WeSportUp Accelerator
WeSportUp is an Italy-based sports and wellness accelerator running 13-14 week programs, investing €55k per startup for up to 10% equity, backed by a 100+ mentor network and corporate partners, part of the CDP Venture Capital National Accelerator Network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersRome, Italy
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What WeSportUp Accelerator does
WeSportUp is an Italy-based accelerator program focused on sports and wellness technology startups, founded in 2022 as part of the CDP Venture Capital National Accelerator Network. It operates from the Foro Italico in Rome and runs 13-14 week acceleration cycles, selecting startups through open calls and Selection Day events. The program culminates in a Demo Day where startups pitch to investors and corporate partners.
The core product is the acceleration program, which provides business training workshops, executive masterclasses, mentor coaching, corporate partner collaborations, and business development support. WeSportUp also facilitates Proof of Concept projects between startups and corporate partners such as BNL BNP Paribas, Fastweb, Juventus, Snaitech, and Renault. The accelerator does not develop proprietary technology; its value lies in its curated network of 100+ mentors and its position within the Italian sports innovation ecosystem.
The business model is based on equity investment: WeSportUp invests €55,000 in each selected startup for up to 10% equity, with potential follow-on investments of up to €150,000 cash and up to €300,000 co-investment with CDP Venture Capital for top performers. The program is funded by its founding partners—CDP Venture Capital SGR, Sport e Salute SpA, Startupbootcamp, and Wylab—and does not charge startups a fee. To date, WeSportUp has accelerated 26 startups across three cycles (2022-2024), invested €1.9 million, and helped those startups raise €1.86 million post-program.
WeSportUp Accelerator firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WeSportUp Accelerator
- Legal name
- WeSportUp
- Website
- https://wesportup.it
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- WeSportUp is an Italy-based sports and wellness accelerator running 13-14 week programs, investing €55k per startup for up to 10% equity, backed by a 100+ mentor network and corporate partners, part of the CDP Venture Capital National Accelerator Network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WeSportUp Accelerator industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Accelerator Services
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (61143)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)
Keywords
Where WeSportUp Accelerator is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rome
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
WeSportUp Accelerator business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Startup Investment Returns: WeSportUp invests in startups participating in the program, acquiring up to 10% equity stake. They also make additional cash investments of €150K in top-performing startups and co-invest with CDP Venture Capital (up to €300K follow-on).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One-time | Pre-seed investment for selected startups |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
WeSportUp Accelerator product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WeSportUp runs a 13–14 week acceleration program for sports and wellness technology startups, providing an initial pre-seed investment of over €55,000 in exchange for up to 10% equity, plus mentorship, business training workshops, executive masterclasses, corporate partner Proof of Concept collaborations, and investor introductions. The program culminates in a Demo Day where startups pitch to investors and partners, with additional follow-on funding up to €300,000 available for top performers through WeSportUp and co-investor CDP Venture Capital.
Product overview
WeSportUp is a sports and wellness technology startup accelerator program, not a product company. It operates as part of the CDP Venture Capital National Accelerator Network, managed by Startupbootcamp and Wylab. The program offers acceleration services including mentorship, business training workshops, executive masterclasses, corporate partner collaborations, business development support, and demo day events for selected startups. The accelerator has completed three cycles (2022, 2023, and 2024), selecting and supporting approximately 26 startups focused on sports tech and wellness innovation across eight focus areas: Activity & Performance, Fitness & Lifestyle, Wellness & Nutrition, Fan Experience & Metaverse, ESG & Sustainability, Gaming & E-Sports, Management & Organization, and Venue & Stadium Tech.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- WeSportUp Acceleration Program A 13–14 week acceleration program for sports and wellness tech startups, providing an initial pre-seed investment of over €55,000 in exchange for up to 10% equity, mentorship, business training, executive masterclasses, corporate partner collaborations, business development support, and investor introductions, culminating in a Demo Day. Designed for early-stage startup founders operating in sports, fitness, wellness, fan engagement, esports, venue tech, or sports management.
Quantifiable outcome
- 26 startups accelerated with €1.9M invested and €1.86M raised post-program
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use WeSportUp Accelerator
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
WeSportUp Accelerator technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
WeSportUp Accelerator partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- BNL BNP ParibasflagshipMajor French-Italian banking group with focus on sports sponsorship (Internazionali BNL d'Italia tennis). Corporate partner engaging in workshops, masterclasses, innovation events, and POC projects with startups. Interested in wellness, youth development, and corporate welfare.
- Juventus Football ClubflagshipMost decorated Italian football club serving as Sport Partner. Hosted 2024 Demo Day at Allianz Stadium. Provides workshops, masterclasses, scouting of technologies, mentorship, and POC projects. Innovation Manager Carolina Chiappero leads Juventus Forward initiative.
- Sport e Salute SpAcoreItalian public company for sports development and host of the WeSportUp program at Foro Italico. Provides the headquarters space and institutional legitimacy for the sports innovation ecosystem. Distributes public funding to sports organizations.
- StartupbootcampcoreEuropean accelerator network with 1,500+ startups accelerated. One of the largest sports tech accelerator networks globally with programs in Melbourne and Doha. Provides operational management and methodology for WeSportUp program.
