Andorra Business is Andorra’s economic promotion and development agency. Promoting key sectors for the diversification of the economy, attracting and accompanying foreign and local investment, supporting Andorran companies to become more competitive, and facilitating the landing of new companies in the country, are some of its priorities.   

More information: Andorra Business – Invest in Andorra 

Andorra Recerca + Innovació is the agency in charge of developing and promoting R&D&I in Andorra in strategic sectors such as Mountain and Sports, among others. 

More information: Andorra Recerca + Innovació (ari.ad) 

The Global Sports Innovation Center powered by Microsoft (GSIC) is a business cluster powered by Microsoft Sport Team that gathers all kind of sports entities (clubs, federation, associations), institutions, tech-companies from start-ups to enterprises, research organizations, investors and key figures of sport industry to improve its value chain. With headquarters based in Madrid, GSIC supported more than 340 companies such as sport entities, tech companies, startups, institutions, etc., in 40 countries around the world. 

Read more at: http://sport-gsic.com  

Andorra Business and Andorra Recerca + Innovació (ANDORRA) in partnership with Global Sport Innovation Centre (GSIC) and with the support of SPSG Consulting (SPSG) are launching the second edition of the Andorra Sports Startup Challenge to locate the best sport-tech projects across the world that can position Andorra as a leading country in technological innovation in winter & mountain sports and cycling. 

The call aims to identify the most offering innovative solutions in the following areas: 

•  Improvement of safety and accessibility for cyclists’ routes 
• Improvement of sustainability and social impact in sports events organized in the country 
• Improvement of fan and consumer engagement and experience with NFTs, fan tokens and metaverse for sports events organized in the country (before, during and after the event) 
• Improvement of educational methods through gamification platforms 
• Compilation, visualization, and analysis of data in order to create a 360º profile of the users and tourists visiting Andorra 

To apply, complete this online FORM 

Applying for this call is completely free. 

Startups and companies with solutions in other markets are welcome if they can be applied to solve the challenge above. 

• Be a startup or a company in Expansion Stage and looking for a Series B round. 
• Have a dedicated full-time team of at least 3 individuals. 
• Have market-tested product and potential to implement internationally.  
• Have traction with at least 5 customers 

• The individual promoter / representative of the startup must be of legal age and must have the legal capacity to be bound. You may not be an employee, manager, partner, or maintain a business relationship with ANDORRA or GSIC at the time of application. 
• The promoters of each project/startup may only participate in this call by submitting a single project. 

Yes.

The following criteria, rated from 1 to 5 (being 1 the lowest and 5 the highest) will be evaluated for the selection of participating projects in each of the stages of the process (Verification Eligibility, Initial Evaluation, & Final Pitch): 

• Technically and conceptually sound – the extent to which the submission addresses the challenge.  
• Innovation – the extent to which the submission is unique to, or adds value to, existing solutions.  
• Impact – the extent to which the submission demonstrates the potential to effect change. 
• Scalability – the extent to which the submission can scale, including the appeal it has to secure buy-in and/or a wide user base. 
• Feasibility – the ease with which the submission can translate into a sustainable pilot project.  
• Maturity of the team and the organization or professional background of the natural person.  

For the Final Pitch, the jury will evaluate the finalists based on:  

• The materials (decks, videos, demos…) provided by the participant in the form submitted. 

• The previous evaluations based on the criteria above mentioned. 
• The pitch presentation. 

• Verification of eligibility: Once the application period has closed, the projects will be reviewed to ensure that the rules of participation have been complied with. Applications that do not comply with the rules will be eliminated from the process. The judging committee also has the right to ask, if needed, for more information about the project and/or start-up in order to complete the selection criteria. 
• Initial evaluation: Applications that pass the verification of eligibility will be evaluated by the judging committee. 
• Final pitch (Panel of judges): Up to 10 projects/startups will be selected as finalists to pitch at an online event, where 1 of them will be selected as winner and there will be 2 special mentions. Experts in the areas of technology, sport, business, innovation, investment, entrepreneurship, and financing will analyze and deliberate the winner. Further info on the timing & format of the final pitch event will be appropriately communicated to the finalists.   

• Applications Opens: March 21, 2022  
• Applications Close: May 1, 2022 
• Finalists’ announcement: May 9, 2022 
• Final pitch: May 25, 2022 

• Winner announcement: May 27, 2022 

Yes, all the pitches must be in English. 

The winner of the Startup Challenge will receive the following prizes: 

• Possibility to run a pilot project with Andorra stakeholders 
• Participation in an industry event together with Andorra Business and Andorra Recerca + Innovació 

• Accommodation and meals + tourist visit for 2 people for 5 days in Andorra (to be used during the following 12 months after the awarding of the Prize and always by mutual agreement with Andorra on the selected dates) 
• 1-year free membership to the GSIC powered by Microsoft* 
• 1-year free membership to the Andorra Cluster 

Additionally, the winner and the two startups with special mentions will receive: 

• Special mention in the Andorra Sport Entrepreneurship & Investment Guideline that will be published by GSIC in 2022. 
• 1-hour mentoring session with a member of the jury 
• Onsite award reception during the Andorra Sports Innovation Summit  

*If the winner is already a GSIC member, the prize will be a 50% discount in the membership for the following year 

Experts in the areas of technology, sport, business, innovation, investment, entrepreneurship, and financing will form the panel.  

For any questions regarding the bases, please contact: [email protected]