European Platform for Sport Innovation

What European Platform for Sport Innovation does

European Platform for Sport Innovation (EPSI) is an international non-profit membership-based association (ASBL) headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, that represents a pan-European network of sport-related private and public entities, including sports clubs, federations, startups, universities, research institutes, clusters, municipalities, and regional authorities. The organization operates three interconnected service pillars: fundraising (sharing European, national, and regional funding calls, helping craft project ideas, and connecting partners, with 42 projects awarded between 2018 and 2024); business development (market strategies, business plans, financial planning, and connections to a network of 12 high-profile investors); and lobbying (advocating for increased public investment and political attention in sports at European, national, and regional levels, sustaining four European-level initiatives).

EPSI's technology surface is limited to digital coordination tools plus the proprietary EPSI Observatory, a library and monitoring tool for sports trends, healthy active lifestyles, and market research that supports business strategy and project development. EPSI coordinates or participates in EU-funded consortium projects under programs such as Erasmus+ Sport and LIFE, and it runs an Annual Conference (Piraeus 2026) plus webinars as knowledge-sharing venues. Multiverse Computing is a sponsor, positioning the organization alongside AI/quantum vendor narratives in sports, though EPSI itself does not develop AI products.

The business model combines recurring membership fees from a broad European base with project grant income from EU programs and sponsorship/event revenue. Go-to-market is community-led: organizations apply for membership via Become A Member on the website, engagement is sustained through a member-only zone, conferences, webinars, and EU project consortium participation, and outreach is amplified through LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and the corporate site. Pricing tiers are not publicly disclosed, which is typical for an association of this type.

Name

European Platform for Sport Innovation

Legal name

European Platform for Sport Innovation

Website

https://epsi.eu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

European Platform for Sport Innovation (EPSI) is a Brussels-based non-profit membership network that supports European sports clubs, federations, startups, universities, and public authorities through fundraising, business development, and lobbying services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sport Innovation Network Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

akta.pro primary industry

Project Preparation Facilities & Technical Assistance Windows (BPADAOAI)

Keywords

• Sport innovation networking
• Non-profit sports association
• EU sport funding support
• Sports business development
• Sport policy lobbying

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: EPSI is a membership-based organization. Private and public entities across Europe join as members to access the network, funding support, business development services, and lobbying advocacy.
2. EU Project Funding: EPSI participates in EU-funded projects (Erasmus+ Sport, LIFE Programme, etc.) as a consortium partner, receiving grants for sports innovation initiatives. The organization has co-funded 42 projects between 2018 and 2024.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

EPSI is a non-profit membership-based networking organization that connects European sport-related private and public entities through three service pillars: fundraising support (identifying calls, co-creating project ideas, and matchmaking partners for EU, national, and regional projects), business development (market strategies, business plans, financial planning, and investor connections), and lobbying/advocacy for increased public investment in sport. It complements these services with the EPSI Observatory research tool, an Annual Conference, and active participation in EU-funded projects.

Product overview

EPSI (European Platform for Sport Innovation) is a non-profit membership-based networking organization (ASBL) headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, focused on fostering innovation in sport and physical activity across Europe. It does not offer a commercial software product, platform, or module in the traditional SaaS sense. Instead, its portfolio of services comprises three interconnected pillars: (1) Fundraising — supporting members in identifying European, national, and regional funding calls, crafting project ideas, and connecting with partners, with over 42 projects awarded between 2018 and 2024; (2) Business Development — helping members with market strategies, business plans, and financial planning, connected to a network of high-profile investors; and (3) Lobbying — advocating for increased public investment and political attention in sports at European, national, and regional levels. EPSI further provides an EPSI Observatory as a library and monitoring tool for sports trends, healthy active lifestyles, and market research. The organization coordinates or participates in numerous EU-funded projects (Erasmus+ Sport, LIFE, etc.) addressing themes such as sport innovation measurement, grassroots sport promotion, urban sports, digital skills, mental health, and environmental sustainability. It also organizes an Annual Conference and other events as key knowledge-sharing and networking platforms for its members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 42 projects awarded between 2018 and 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor, flagship and sponsor.

• EBAN (European Business Angels Network)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026European business angels and early-stage investor network. Collaborative event on sports innovation pitching and investment.
• ISCA (International Sport and Culture Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2026Global sport for all organization. EU Advocacy in Sport Policy, Practice, and Influence event planned for May 11, 2026.
• ABSG (Alliance for Business Sustainability)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 April 2026Business sustainability organization. Collaboration on Introduction to Crowdfunding webinar.
• ACES EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2026Non-profit association assigning European Capital, City, Community, and Town of Sport recognitions. Partnership for crowdfunding and match-funding event.
• UEFAflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 November 2025European football governing body. Collaboration on UEFA Champions Innovate 2026 program focused on grassroots football innovation, in partnership with Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ).
• HiG SportscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2025Mumbai-based B2B consulting agency specializing in sports, fitness, media, and leisure innovations. Partnership launched via webinar on November 14, 2025 to explore business opportunities connecting European and Indian sports ecosystems and foster cross-border partnerships.
• EIT DigitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2025European Institute of Innovation and Technology digital organization. Webinar collaboration on entrepreneurship and funding opportunities for digital sports innovation startups and scaleups.
• Multiverse ComputingsponsorTechnology or IntegrationMultiverse Computing is listed as a sponsor of EPSI. They specialize in quantum computing solutions that could benefit sports analytics and AI-driven sports organizations.
• Peace and Friendship StadiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPiraeus, Greece venue hosting EPSI Annual Conference 2026 (September 23-25). Model for European multisport and multistakeholder innovation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Sport Wales: Welsh national sport agency supporting sport innovation, participation, and infrastructure — parallel national-level model to EPSI's pan-European platform.
• Sport England: UK national body funding and developing grassroots sport — a country-level equivalent of EPSI's policy support and innovation funding mission, useful for benchmarking scope and capability.

Direct peers

• ENGSO (European Sports NGO): European umbrella NGO advocating for sports organizations at EU level, with a federated membership model across Europe — closely mirrors EPSI's membership-based advocacy and lobby approach.
• EIT Sport: European Institute of Innovation & Technology's sport initiative, also based in EU institutions and focused on sports innovation, digital transformation, and funding/program brokering — directly comparable to EPSI's mandate and member base.
• ISCA (International Sport and Culture Association): Global sport-for-all organization focused on policy advocacy, project coordination, and cross-border sport networks — directly overlaps with EPSI's lobbying and EU project-brokering functions.
• ACES Europe: European non-profit certifying Capitals and Cities of Sport and running pan-European sport initiatives — comparable membership/association model with overlapping EU project activity.

Broad incumbents

• World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI): Global industry body representing sporting goods manufacturers and brands — adjacent to EPSI's sports-business ecosystem and intersecting on EU policy advocacy for sports investment.
• European Leagues: Representative body for professional football leagues across Europe — comparable EU-level advocacy and lobbying footprint for sports stakeholders, with overlapping UEFA engagement.
• TAFISA (The Association for International Sport for All): Larger, longer-established international sport-for-all network with broader geographic scope and recognized UN/UNESCO partnerships — competes for the same advocacy and project-coordination mindshare.

Emerging players

• Sport et Citoyenneté: European think-tank and network focused on the social and policy dimensions of sport — comparable to EPSI on lobbying and policy content, though smaller in operational scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EpsiEU
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFMQYa2DmnkRc7v4F3VXOUw
• Facebookfacebook.com/epsieu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/european-platform-for-sport-innovation
• Instagraminstagram.com/epsi_eu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about European Platform for Sport Innovation