- WylabcoreItaly's first sports tech incubator based in Chiavari. Created Wyscout (major sport-tech exit in 2019). Provides operational management, sports industry network, and local ecosystem expertise for WeSportUp.
- FastwebflagshipItalian telecom company focused on digital innovation. Provides mentorship, coaching, and coaching sessions. Interested in sustainability, inclusion, AI integration, and cybersecurity solutions. Renewal of partnership for second year in 2023.
- SnaitechflagshipItalian sports betting and gaming company. Corporate partner for sports tech innovation, engaging in POC projects and business development with accelerated startups.
- Withers Studio LegaleminorInternational law firm providing legal assistance to selected startups. Organized investor events for WeSportUp and provides access to international best practices in governance and innovation.
- Renault GroupminorFrench automotive company with Italian operations. Corporate partner supporting sports tech innovation through workshops and POC collaborations.
- TelepassminorItalian toll collection and mobility services company. Corporate partner exploring mobility and transportation innovations relevant to sports events and fan experience.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
WeSportUp Accelerator competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Startupbootcamp: Co-founder and operating partner of WeSportUp; a global accelerator network with 1,500+ startups accelerated, including dedicated sports-tech programs in Melbourne and Doha. Operates the same 13–14 week cohort-based model with equity-for-acceleration mechanics.
- Plug and Play Tech Center (Sports & Wellness): Large Silicon Valley-based accelerator/venture platform with an explicit Sports & Wellness vertical. Competes for the same corporate-partner POC dollars (e.g., Juventus, BNL-class brands) and for top global sports-tech founders.
- CDP Venture Capital (National Accelerator Network sister programs): Other accelerators in the same CDP Venture Capital National Accelerator Network that WeSportUp belongs to. Share the same funding backer, similar cohort methodology, and compete for the same public-policy attention and corporate partner mindshare in Italy.
- Techstars Sports: Techstars accelerator programs with sports-tech cohorts and a global mentor network. Comparable 13-week cohort model with equity-for-acceleration mechanics and Demo Day format.
- Wylab: Italy's first sports-tech incubator based in Chiavari; co-founder and co-operator of WeSportUp. Created Wyscout (a major 2019 sports-tech exit) and provides the Italian sports-industry network that WeSportUp leverages.
- HYPE Sports Innovation: Global sports-tech accelerator based in Israel that runs multi-cycle cohorts with corporate partners and equity investment. Direct competitor for top international sports-tech founders considering European programs.
Others
- SportsTechX: Sports-tech market intelligence and ecosystem data provider. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but produces similar ecosystem-mapping value (e.g., startup databases) that overlaps with WeSportUp's proprietary 1,700-startup dataset.
Broad incumbents
- adidas (adiAccelerator / Sports Programs): adidas operates corporate sports-tech venture and accelerator initiatives globally. A much larger incumbent with deeper balance sheet, competing for the same sports-tech startup pipeline but as part of a broader corporate innovation portfolio.
Emerging players
- Indico Capital Partners: Lisbon-based sports-tech-focused venture fund and ecosystem builder. Comparable geographic profile (Southern Europe) and sector focus (sports tech), but operates as a fund rather than a structured cohort accelerator.
- SOSV / HAX: Global accelerator network with multiple vertical programs (including hardware/IoT relevant to sports-tech). Comparable cohort-based, equity-for-services model, but broader in scope and not sports-specialized.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
WeSportUp Accelerator social profiles
Digital presenceWeSportUp Accelerator financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WeSportUp Accelerator leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
WeSportUp Accelerator funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WeSportUp Accelerator M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about WeSportUp Accelerator
What does WeSportUp Accelerator do?
WeSportUp runs a 13–14 week acceleration program for sports and wellness technology startups, providing an initial pre-seed investment of over €55,000 in exchange for up to 10% equity, plus mentorship, business training workshops, executive masterclasses, corporate partner Proof of Concept collaborations, and investor introductions. The program culminates in a Demo Day where startups pitch to investors and partners, with additional follow-on funding up to €300,000 available for top performers through WeSportUp and co-investor CDP Venture Capital.
Is WeSportUp Accelerator a public or private company?
WeSportUp Accelerator is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was WeSportUp Accelerator founded?
WeSportUp Accelerator was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is WeSportUp Accelerator based?
WeSportUp Accelerator is headquartered in Rome, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does WeSportUp Accelerator make money?
One revenue line is on record: startup Investment Returns.
Who are WeSportUp Accelerator's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Startupbootcamp, Plug and Play Tech Center (Sports & Wellness), CDP Venture Capital (National Accelerator Network sister programs), Techstars Sports, Wylab and HYPE Sports Innovation. SportsTechX is listed as an others. adidas (adiAccelerator / Sports Programs) is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Indico Capital Partners and SOSV / HAX.
Does WeSportUp Accelerator have an API?
No public API is recorded for WeSportUp Accelerator.
What industry is WeSportUp Accelerator in?
WeSportUp Accelerator's product category is Startup Accelerator Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAM, Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated), with a secondary code of FSANAHAD, Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs. Its NAICS code is 61143 and its SIC code is 8200.