
LaLiga and SportBoost have teamed up to enhance the sports industry by creating opportunities for athletes and ex-athletes, as well as technology start-ups dedicated to finding solutions to the challenges facing the sector.
This partnership will unite and benefit both athletes and technology start-ups through providing employment opportunities beyond competitive sport for the athletes and generating greater visibility, exposure and funding for the technology companies.
The presentation of the project, held at LaLiga headquarters, was attended by Javier Tebas and former goalkeeper Iker Casillas. Tebas, the President of LaLiga, declared:
“Teaming up with Iker [Casillas] and SportBoost means continuing our commitment to technology and innovation in LaLiga. One of our goals is to boost the sports industry in general, not just that of football, and with this kind of partnership we are making sure that this is the case.”
SportBoost founder Iker Casillas stated:
“This is a very important agreement for SportBoost because with this partnership we are able to provide athletes with the possibility of finding opportunities after retirement, a moment that can cause anxiety. In addition, start-ups can reach out to these athletes and benefit from everything they have to offer.”
The key to this project lies in the Player Entrepreneur Office (P.E.O.), a body that will manage and promote this relationship between athletes and ex-athletes, and startups, with the former being able to support the companies in five different ways:
- Mentoring
- Sponsorship
- Entrepreneurship
- Employment opportunities
- Investment
The P.E.O. programme, initially planned for the next four years, will analyse innovative projects from national and international start-ups. Entities such as the ADESP (Spanish Sports Association), the AFE (The Spanish Footballers’ Association) and the CSD (High Council for Sports) through its PROAD (care to sportspeople) programme will be involved in the selection process. Once selected, they will be able to invest, mentor and receive training, through the P.E.O. It will also be able to offer the athlete’s services to startups that are searching for a professional who fits their profile in order to develop their working life beyond competitive sport.
The project will be announced to LaLiga Santander and LaLiga SmartBank players through the Players App, the application that directly connects the LaLiga Player’s Office with the players themselves.