ASTN - Australian Sports Technologies Network

What ASTN - Australian Sports Technologies Network does

ASTN - Australian Sports Technologies Network is a national not-for-profit, industry-led membership organization established on 18 April 2012 and headquartered at the Cremorne Digital Hub in Melbourne, Australia. It is governed as the peak body for Australia's sportstech sector and serves an ecosystem of approximately 850 member organizations spanning startups, national sporting federations, research institutions, sports distributors and retailers, investors, and government agencies. Its core mission is the commercialization, development, and promotion of Australian-inspired sports technologies within a sector the organization values at AUD$5.65 billion employing nearly 18,000 people.

ASTN operates a programmatic platform rather than a technology product. Core offerings include the Australian Sports Innovation Centre of Excellence (ASICE, established September 2021 with an AUD$4m Victorian Government grant), early-stage and growth-stage mentoring programs delivered in partnership with GSIC powered by Microsoft, open innovation frameworks developed with Prof. Henry Chesbrough, the Venture Capital Partner Network (launched May 2024 with Gandel Invest and Queensland Investment Corporation), global trade missions across the USA, Europe, and Asia with Austrade support, industry events including SEAT, SportNXT, and Australian Sports Tech Week, and the Sports Cutting Edge podcast/vodcast series which has reached 100+ episodes. The September 2025 Dailymotion Pro partnership extended the podcast into a vodcast format.

Revenue is generated through tiered membership subscriptions (Premium and International Members) and government grants from multiple state and federal agencies, including the Victorian Government, LaunchVic, Queensland Government (DETSI/DSROPG), Western Australian Government, Meshpoints/Lotterywest, South Australian Department of State Development, and the Federal Government. A team of approximately 8 people, led by COO Amy Crosland and CFO Cam Vale under board chair Dr. Martin Schlegel, delivers the program nationally across offices in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, and Western Australia.

Name

ASTN - Australian Sports Technologies Network

Legal name

Australian Sports Technologies Network (ASTN)

Website

https://astn.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ASTN is Australia's national not-for-profit membership organization for the sportstech industry, operating a network of approximately 850 member organizations across startups, sporting federations, investors, and government agencies to drive commercialization, capital access, and international expansion of the AUD$5.65 billion sector.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Association & Innovation Network Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Partnership Management Services (THAHACAK)

Keywords

• Sports technology network
• Startup accelerator programs
• Global trade missions
• Industry membership organization
• Innovation ecosystem services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cremorne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: ASTN operates as a not-for-profit membership organization. Membership provides access to industry connections, educational programs, and promotional opportunities for sportstech organizations.
2. Government Grants and Funding: ASTN receives funding from various government sources including Victorian Government ($4m grant for ASICE), LaunchVic, Queensland Government, South Australian Department of State Development, Austrade, and other state government agencies to deliver programs and trade missions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ASTN operates a not-for-profit, industry-led membership network providing leadership in the commercialisation, development, and promotion of Australian sports technologies. Core offerings include tiered membership (Premium and International Members), pre-accelerator and accelerator mentoring programs, global trade missions, industry events, research publications, and a Venture Capital Partner Network that connects sportstech companies, national sporting organisations, investors, researchers, and government agencies.

Product overview

ASTN is a not-for-profit, industry-led membership organization providing leadership in the commercialisation, development, and promotion of Australian sports technologies. The organization operates a comprehensive ecosystem platform comprising content programming (Sports Cutting Edge podcast/vodcast with 100+ episodes), innovation programs (ASICE Centre of Excellence, early-stage and growth-stage mentoring via pre-accelerator and accelerator initiatives), global market access services (trade missions to USA, Europe, Asia), industry events (SEAT, SportNXT), research publications (Sportstech Innovation Reports), and investment networking (Venture Capital Partner Network). Supporting over 200+ members and nearly 850 organizations, ASTN facilitates connection between sportstech businesses, investors, sporting organizations, and government agencies to drive innovation in Australia's $5.65 billion sportstech sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ASICE: Australian Sports Innovation Centre of Excellence - established with AUD$4m Victorian Government grant in September 2021
• Sports Cutting Edge
• Venture Capital Partner Network

