SPORTS TECH TOKYO

What SPORTS TECH TOKYO does

SPORTS TECH TOKYO is a global sports technology accelerator program, not a standalone technology company. Founded in October 2018 and co-hosted by Dentsu Inc. (Japan's largest advertising agency, program owner) and Scrum Ventures (San Francisco-based VC, program partner), it runs a free-to-participate program that recruits sports tech startups worldwide, selects roughly 100-150 participants and 10-20 finalists, and takes finalists through a three-month mentorship program culminating in a World Demo Day, historically held at Oracle Park in San Francisco. The program is funded by a tiered corporate sponsorship structure (Platinum: Itochu Corporation; Gold: SoftBank, Sony Music Entertainment, Microsoft, CBC) and over 40 additional sponsor organizations, and in 2020 it rebranded/evolved into INNOVATION LEAGUE, a dual-pillar platform that combines an Acceleration track (pairing startups with sports federations for co-creation over ~4-month sprints) with a Contest track co-hosted with the Japan Sports Agency under the government's Sports Open Innovation Platform (SOIP) initiative. Annual cohort themes have ranged across athlete performance, stadium experience, and fan engagement, with collaborating federations rotating through volleyball, 3x3 basketball, fencing, cycling, judo, and ice hockey.

The program targets three entrepreneur segments: startups developing athlete performance technology (analytics, health, training), stadium/fan experience solutions (ticketing, immersive content), and fan engagement platforms (livestreaming, social). It also targets Japan's professional sports organizations and corporations as the supply side of the marketplace, offering them curated access to vetted global sports tech startups and structured proof-of-concept engagements. No equity positions in participating startups are disclosed. The program monetizes entirely on the sponsor side: Platinum/Gold/Silver tiered corporate partnerships, plus media, legal, cloud, and ecosystem sponsors.

Operationally, SPORTS TECH TOKYO is a non-standalone initiative embedded in Dentsu's Business Co-Creation Division, with Scrum Ventures providing Silicon Valley-side program execution. Headquarters are in Tokyo (events at Tokyo Midtown Hibiya BASE Q and similar venues) with a San Francisco operational hub. The program has been recognized with the 2020 2nd Japan Open Innovation Prize (Japan Sports Agency Commissioner Prize). No revenue, headcount, or independent financial disclosures are available.

Name

SPORTS TECH TOKYO

Legal name

SPORTS TECH TOKYO (Program operated by Dentsu Inc.)

Website

https://sportstech.tokyo

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Short description

SPORTS TECH TOKYO is a global sports tech accelerator program co-hosted by Dentsu Inc. and Scrum Ventures that recruits startups worldwide, runs a free three-month mentorship program, and connects them with Japanese sports federations, corporates, and the Japan Sports Agency through its INNOVATION LEAGUE platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Accelerator Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Cause, Community & CSR-Linked Sports Partnerships (Foundations, Youth Programs) (MPAKALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Sports tech accelerator
• Startup mentorship program
• Open innovation platform
• Corporate venture program
• Sports technology incubator

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Sponsorship and Partnership Revenue: SPORTS TECH TOKYO generates revenue through program partnerships with corporations. Platinum partners (e.g., Itochu Corporation), Gold partners (SoftBank, Sony Music, Microsoft, CBC), and numerous other sponsors support the program financially and gain access to the startup ecosystem and innovation network.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SPORTS TECH TOKYO is a global, mentor-driven accelerator program for sports technology startups, co-created by Dentsu Inc. and Scrum Ventures. It recruits startups worldwide, selects participants (100-150) and finalists (10-20), and runs a 3-month mentorship program with a Demo Day in San Francisco. The program has evolved into INNOVATION LEAGUE, which combines a startup acceleration track (matching startups with sports federations for co-creation) and a contest track recognizing innovative sports initiatives, co-hosted with the Japan Sports Agency.

Product overview

SPORTS TECH TOKYO is a Japan-based sports tech accelerator initiative comprising multiple programs. The primary current offering is INNOVATION LEAGUE, which operates as a dual-track platform combining acceleration (pairing startups with sports federations for co-creation) and contest (recognizing innovative sports initiatives). Prior to INNOVATION LEAGUE, SPORTS TECH TOKYO operated as a standalone global accelerator program (2018-2019) selecting participants and finalists for mentorship and Demo Day events. Both programs are co-hosted with sports agencies and operated with corporate partners including Dentsu and Scrum Ventures.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• INNOVATION LEAGUE: Sports Open Innovation Platform combining Acceleration and Contest programs, evolved from SPORTS TECH TOKYO in 2020
• INNOVATION LEAGUE Acceleration
• INNOVATION LEAGUE Contest
• SOIN (Sports Open Innovation Network)
• World Demo Day

Products and services

• INNOVATION LEAGUE Acceleration A sports business expansion program that pairs selected startups with sports federations and associations (e.g., Japan Volleyball Association, Japan Fencing Association, All Japan Judo Federation) to co-create new sports technologies and solutions through approximately 4-month collaboration periods, culminating in Demo Day presentations.
• INNOVATION LEAGUE Contest A competition program co-hosted with the Japan Sports Agency that recognizes outstanding sports and sports business innovation initiatives. Winners are awarded across categories including Innovation League Grand Prize, Business Growth Award, Social Impact Award, Activation Award, and Pioneer Award.
• SPORTS TECH TOKYO Accelerator Program (2018-2019 Cohort) The original global accelerator program for sports technology startups that selected up to 150 participants and 10-20 finalists for a 3-month mentorship program, culminating in a World Demo Day at Oracle Park in San Francisco. The program addressed athlete performance, stadium experience, and fan engagement categories.
• SPORTS TECH TOKYO Mentorship Program A 3-month mentorship program connecting finalist startups with over 100 highly accomplished mentors from the sports and technology industries, providing guidance on business pitches, growth strategy, and connections to investors and sports organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 159 participants selected from 33 countries in first year, with 12 finalists in the accelerator program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and primary.

