The Global Sports Innovation Center

What The Global Sports Innovation Center does

The Global Sports Innovation Center (GSIC) is a Spanish non-profit association (Asociación Plataforma de Innovación en la Industria del Deporte, CIF G87273520) founded in 2015 and headquartered in Madrid, Spain. It operates as a global sports innovation hub connecting sports organizations — clubs, leagues, federations, and governing bodies — with technology providers, startups, and investors through a tiered membership platform and a calendar of ecosystem programs. The organization is co-branded "GSIC powered by Microsoft" and maintains a geographic footprint spanning Madrid (global headquarters), Valencia (physical Testing Lab for technology validation), and Singapore (regional APAC headquarters, established 2021), with a newly established Americas presence via a regional lead. Named ecosystem participants include FIFA, FIDE, Concacaf, USA Soccer Federation, Cricket Australia, ONE Championship, Real Sociedad, Singapore Sports Hub, Technogym, and Signify, with roughly 300 members across 51 countries and a broader executive network of more than 20,000 contacts across 80+ countries.

GSIC's core offerings comprise the GSIC Summit (an annual event series held in Madrid, Valencia, and Singapore), the Valencia Testing Lab (a physical facility where sports technology solutions are validated in real-world conditions), and the Solutions Catalogue (an online directory of member products organized by vertical such as team and player performance, smart venues, fan engagement, esports, sustainability, education, and fitness and health). Programmatic offerings include Innovation Days, the Groundbreakers Challenge, the Anti-Piracy Tech Observatory, the GSIC Ambassadors network, and the GSIC Institute, which delivers an AI in Sports online program with Founderz and a Master in Digital Transformation of Sports Entities with ESBS. The underlying technology stack is Microsoft-powered, and members receive between $5,000 and $350,000 in Microsoft Azure credits as part of their membership.

The business model combines subscription membership, event ticket and sponsorship revenue, and premium professional services. Membership is priced annually at €1,500 for startups, €3,500 for scaleups, €5,000 for sports entities with the Anti-Piracy Tech Observatory, and €6,000 for corporations, with strategic partnerships priced on a custom basis. Summit tickets are sold at €600 per pass with early-bird and group discounts. Premium services include Digital Diagnosis & Roadmap, Innovation Office implementation, thought-leadership content, sustainability and research consulting, and education programs. Go-to-market is both event-driven (summits, Innovation Days, Working Groups) and community-led (tiered membership and curated networking). The organization was recognized as #61 on Financial Times & Statista's Europe's Leading Startup Hubs 2026 list, and operates with an 11-to-50-employee team led by Managing Director Iris Córdoba Móndejar and Chairman Sebastián Lancestremère (who also leads Global Partnerships at Microsoft).

Name

The Global Sports Innovation Center

Legal name

ASOCIACIÓN PLATAFORMA DE INNOVACIÓN EN LA INDUSTRIA DEL DEPORTE

Website

https://sport-gsic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Global Sports Innovation Center (GSIC) is a Spanish non-profit association founded in 2015 that connects sports organizations, federations, and technology providers through a tiered membership and summit-based platform spanning 51 countries, with offices in Madrid, Valencia, and Singapore.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Innovation Consulting and Ecosystem Services

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Business Consulting & Advisory (Strategy, Valuation, Due Diligence) (MPAKAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sports Compliance, Governance & Integrity Services (Safeguarding, Anti-Doping, Match Integrity) (MPAKAKAM)

Keywords

• Sports innovation ecosystem
• Technology scouting services
• Membership association services
• Testing lab services
• Innovation consulting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

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: Tiered annual membership model with Basic (access and visibility), Premium Services (deeper engagement, tailored support), and Strategic Partnerships (global brand positioning and sponsorship). Membership tiers range from €1,500 for startups to €6,000 for corporations.
2. GSIC Summit Tickets: Revenue from summit events including ticket sales (€600 full price), early bird discounts, group deals, and member complimentary tickets. GSIC Summit Valencia 2026 features 250+ expected attendees.
3. Premium Services: Additional paid services including Digital Diagnosis and Roadmap, Innovation Office implementation, Thought Leadership opportunities, Education programs, and Research and Consulting services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Global Sports Innovation Center is a non-profit association that operates a membership-based sports innovation ecosystem, offering tiered memberships, flagship GSIC Summits (Valencia and APAC), the Valencia Testing Lab for technology validation, the Solutions Catalogue online platform, consulting services (Digital Diagnosis & Roadmap, Innovation Office), and educational programs through the GSIC Institute. It connects sports organizations, federations, technology companies, startups, and investors across 80+ countries to accelerate the adoption of innovation in the sports industry.

