Participants of
2024
12 million Dutch people exercising three times a week. That is one of the ambitious goals of the Sport Agenda 2032 by NOC*NSF. Alongside 14 million people who enjoy matches, competitions, and events every week as participants or supporters. As the biggest supporter of sports, Nederlandse Loterij is happy to contribute. That’s why the Sports Innovation League was launched — an initiative that helps create a healthier and more active Netherlands for everyone.
Joining forces
Nederlandse Loterij, NOC*NSF, and Rockstart have joined forces in the Sports Innovation League — a movement that promotes sports participation in the Netherlands and drives innovation in the sports landscape. They do this by supporting start-ups that contribute to increasing participation in sports.
68
Startups
68 enthusiastic start-ups signed up. Of those, nine took part in the program that helped them professionalize, scale their ideas, and establish key collaborations with municipalities and sports organizations. This allowed them to grow and created opportunities for further funding.
Court Club
Court Club offers an app that makes public basketball courts more accessible to local communities. “We want to activate neighborhoods by utilizing basketball courts,” says founder Alex Gehlen. “Through the app, people can schedule games with each other.” Thanks to the Sports Innovation League, Court Club has connected with sports federations and municipalities, helping them organize future local events.
Sportall
Sportall offers rights holders a content management and streaming platform for sports events, making sports content accessible to a wide audience. “We want to create a digital home for Dutch sport,” says Thierry Boudard, co-founder of Sportall. “Through the Sports Innovation League, we have expanded our network to further develop a Dutch media platform for a broad audience.” Sportall is currently in talks with a major Dutch company about a possible strategic partnership.
Champ
Champ develops customized activity and reward apps for companies and social organizations. “Our mission is to get more people moving,” says founder Paul Wiertz. Through their participation, Champ developed a potential collaboration with Sportsmatch and won a ZonMw SportInnovator grant. They also gained four new partner introductions after the closing event.
Equip sport
Equip makes sports more accessible by providing equipment through a mobile app and smart lockers. Thanks to their participation in the Sports Innovation League, the team has gained valuable market insights and connected with potential partners to support their growth. “We are in advanced discussions with the Municipality of Utrecht and SportInnovator to create a lasting impact in the Netherlands,” says Quentin Geromin, Head of Business Development.
JOIN
JOIN offers an adaptive training platform for cyclists. “Thanks to the Sports Innovation League, we had the opportunity to present our app to many relevant partners in the Netherlands,” says founder Jim van den Berg. The participation also opened international introductions that increase investment opportunities, and JOIN is exploring collaborations with Decathlon and Basic-Fit.
FC Urban
FC Urban offers a flexible way to join football matches without the commitments of a fixed team. “Our app makes football more accessible by providing flexibility,” says Joep Lamme, founder of FC Urban. “We want to promote an active lifestyle and broaden access to football.” Through the Sports Innovation League, FC Urban was able to launch inclusive sports initiatives and build new partnerships.
Renewaball
“Our mission is to promote sustainability in sports,” explains Hélène Hoogeboom, CEO and co-founder. “That’s why we develop circular tennis and padel balls made from used balls collected across Europe.” Participation in the Sports Innovation League has helped Renewaball connect with new partners to promote their circular product. A relationship was also established with the National Tennis Federation, laying the foundation for further collaboration.
Monkey Moves
“Our mission is to create a healthy generation by developing versatile movement skills from a young age,” says co-founder Leendert van Gaalen. “With our multisport lessons, innovative app, and after-school programs, we contribute to an active lifestyle. Thanks to our participation in the Sports Innovation League, we were able to significantly expand our network and start new collaborations.” In addition, Monkey Moves won the audience award of media space in AD worth €20,000.
Mingle Sport
Mingle Sport helps amateur teams manage their team and create content and statistics through an app. “With our tools, we want to help teams improve their performance,” says co-founder Nicky Rog. Thanks to the Sports Innovation League, they expanded their network with the Dutch hockey and volleyball federations and received support to grow across multiple sports. This collaboration helps further develop the platform and encourages players to be more active.
