SPIN Sport Innovation

What SPIN Sport Innovation does

SPIN Sport Innovation GmbH & Co. KG is a German consulting firm headquartered in Coburg with additional offices in Cologne and Berlin, founded in 2005 (per company history; firmographics report 2013). The firm provides strategic consulting, organizational development, EU funding project support, and external evaluation services to public-sector clients and sports organizations across Europe, with a particular focus on sport for development, education through sport, and physical activity promotion. Its client base includes the Council of Europe, the European Committee of the Regions, the International Paralympic Committee, GIZ, the Austrian Ministry of Sport, and numerous national and regional sports federations across DACH, the Nordics, and the Balkans. The firm has supported more than 50 EU-funded projects cumulatively, including individual consortium mandates with scopes up to EUR 1.2 million, and operates long-running evaluation mandates such as the Austrian nationwide physical activity initiative covering over 7,500 kindergartens and elementary schools.

SPIN's service portfolio is organized around three pillars: Innovative Concepts (Sport for Development, Education through Sport, Communities of Practice), Quality Management (Evaluation, Monitoring, EU Funding Project Support), and Strategic Development (Organizational Development, Policy Consulting, CSR). The firm has productized several methodologies, including the YANUZ Communities of Practice approach, the RISE quality label for sport-for-social-impact programmes, and the BOOST mentoring programme for emerging sport-sector leaders. Revenue is generated exclusively through fee-for-service project mandates rather than any recurring or product-based model; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. SPIN is privately held by its two managing partners (Prof. FH Dr. Dirk Steinbach and Matthias Gütt) with no external institutional investors, no funding rounds, and no parent company, operating as a boutique consultancy leveraging senior principal expertise across a Europe-wide partner network of more than 40 organizations.

Name

SPIN Sport Innovation

Legal name

SPIN Sport Innovation GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://sport-innovation.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SPIN Sport Innovation is a German boutique consultancy that provides strategic advisory, organizational development, EU funding support, and external evaluation services to public-sector clients, sports federations, and NGOs across Europe, with a focus on sport-for-development and physical activity programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sport Consulting Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Sport consulting services
• Project evaluation monitoring
• EU funding advisory
• Organizational development consulting
• Policy consulting sport

Headquarters

HQ city

Coburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Strategic Consulting & Advisory Services: SPIN provides fee-for-service strategic consulting, organizational development, and policy advisory services to public and private sector clients in sport, health, education, and youth sectors.
2. EU Funding Project Support: SPIN supports organizations in securing and managing EU-funded projects (Erasmus+ Sport and other programmes), likely on a project fee basis.
3. Evaluation & Monitoring Services: SPIN offers scientific external evaluation services and quality monitoring for sport-related programmes, providing project-based professional service engagements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SPIN Sport Innovation is a German consulting firm that develops strategic concepts, conducts scientific evaluations, and manages EU-funded projects for clients in the sport, health, education, and youth sectors. The firm delivers three core service pillars: Innovative Concepts (Sport for Development, Education through Sport, Communities of Practice), Quality Management (Evaluation, Monitoring, EU Funding Project support), and Strategic Development (Organizational Development, Policy Consulting, Corporate Social Responsibility). Its clients include EU institutions, the Council of Europe, national sport ministries, international sports federations, and grassroots associations.

