A Successful Collaboration Between Students and the Sports Tech?Industry

In an inspiring collaboration, a team of students from the Universiteit van Amsterdam , operating under the name Disruptive Minds Consultancy, took on a real-world challenge presented by Forward Football, a venture in the sports tech industry. This partnership provided practical experience for the students and fresh talent and invaluable insights to the company.

The Challenge

The core of this collaboration was a consultancy challenge where the students were tasked with solving a real-world problem for Forward Football. The challenge focused on helping Forward Football raise venture capital funding by addressing three key questions:

1. What are the key networks and communities of sports tech investors?
2. How can we identify and connect with potential venture capital and private equity investors in the sports tech industry?
3. What are the best practices and strategies for developing a compelling proposition that would attract sports tech investors?

The team chose this challenge due to their interest and experience in the sports industry and venture capital. Joppe from the team of students explained,?

“Our interests and experience in the sports industry, combined with our skills in venture capital and market identification, made this challenge an ideal fit for us.”

A Positive Learning Experience?

The experience was overwhelmingly positive for the students. They praised the practical aspect of the course and the opportunity to work closely with an existing company. Max from the team noted,?

“I really liked the practical side of this course, where you are partnered up with an existing company and help them out with a real problem.”?

The collaboration with Forward Football involved weekly meetings and direct interaction with the company’s founders, enhancing the learning experience.

Solutions

The students created innovative solutions to address Forward Football’s needs. They conducted comprehensive market research, explored expansion strategies, and gained deep insights into the venture capital landscape. Yan from the team shared,?

“Prior to this experience, I had no experience with venture capital. From this case, I have learned what venture capitalists expect from companies and what companies expect from venture capitalists.”

Their recommendations included detailed strategies for identifying and connecting with potential investors, and developing a compelling pitch deck. These insights were so valuable that Forward Football immediately began implementing them. Beer Flik, a company representative, noted that the students’ practical and problem-solving attitude was impressive. When asked if he will implement the solutions crafted by the students he replied,?

“Yes, we will. Even better, we hired one of them to help us implement. So this means on an immediate term.”

Learnings

This project provided the students with a wealth of new knowledge and skills. They gained a deep understanding of the sports tech industry, venture capital, and entrepreneurial strategies. Hilal from the student team found the experience particularly enriching, stating,

“Diving deeper into a topic I’m already interested in made me realize that I would like to do more in start-up financing and fundraising.”

The team also emphasized the importance of communication and choosing a challenge aligned with personal interests. The team highlighted that constant communication is key. They advised future participants to select a project they are passionate about, as it can significantly enhance the experience.

Conclusion

This collaboration between the student team Disruptive Minds Consultancy and Forward Football highlights the mutual benefits of such partnerships. Students gain real-world experience and insights, while companies receive innovative solutions and fresh perspectives. It’s a win-win situation that bridges the gap between academic learning and practical application, preparing students for their future careers while driving business growth and innovation.

Are you interested in joining a challenge yourself and letting students solve your company challenge? Sign up for our newsletter or schedule a call! We are happy to share more information and brainstorm with you, what challenge opportunity might be suited.