech ecosystem builder, though structured as a commercial consultancy rather than nonprofit.
• Plug and Play Sports: Plug and Play runs a dedicated Sports & Active Living vertical that accelerates and connects sports tech startups with corporate partners including teams, leagues, and brands. Highly comparable as a sports tech ecosystem builder, though based in Silicon Valley with a venture/equity-backed model rather than nonprofit.
• Techstars Sports Accelerator: Techstars Sports Accelerator Powered by Indy operates in the Indianapolis sports tech ecosystem with a venture-backed accelerator model. Directly comparable as a sports tech startup program, though STHQ is actually a partner of Techstars rather than a direct competitor; both serve overlapping founder audiences.
• SportsTechX: SportsTechX provides market intelligence, research, and networking infrastructure for the global sports tech industry, including ecosystem mapping and founder/investor connections. Comparable as an enabler in the sports tech ecosystem, though focused on data/research rather than direct startup services.

Broad incumbents

• Two Circles: Two Circles is a sports data and technology agency serving major leagues, teams, and brands globally with fan engagement, CRM, and data analytics solutions. Comparable as a sports tech ecosystem player though focused on enterprise client services rather than startup ecosystem building.
• SXSW (Sports Track): SXSW includes a dedicated Sports Track featuring innovation showcases, panels, and networking across sports tech, media, and performance. Comparable as a major sports tech showcase platform, though embedded within a broader entertainment/tech conference rather than a standalone sports tech ecosystem.

Regional players

• Arizona Sports & Entertainment Commission: Arizona's sports commission promotes sports business development in the state, including sports tech ecosystem initiatives anchored to Arizona's sports franchises and events. Comparable as a regional sports commission developing its sports tech footprint, though STHQ has a more focused startup-centric model.
• gener8tor: gener8tor is a Wisconsin-based venture capital accelerator that partners with STHQ (represented on STHQ's Board). Comparable as a regional startup ecosystem builder with overlap in portfolio companies and Indiana ecosystem engagement, though focused on general venture acceleration rather than sports-specific verticals.

Others

• Cosm: Cosm builds immersive sports and entertainment venues with shared video display technology, and is a partner/customer of STHQ ecosystem. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem participant leveraging Indiana's sports tech network, though operating as a commercial venue operator rather than ecosystem builder.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sportstechhq
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SportsTechHQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sports-tech-hq
• Instagraminstagram.com/sportstechhq
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sports Tech HQ