1. FC Köln | Startup-Accelerator

1. FC Köln HYPE SPIN Accelerator

The funding programme for innovative sporting start-ups

The world of sport is currently undergoing a change. The process of digitalisation and the new demands of clubs don't just change the way we training and how we measure performance, but also the experience in the stadium, the communication and marketing. Start-ups across the world are coming up with exciting new ideas and business models, giving impulse to the entire sporting world. 1. FC Köln have been promoting this development since 2018 and supported the young companies with its own funding programme.

The 1. FC Köln HYPE Spin Accelerator is the first Sport Tech Accelerator in the Bundesliga and offers innovative companies an intensive 12-week programme. This gives them the opportunity test their ideas and business models in the real world and to get advice from professionals and experts from the worlds of business and sports.

"We are excited to promote the next generation of sport start-ups along with the HYPE Foundation," said FC managing director, Alexander Wehrle. "We will bring our know-how, in order to support the ideas from which we can profit from as a club. That also applies to the entire sporting sector. And we want to learn as much as possible from the creative companies, who are thinking about the future of sport. The fact that we were able to create a SPIN-Accelerator-Programme, in STARTPLATZ Köln with our partners here, is a huge chance for a big sporting city like Köln."

From more than 200 applicants, 22 exciting start-ups were selected for the first two cycles of the funding programmes.

The Startups from Batch 2

The start-ups from Batch 1

The programme
Every start-up will go through intensive workshops, seminars and keynotes with experts and 1. FC Köln and have the opportunity to have their ideas and business models tested, whilst receiving direct feedback. An eight-person jury - made up of 1. FC Köln, HYPE and other experts - will decide which companies will take part.
This start-up programme - along with the numerous workshops - offers room to work and methodical training, along with further mentors and people from market leaders across the world as guest speakers. Therefore, FC works with HYPE Sports Innovation (a global Sport-Tech platform), who unite sports innovation across the world and make that possible with the Hype-Capital-Fond for investment. With around 900 partners on different levels, 1. FC Köln and the HYPE SPIN Accelerator can offer start-ups a network to profit from.
At the end of an Accelerator cycle, start-ups present their progress at Demo Day, in front of an illustrious audicence of investors and partners. The best start-up and best pitch will be singled out, and rewarded.
Mentor wall
The four-month-long start-up programme - along with the numerous workshops - offers room to work and methodical training, along with further mentors and people from market leaders across the world as guest speakers. The mentors offer the start-ups high-quality and individual mentoring in differing areas of expertise. Many are world leaders in their area of business.
Partners
HYPE Sports Innovation has built up the biggest global ecosystem for sports innovation, with over 29,000 members. Amongst the members are businesses, sports clubs, associations and high schools. Along with that, more than 9,000 start-ups are part of the platform. Since its founding, HYPE Sports Innovation has continuously expanded and created new offers within the sports branch for investors, partners and users. Their cilent-base can boast the likes of UEFA, Adidas, Spalding, Silicon Valley Bank, Asics, Google and many more. You can find out more information about HYPE Sports Innovation here.
STARTPLATY is a start-up incubator and Accelerator, as well as a meeting point of the founding scene in the Rheinland. In around 4,500 sqm at the Mediapark in Köln, there is room for leading start-ups and innovation companies to grow, learn, coach, take part in workshops and events and to grow their own network. More than 200 start-ups work on their business ideas from there, with more than 175 teams involved. In co-operation with 1. FC Köln, STARTPLATZ offers the start-ups from the HYPE SPIN Accelerator programme the space in order to make their ideas possible. More information on STARTPLATZ can be found here.