The Andorra Sports Startup Challenge by Actua and GSIC powered by Microsoft select the 10 finalists among the proposals for startups from 18 countries

Invest in Andorra / Innovation Hub Andorra (Actua) and the Global Sports Innovation Center promoted by Microsoft (GSIC), have the pleasure of announcing the 10 finalists of the Andorra Sports Startups Challenge, a project looking to identify the most disruptive solutions and latest technologies worldwide through a startups tender to help improve user experience and loyalty so as to deseasonalize the sports and tourism offer in Andorra.

Almost 70 companies from 18 countries applied to the process in order to offer their solutions for segmenting and personalizing content for an objective public, optimization of the client´s experience by combining and integrating digital and physical aspects, activating sponsorship and the monetizing of content. All of this focusing on winter sports, mountain sports and cycling.

The 10 finalists are: Blocksport (Switzerland), CamOnApp (Argentina), EVIX FIRM SL (Spain), Force Impact Technologies (FIT) (U.S.A.), Global Sport Technology (U.K.), Macco Robotics (Spain), MoonBikes Motors (France), Ratoong (Denmark), Snow51 (China), Xeerpa Màrqueting Solutions (Spain).

For the Minister for Presidency, Economy and Enterprise, and president of Actua, Jordi Gallardo, “the fact of receiving proposals from startups in over 18 countries demonstrates the interest the country awakens in the sports and mountain sectors. We are extremely satisfied, not only with the great number of proposals received but also with their quality. The three highest ranked startups, including the winner, will participate in different activities such as the Investor Day in March, in business meetings with members of our sports cluster and will be able to showcase their solutions at Casa de la Muntanya. We are convinced their contributions will be of great interest for our country”. Gallardo also added that “thanks to this initiative, we are being contacted by companies interested in discovering the country for a possible implantation”.

In this sense, Iris Córdoba, general director of the GISC, explained “the great number of participants from different regions ensures an extremely competitive final where we will see a variety of solutions allowing the jury to select the ones that adapt best to the main challenges of winter sports, mountain sports and cycling. It is a great opportunity for the finalists who will compete to carry out pilot tests in Andorra and to position the Principality as a reference in its most representative sports.”

On January 27th, a jury of 13 experts and professionals from the sports industry, as well as stakeholders and investors will evaluate the finalists´ solutions and will choose a winner, along with two special mentions. The jury is made up of professionals of reference from the different sectors linked to the industry such as Sebastian Lancestremere, Sports Industry Managing Director of Microsoft Corp, Jurg Capol, marketing director of the International Ski Federation, David Hidalgo, CEO of Grandvalira, Iris Córdoba, general director of GSIC powered by Microsoft, Carlos Cantó, Founder of SPSG Consulting, Christoph Rapp, International Sales Director of ISPO, Jordi Nadal, director of Andorra Telecom, Ferran Martínez, Economic Ambassador of the Andorran Business Association, Gemma Riu, Manager of the Andorran Sports Cluster, Javier Guillen, General Director of Unipublic, Judit Hidalgo, Director of Invest Andorra, Marc Pons, Director of Innovation Hub Andorra, Ignacio Martin, Director of Actinn.

The competition´s winning startup, will receive a GSIC membership free of charge for 1 year, a three- month mentorship program with the GSIC and experts in the field, the possibility of accessing the Microsoft for Startups program, where they will have free access to Microsoft technology (credits and products in the cloud), a free yearlong membership to the Andorra Sports Cluster and a tourist pack to visit Andorra. Furthermore, both the winners as well as the two special mentions will participate in different activities such as the Investor Day in March 2021 and in business meetings with members of the Andorra Sports Cluster, and will be able to showcase their solutions at Casa de la Muntanya. The winner will be announced on February 3rd.

More information available at: andorrachallenge.sport-gsic.com