Product overview

GSIC is a non-profit innovation hub (not a traditional software company) that operates a platform of programs and services connecting sports organizations with technology solutions. The core offerings include the GSIC Summit (annual international conference in Valencia and Singapore), the Valencia Testing Lab (physical validation facility), the Solutions Catalogue (member product directory), and various innovation programs including Innovation Days, Groundbreakers Challenge, Anti-Piracy Tech Observatory, and the GSIC Ambassadors Program. GSIC also offers educational content through its Institute with AI in Sports programs. Membership tiers (Basic, Premium, Strategic Partnership) provide graduated access to these services along with Microsoft Azure Credits, tech scouting, and business development support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GSIC Membership Tiered annual membership program (Basic, Premium Services, Strategic Partnerships) providing access to the GSIC ecosystem, including summits, networking, Solutions Catalogue visibility, mentoring, tech scouting, and Microsoft Azure credits of $5k–$350k. Targeted at sports organizations, sports tech startups and scaleups, and corporate partners.
• GSIC Summit Annual international summit event held in Valencia (primary, 7-8 October) and APAC (Singapore), bringing together sports organizations, technology companies, startups, and investors for networking, knowledge sharing, workshops, and an exhibition. Tickets are sold at €600 (full pass) with early bird discounts and complimentary access for GSIC members.
• Valencia Testing Lab Physical testing facility located at Calle Juan Verdeguer 30, Valencia (La Harinera del Grau) where sports organizations can test and validate sports technology solutions in real-world conditions. Offers services including Architecture ADS, Digital Transformation (DT) Diagnosis and Roadmap for sports entities and technology providers.
• Solutions Catalogue Online member-access catalog featuring cutting-edge products and services from GSIC's global member community, organized by sports industry verticals including team and player performance, smart venues, fan engagement, esports, sustainability, education, fitness and health. Designed for sports organizations, brands, and technology partners to discover solutions.
• GSIC Institute Educational Programs Educational and training programs delivered in partnership with academic institutions, including the AI in Sports online program and the Master in Digital Transformation of Sports Entities. Targeted at sports industry professionals seeking formal upskilling in digital transformation and emerging sports technologies.
• Anti-Piracy Tech Observatory Technology observatory initiative that monitors and addresses piracy issues in sports media and broadcasting. Offered to sports entities at €5,000 per year as part of their membership, providing intelligence and a community of practice around anti-piracy solutions.
• Groundbreakers Challenge Innovation challenge program that sources and showcases sports tech startups, providing pitching opportunities to sports organizations and investors. Open Innovation program with editions such as Groundbreakers Challenge at PEAK Las Vegas, designed to accelerate startup visibility and deal flow.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,000+ industry executives connected through the network
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• MicrosoftcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Flagship strategic partnership where Microsoft provides technology infrastructure, Azure credits ($5k-$350k) for members, and co-branding (GSIC powered by Microsoft). Partnership enables global technology platform and credibility for the organization.
• Sport SingaporecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner supporting GSIC APAC operations in Singapore, enabling 25% of members to be based in the APAC region.
• FIFAflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner and member of GSIC ecosystem, one of the world's most prominent sports governing bodies.
• FIDEflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner and member of GSIC ecosystem, world chess federation.
• Real SociedadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish football club member of GSIC ecosystem.
• ConcacafflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerContinental governing body for football in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
• Singapore Sports HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPAC partner providing sports infrastructure and ecosystem connections in Singapore.
• USA Soccer FederationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational governing body for soccer in the United States, member of GSIC ecosystem.
• ONE ChampionshipflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMixed martial arts organization, distinguished member of GSIC family.
• Cricket AustraliaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational cricket governing body, distinguished member of GSIC ecosystem.
• Global Esports FederationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoverning body for esports, member of GSIC family.
• TechnogymcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFitness and sports technology company, distinguished member of GSIC family.
• SignifycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLighting technology company, distinguished member of GSIC ecosystem.
• SportfivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports marketing and media rights company, member of GSIC ecosystem.
• Microsoft for StartupscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAcceleration program partner providing incubation and acceleration programs for GSIC member startups.
• Mass Participation WorldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2018 for mass participation sports innovation challenges and conferences.
• Startup ValenciacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to boost Valencia's global innovation ecosystem through joint initiatives at GSIC Testing Lab.
• SignifycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to drive innovation in sports lighting technology.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Football Business Academy: Switzerland-based academic institution offering masters and executive education in sports management. Comparable to the GSIC Institute's Master in Digital Transformation of Sports Entities for the same sports executive learner segment.
• World Football Summit: Global football business conference and community. Comparable to GSIC Summits as an event-led sports industry engagement platform, especially for football federations and clubs.
• Leaders in Sport: Sports business events, networking, and executive search company. Competes for the same sports executive audience and sponsorship wallet that GSIC targets through its summits and membership programs.

Broad incumbents

• SportTechie: US-based sports technology media and events business covering the sports tech ecosystem. Overlaps with GSIC's content, events, and community motions, with stronger media scale and North American presence.

Direct peers

• HYPE Sports Innovation: Israel-based global sports innovation ecosystem and accelerator connecting sports organizations with startups. Closely mirrors GSIC's hub-and-accelerator model with global events and corporate partnerships.
• Plug and Play Tech Center (Sports Vertical): Global venture firm and accelerator operating a dedicated Sports vertical that runs innovation programs for leagues, brands, and tech startups. Competes directly with GSIC's Groundbreakers Challenge and Innovation Days.
• SportTechX: European sports tech intelligence platform offering data, research, and ecosystem reports on the global sports tech market. Highly comparable in geography (Europe-led) and audience (sports orgs and startups) to GSIC.
• Barça Innovation Hub (BIH): FC Barcelona's internal innovation hub delivering research, education, and startup programs in sports performance, health, and technology. Overlaps with GSIC on sports innovation ecosystem building and university partnerships.

Emerging players

• LaLiga Tech: LaLiga's technology arm providing data, broadcast, and innovation services to clubs and federations. Represents the league-owned model of sports innovation that competes for the same federation/club buyers as GSIC.
• Sportian (LaLiga / Globant joint venture): Joint venture between LaLiga and Globant delivering sports technology solutions to clubs and federations. Named GSIC co-author of industry reports and a direct competitor for federation digital transformation mandates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Sport_GSIC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@globalsportsinnovationcenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/gsicbyMicrosoft
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gsic-microsoft

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about The Global Sports Innovation Center