Products and services

• ASTN Membership Program Tiered membership program for sportstech organisations and individuals, offering access to industry connections, educational programs, mentoring, trade missions, events, and promotional opportunities. Premium and International membership tiers are available.
• Australian Sports Innovation Centre of Excellence (ASICE) National super-cluster for sport innovation providing program direction, industry collaboration, and commercialisation pathways. Governed by an Industry Advisory Council and guided by a Project Directorate.
• Early-Stage Mentoring Program (Business of Sport Pre-Accelerator) Pre-accelerator program delivered in partnership with GSIC powered by Microsoft, focusing on early-stage sportstech startups seeking mentorship, education, and pathways to scale.
• Growth-Stage Mentoring Program (Accelerator) Accelerator and mentoring program supporting growth-stage sportstech companies with global expansion strategies, investor connections, and open innovation frameworks.
• Global Trade Missions International market entry programs and trade delegations helping Australian sportstech companies expand into global markets including USA, Europe, Asia (Japan, Taiwan, South Korea), and Southeast Asia (Singapore, India).
• Sports Cutting Edge Podcast/Vodcast ASTN's flagship long-running podcast series (100+ episodes) featuring interviews with sportstech founders, leaders, and global trends, now expanded into video (vodcast) format via Dailymotion Pro partnership.
• Sportstech Innovation Reports Industry research publications tracking the Australian sportstech sector's growth, market size (latest AUD$5.65 billion), employment (~18,000 nationally), and innovation trends across multiple editions.
• Open Innovation Framework Open innovation masterclasses, workshops, and frameworks developed in collaboration with Prof. Henry Chesbrough (UC Berkeley), supporting collaboration between startups, sporting organisations, and corporates.
• Venture Capital Partner Network Network connecting sportstech companies with venture capital investors, providing deal flow, ecosystem connections, and market intelligence for both startups and investors.
• Industry Events Program ASTN-hosted and industry-led events including SEAT Conference, SportNXT, Australian Sports Tech Week, and global sporting event delegations, supporting the sportstech ecosystem with focus on fan experience and revenue.
• Women in Sportstech Initiative Program supporting female founders and gender diversity across the sportstech sector, including mentoring and early-stage programming delivered with state government support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Queensland has experienced 20% growth in established sportstech companies, outperforming all other Australian states
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dailymotion ProcoreTechnology or Integration · 15 September 2025Partnership to launch the Sports Cutting Edge vodcast series as a 10-episode video series coinciding with the 100th episode milestone. Dailymotion Pro's video streaming technology powers the new video format, marking ASTN's first move into vodcast production.
• Victorian State GovernmentcoreOthersMajor Partner providing support for sportstech ecosystem development in Victoria
• Queensland GovernmentcoreOthersPartnership with DETSI and DSROPG to strengthen Queensland's sportstech ecosystem and sports innovation
• meshpointscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary Partner - innovation leaders helping accelerate sports innovation in Western Australia through the Meshpoints Innovative Society Fund grant
• SpacecubedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with innovation leaders to fast-track sports innovation in WA through the Meshpoints and Spacecubed collaboration
• Government of South AustraliacoreOthersPrimary Partner - South Australian Department of State Development engaged ASTN to deliver export trade program to the United States
• GSIC powered by MicrosoftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport Partner delivering the 'Business of Sport' Pre-Accelerator Program and GSIC APAC Summit partnership
• AustradecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting international market entry programs including Singapore Southeast Asia Market Entry, USA trade missions, and ISPO Brandnew participation through Export Market Development Grants
• SportradarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwo-year partnership (March 2022) with leading global sports technology company to facilitate growth in sports technology
• Melbourne RenegadesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpen Innovation Collaboration launched in May 2022 for open innovation challenge and pitch program
• IAPS NYCU Accelerator (Taiwan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with IAPS NYCU Accelerator in Taiwan. ASTN has supported the accelerator with 3 member companies selected in final cohort from record-breaking 87 applications
• ISTA (International Sports Technology Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMemorandum of Understanding signed February 2025 for global reach expansion and strategic partnerships
• SEIconcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMemorandum of Understanding signed February 2025 as part of strategic partnerships expansion
• Varcis GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for market entry in Asia, announced February 2020, with Varcis-GSIC-ASTN program delivery partnership for Asia
• Australian Japan Business Co-operation Committee (AJBCC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to deliver sports business delegation to Japan in April 2025
• National Rugby League (NRL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Magic Round Sportstech Sprint and Tech Sprint 2025, with NRL OzFest sportstech exhibition in Las Vegas 2026
• Australian Institute of Sport (AIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership since 2013 for digital transformation masterclasses and workshops. Current collaboration including the Australia France Sports Summit 2026

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SEIcon: Sports innovation and ecosystem events company that signed an MoU with ASTN in February 2025. Comparable as a sportstech ecosystem event organiser and strategic partnerships facilitator focused on connecting startups, federations, and investors.
• Sports Tech World Series (STWS): Global sportstech media, events, and ecosystem platform with Australian Sports Tech Week co-convened with ASTN. Comparable as a sportstech media and ecosystem facilitator running events, content, and industry research.
• ANZSTA (Australia and New Zealand Sports Technology Association): Industry body for the Australia and New Zealand sportstech sector that runs the ANZSTA Awards. Closest geographic peer to ASTN and operates in an overlapping industry-association role for the same regional sportstech ecosystem.
• GSIC (Global Sports Innovation Center powered by Microsoft): Madrid-based global sports innovation center powered by Microsoft. ASTN's direct program partner since 2020 for the pre-accelerator program, making it the closest operational peer in delivering sportstech ecosystem services, mentoring, and global APAC summits.
• ISTA (International Sports Technology Association): Global industry association for sports technology. ASTN signed an MoU with ISTA in February 2025, positioning ISTA as a direct global peer in the industry-association space with overlapping remit on international sportstech ecosystem development.
• HYPE Sports Innovation: Israel-based global sportstech ecosystem accelerator and investor network. Comparable to ASTN in running sports tech accelerator cohorts, connecting startups with sporting federations and brands, and operating international innovation programs.
• Plug and Play Sports & Wellness: Silicon Valley-based global startup accelerator and venture platform with a dedicated Sports & Wellness vertical. Directly comparable to ASTN as both run sports tech accelerator/mentoring programs, connect startups with corporate partners and investors, and operate multi-vertical sport innovation platforms.

Emerging players

• SportsTechX: European sportstech market intelligence platform producing global reports, deal tracking, and ecosystem maps. Comparable to ASTN's research and report-publishing role but more focused on global deal-flow intelligence.
• XT Ventures: Global investment firm focused on sportstech startups, partnered with ASTN since February 2022. Comparable as a sportstech-specific capital and commercialisation vehicle, though XT Ventures operates commercially while ASTN operates as a not-for-profit.

Broad incumbents

• Sports Innovation Lab: US-based sports business intelligence and consumer research firm serving leagues, brands, and vendors with the Sports Innovation Ecosystem. Comparable to ASTN's Sportstech Innovation Reports and ecosystem-mapping work but operating commercially at a larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/theASTN
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@australiansportstechnologi9781
• Facebookfacebook.com/theASTN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/australian-sports-technologies-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

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 ASTN - Australian Sports Technologies Network