IM / Sports

What IM / Sports does

IM Sports is a Singapore-based sports commercialization and advisory consultancy founded in 2020 by Ian Mathie, a sports industry veteran with 25 years of experience. The firm advises and consults with Rights Holders, Governments and Host Cities, Broadcasters, Brands, and Venues, providing a portfolio of ten service lines that span the full sports value chain: Major Event Strategy, Commercial Services, Event Delivery and Operations, Stakeholder Management, Content Services, Market Analysis, Sales Management, Brand Partnerships, Market Research, and Fan Engagement (the last of which includes data analytics, NFT, and gaming initiatives).

The business is a pure professional services operation with no proprietary technology platform, software product, or disclosed AI capabilities. Revenue is generated through bespoke, project-based consulting engagements delivered on a direct, sales-led basis, with business development driven by the founder's personal network and 25-year rolodex rather than systematic digital marketing or channel partnerships. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The firm is privately held, bootstrapped, and operates with approximately 5 employees.

The go-to-market is fundamentally relationship-driven: the website offers an About, Services, and Contact page with no pricing, case studies, or named clients visible, reinforcing a referral-led, founder-mediated sales motion. Competitive advantage rests on the founder's personal expertise and cross-stakeholder perspective rather than on technology, scale, or data assets, which positions IM Sports as a high-touch boutique advisory rather than a scalable platform business.

Name

IM / Sports

Legal name

IM Sports

Website

https://im-sports.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IM Sports is a Singapore-based sports commercialization and advisory consultancy founded in 2020 by Ian Mathie, serving Rights Holders, Governments, Broadcasters, Brands, and Venues globally through bespoke, project-based consulting engagements across the sports value chain.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Advisory and Consultancy

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113), Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Marketing, Sponsorship Sales & Activation (MPAKAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sponsorship Activation & Sports/Festival Experiential (BPAFAGAG)

Keywords

• Sports advisory services
• Sports commercialization consultancy
• Event strategy consulting
• Rights monetization advisory
• Brand partnership consulting

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Advisory and Consultancy Services: IM Sports generates revenue through advisory and consultancy engagements with sports industry stakeholders including Rights Holders, Governments, Brands, Broadcasters, and Venues. Services cover major event strategy, commercial strategy, rights monetization, and stakeholder management. The firm appears to operate on a project-based consulting model with bespoke engagements tailored to client needs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

IM / Sports is a sports commercialization advisory and consultancy firm that provides bespoke services to Rights Holders, Governments/Host Cities, Broadcasters, Brands, and Venues. Offerings span major event strategy and bidding, commercial strategy and rights monetization, event delivery and operations, stakeholder management, content and fan engagement strategy, market analysis, sales management, brand partnerships, and market research. Engagements are project-based and tailored to each client's specific needs.

Product overview

IM-Sports is a sports commercialisation and advisory consultancy founded in 2020. It offers a portfolio of advisory services including Major Event Strategy, Commercial Services, Event Delivery & Operations, Stakeholder Management, Content Services, Market Analysis, Sales Management, Brand Partnerships, Market Research, and Fan Engagement. The company serves Rights Holders, Venues/Host Cities, Broadcasters, and Brands across the sports industry value chain.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Major Event Strategy

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Octagon: Global sports marketing agency offering sponsorship strategy, brand partnership consulting, event advisory and rights commercialisation — directly overlapping with IM Sports' commercial, brand partnerships and market analysis services.
• Infront Sports & Media: Sports media rights, sponsorship and event management company advising federations, leagues and host cities on commercial strategy and event delivery — directly comparable to IM Sports' rights holder and venue services.
• Wasserman: Sports marketing, consulting and talent management firm providing brand strategy, sponsorship valuation, event consulting and content advisory to brands, rights holders and broadcasters — comparable to IM Sports' brand partnerships and market analysis services.
• CSM Sport & Entertainment: International sports and entertainment consultancy providing sponsorship, brand partnership, content and event strategy services to rights holders, broadcasters and brands — closely aligned with IM Sports' offering.
• Lagardère Sports: Global sports marketing agency providing rights commercialisation, sponsorship strategy and event advisory for rights holders, broadcasters and brands — closely aligned with IM Sports' commercial services line.
• SPORTFIVE: Global sports marketing and rights agency offering sponsorship sales, broadcast rights advisory, event strategy and commercial consulting for rights holders and federations — overlapping with IM Sports' commercial and rights monetisation work.

Broad incumbents

• Deloitte (Sports Business Group): Big-four professional services firm with a dedicated sports business practice offering commercial strategy, major event advisory and stakeholder management to federations, host cities and investors — competes for the same enterprise mandates as IM Sports but at much greater scale.
• KPMG (Global Sports practice): Big-four advisory with a sports practice serving rights holders, host cities and broadcasters on commercial strategy, event economics and investment advisory — overlapping with IM Sports' advisory remit but with far broader delivery capability.

Others

• SportBusiness Group: Sports industry intelligence and advisory provider offering market analysis, rights valuation and benchmarking to rights holders, broadcasters and brands — adjacent to IM Sports' market analysis and sales management services.

Emerging players

• Two Circles: Data-driven sports consultancy offering fan engagement, sponsorship and commercial strategy services to rights holders, leagues and brands — overlaps with IM Sports' fan engagement and market research offerings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights4 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/im-sports-media

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 IM / Sports