• All Japan Judo FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 August 2022The All Japan Judo Federation was a collaboration partner in INNOVATION LEAGUE 2022, enabling startups to work on projects related to making judo more accessible and technology applications for judo training and fan engagement.
• Japan Ice Hockey FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 August 2022The Japan Ice Hockey Federation was a collaboration partner in INNOVATION LEAGUE 2022, providing access to ice hockey athletes, events, and venues for startup innovation and demonstration projects.
• CAMPFIREcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 November 2021CAMPFIRE is Japan's leading crowdfunding platform. SPORTS TECH TOKYO partnered with CAMPFIRE in November 2021 to provide special support services to applicants of the INNOVATION LEAGUE CONTEST who wish to conduct crowdfunding campaigns. The first initiative offers crowdfunding support to contest applicants.
• Japan Fencing AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2021The Japan Fencing Association was a collaboration partner in INNOVATION LEAGUE 2021, working with selected startups on fan community platforms and other innovation projects.
• Japan Cycling LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2021The Japan Cycling League (サイクル league) was a collaboration partner in INNOVATION LEAGUE 2021, providing cycling sports data, events, and athlete access for startup innovation projects.
• Japan Sports Agency (スポーツ庁)primaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 February 2021The Japan Sports Agency (sports庁) co-hosts the INNOVATION LEAGUE CONTEST with SPORTS TECH TOKYO. This government partnership brings public sector credibility and alignment with national sports policy objectives, including promoting sports open innovation platforms (SOIP).
• Japan Volleyball AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 July 2020The Japan Volleyball Association served as a collaboration partner in the INNOVATION LEAGUE 2020 acceleration program, working with selected startups on proof-of-concept demonstrations and co-creation projects.
• 3x3.EXE PREMIERcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 July 20203x3.EXE PREMIER served as a collaboration partner in the INNOVATION LEAGUE 2020 acceleration program, enabling startups to test and validate their sports tech solutions with basketball athletes and fans.
• Dentsu Inc.primaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2018Dentsu Inc. is the program owner and co-creator of SPORTS TECH TOKYO. As Japan's largest advertising agency, Dentsu provides the extensive corporate network, marketing expertise, and operational infrastructure for the accelerator program. The program is a flagship initiative of Dentsu's innovation programs.
• Scrum VenturesprimaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2018Scrum Ventures is the program partner and co-creator of SPORTS TECH TOKYO. Based in San Francisco, Scrum Ventures provides global startup ecosystem access, venture capital expertise, and Silicon Valley connections for the accelerator program. They operate as the program partner alongside Dentsu.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• 500 Global: Large global accelerator with programs across regions and verticals. Competes for the same pool of early-stage sports-tech startups and corporate innovation sponsorship budgets.
• Techstars: Global accelerator network running 50+ programs annually across verticals (including sports-related). Operates a similar cohort-plus-mentor-plus-Demo-Day structure at much larger scale, competing for the same sponsors and founders.

Emerging players

• SportsTechX: Berlin-based sports-tech intelligence platform and ecosystem marketplace that maps startups, investors, and corporates. Adjacent role in the same sports-tech ecosystem, useful for benchmarking and ecosystem mapping.

Others

• Scrum Ventures: San Francisco-based VC firm and co-creator/partner of SPORTS TECH TOKYO. Not a competitor but a closely related ecosystem operator providing cross-border deal flow and Silicon Valley access.
• Courtside Ventures: Sports and gaming-focused VC fund investing across sports-tech, media, and fan engagement. Represents the capital side of the sports-tech ecosystem that accelerator graduates typically fundraise from.

Direct peers

• Dreamit Ventures: Accelerator historically operating vertical programs including Urbantech/SportsTech with corporate-sponsored cohort structures and Demo Day outputs. Comparable sports-tech-focused accelerator approach.
• HYPE Sports Innovation: Global sports-tech accelerator and innovation platform running multi-city programs (Tel Aviv, Barcelona, etc.) backed by major sports federations. Closest comparable in mission, structure, and target startups to SPORTS TECH TOKYO.
• Startupbootcamp SportsTech: Global accelerator network that has operated SportsTech programs (e.g., partnership with Microsoft). Similar 3-month cohort structure with Demo Day and corporate sponsorship model.
• Plug and Play Sports & Loyalty: Silicon Valley-based corporate innovation platform with a dedicated Sports & Loyalty vertical running batch accelerator programs with corporate partners. Directly comparable corporate-led sports-tech accelerator model.

Regional players

• Korea Sports Promotion Foundation (KSPO): South Korean government-affiliated sports body running sports innovation and startup programs. Regional counterpart to Japan's Sports Agency-backed approach; operates parallel accelerator-like initiatives in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/sportstechtokyo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 SPORTS TECH TOKYO