Product overview

SPIN Sport Innovation operates as a consulting company offering three interconnected service pillars: Innovative Concepts (including Sport for Development, Education through Sport, and Communities of Practice), Quality Management (with Evaluation, Monitoring, and EU Funding Projects support), and Strategic Development (covering Organizational Development, Policy Consulting, and Corporate Social Responsibility). The company also manages several branded programs and platforms including YANUZ (Social Innovation Learning Space), RISE (European Sport for Social Impact Quality Label), BOOST (mentoring program), SPIDER (Sport 4 Development networks), BASE (healthy lifestyle for seniors), and ParaEmpower (parasports in Balkans). The portfolio is unified by a common focus on using sport as a tool for social impact, sustainable development, and social inclusion across Europe and international contexts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Innovative Concepts Development of innovative education and learning concepts for sport, health, and youth sectors, including Sport for Development, Education through Sport, and Communities of Practice approaches.
• Quality Management (Evaluation & Monitoring) Holistic quality management approach including scientific external evaluation and continuous monitoring services for sport-related programmes, aligned with recognized evaluation standards.
• EU Funding Project Support End-to-end support for EU-funded project processes — from idea assessment and consortium composition to final reporting — across Erasmus+ Sport and related programmes.
• Strategic Development Consulting Strategic, organizational, and policy consulting services for sport, health, education, and youth stakeholders, including organizational development, policy consulting, and CSR engagement support.
• YANUZ Social Innovation Learning Space Open online resource platform for co-creating innovative solutions around complex societal challenges with a focus on healthier societies.
• RISE European Sport for Social Impact Quality Label Quality label and development platform that helps sport organizations assess needs and develop impactful programmes aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• BOOST Mentoring Programme EU-funded accelerator and mentoring programme empowering emerging leaders in Sport for Social Impact through personalized guidance.
• Playmaker Conference Annual conference in cooperation with Right To Play that connects stakeholders across the CSR sports and Sport for Development sectors and enables win-win partnerships.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 EU-funded projects supported in sport, health, education and youth
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• German Athletics Association (DLV)minorOthersDLV is listed as a partner organization on SPIN's website, indicating a working relationship in the context of sport development and evaluation projects.
• Agitos Foundation (Paralympic)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Agitos Foundation, the development arm of the International Paralympic Committee, is listed as a partner, indicating collaboration on disability sport development initiatives.
• FIFAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFIFA is listed among SPIN's partners, suggesting involvement in sport development activities where FIFA frameworks or initiatives may intersect.
• International Paralympic CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPIN has worked directly with the IPC on the European Para Snow Sport Youth circuit project, supporting conceptual design, fund management, and implementation of a European youth ski circuit.
• Council of Europe (CoE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPIN conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the Council of Europe's Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) diversity activities from 2007 to 2017, directly advising on sport policy.
• European Committee of the RegionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPIN advised the European Committee of the Regions on developing an own-initiative opinion on Sport, Disability and Leisure, contributing to EU disability sport policy.
• DOSB FührungsakademieminorOthersListed as a partner organization, indicating a collaborative relationship in the context of sports leadership and management education.
• ASKÖ (Austria)minorOthersASKÖ is one of three national grassroots sports confederations in Austria participating in the 'Moving Children in a Healthy Way' initiative evaluated by SPIN.
• ASVÖ (Austria)minorOthersASVÖ is one of three national grassroots sports confederations in Austria participating in the initiative evaluated by SPIN.
• Sport Union AustriaminorOthersSPORTUNION is one of three national grassroots sports confederations in Austria, with Sportunion Salzburg being a direct evaluation client of SPIN.
• Fit Sport AustriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPIN evaluates and supports the nationwide physical activity initiative 'Moving Children in a Healthy Way' financially supported by the Austrian Ministry of Sport, in partnership with Fit Sport Austria.
• Deutsche Sporthochschule KölnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner, indicating a relationship with one of Germany's leading sport science universities, likely for research collaboration.
• West German Handball Federation (WHV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPIN supported the West German Handball Federation in its organizational development, including strategy and structure development, with a focus on demographic change.
• ENPHE (European Network of Physiotherapy Education)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPIN's main consulting focus for organizational development lies in supporting transnational organizations and regional networks like ENPHE.
• Nordic National Paralympic CommitteescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPIN assisted in developing a regional parasports network of all Nordic umbrella organizations for sports for people with disability — the 'All In Project' spanning 6 countries with 18 partners.
• Hanze University GroningencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPIN supported the conceptual design, funding application, and implementation of the COP4HL project initiated by Hanze University, acting as quality manager and leading development of the Yanuz Social Innovation Learning Space.
• GIZ (German Society for International Cooperation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPIN supports GIZ in the field of Sport for Development, developing sport development concepts, conducting local sport development training, and creating practitioner manuals — including in the Palestinian Territories.
• Parasport SverigeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParasport Sverige is listed as a partner, participating in Nordic parasports network initiatives coordinated by SPIN.
• University of ViennaminorOthersListed as a partner organization, indicating a research or educational collaboration in the context of sport and youth development.
• IFCPF (International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization, indicating collaboration on cerebral palsy football and parasport initiatives.
• CPISRA (Cerebral Palsy International Sport and Recreation Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner, indicating collaboration on sport and recreation for people with cerebral palsy.
• Right To PlaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPIN cooperates with Right To Play on the Playmaker Conference, which connects stakeholders and enables win-win partnerships for all parties in the CSR sports space.
• Umoya Sport FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPIN acts as an intermediary ensuring transparent and sustainable partnerships between corporate partners and the Umoya Sport Foundation in India for CSR sport projects.
• German Ski FederationminorOthersListed as a partner organization, indicating a collaborative relationship in the context of snow sport development initiatives.
• LSB Niedersachsen (Landessportbund Niedersachsen)minorOthersListed as a partner organization, indicating collaboration with the State Sport Association of Lower Saxony.
• University of LeipzigminorOthersListed as a partner organization, indicating a research or educational collaboration.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Regional players

• Women Win: International non-profit advancing girls' and women's empowerment through sport. Operates in SPIN's Sport-for-Development and EU-program ecosystem, often appearing in the same consortiums; comparable in mission but more programmatic/delivery oriented than SPIN's consulting focus.
• Laureus Sport for Good Foundation: Global foundation funding Sport for Development programs across 100+ countries. Operates in the same Sport-for-Development ecosystem as SPIN, often co-funding or partnering on initiatives SPIN evaluates; comparable thematic focus though Laureus is a funder rather than a consultant.

Direct peers

• streetfootballworld: International non-profit network coordinating Sport for Development programs across 80+ countries. Directly comparable in mission (leveraging sport for social impact) and stakeholder model (corporates, NGOs, federations), though streetfootballworld operates as a network rather than consultancy.
• Right To Play: Global Sport for Development organization and listed SPIN partner (Playmaker Conference cooperation). Highly comparable mission and target population (children, youth, sport-based learning); differs in being a delivery NGO rather than a consultancy, but the same Sport-for-Development ecosystem.
• The Sports Consultancy: UK-based sport strategy and commercial advisory firm serving leagues, federations, and brands. Directly comparable as a sport-sector focused consultancy offering strategic advisory services to similar client types (federations, governing bodies, commercial partners) in the European market.
• Two Circles: Global sport data and consulting firm working with rights holders, brands, and federations on audience and commercial strategy. Similar advisory-and-insight delivery model targeting sports organizations, with stronger commercial and data-analytics capabilities than SPIN.
• Twenty First Group: Sport advisory firm combining data analytics with strategic consulting for sports organizations, federations, and investors. Comparable in serving sport governing bodies and federations with strategic and analytical advisory services, though more commercially oriented than SPIN's public-sector focus.
• Play the Game / Danish Institute for Sports Studies: European sport policy think tank and conference organizer based in Denmark. Comparable in providing sport-policy research, advocacy, and convening services to European federations and ministries — adjacent to SPIN's policy consulting and EU advisory work.

Broad incumbents

• Sportfive: Global sport marketing and rights agency (owned by Havas) serving federations, clubs, and brands across rights sales, sponsorship, and digital. Larger incumbent with overlapping client base (sports federations) but focused on commercial rights rather than policy/EU program consulting.
• Nielsen Sports / Repucom: Global sport market research and consulting arm of Nielsen serving sponsors, federations, and event organizers. Comparable client base (federations, governing bodies, event organizers) but operates at far larger scale and focuses on commercial/sponsorship measurement rather than EU program consulting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/spin_sport
• Facebookfacebook.com/spinsportinnovation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spin-sport-innovation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 SPIN Sport Innovation