English Football Club, Arsenal FC (yes, you heard right) has just launched an Innovation Lab for start-ups and innovative businesses, in a bid to incubate solutions to tackle some of the club’s management challenges.
According to the club, “The Arsenal Innovation Lab is the latest step in our desire to be at the forefront of the game on and off the pitch. We are looking for smart-thinking businesses to help us identify ground-breaking ideas to take us forwards.” If you feel up to it, why not apply? (We suppose you don’t need to be a fan to be eligible).
Startups can apply to #Arsenal Innovation Lab’s ten-week programme, for a chance to receive mentorship + investment https://t.co/Rb3qSk3saN pic.twitter.com/d7YS8HR30H
— YSYS (@ThisIsYSYS) September 10, 2017
The Arsenal Innovation Lab’s ten-week programme will be run in collaboration with corporate innovation specialist L Marks. Successful candidates will be mentored by senior business leaders from the club, gain access to test and demonstrate products/services in live environments as well as the opportunity to gain potential investment.
The innovation lab seeks smart businesses which will help the Club to be the forefront of their game, on and off the pitch, by identifying groundbreaking ideas which will take them forward. The selected start-up businesses will be required to find innovative solutions to issues which affect the Club.
These issues include:
- Improving match day experience
- Engaging our fans globally
- Transforming our partner offering
- Building a retail operation for the future
- Wildcard
Arsenal launch 'Innovation Lab' to identify 'ground-breaking' new fan experienceshttps://t.co/kfwJyc9OUn pic.twitter.com/XheEDUn71V
— iSportConnect (@iSportconnect) September 8, 2017
The Lab will, in return, provide the participating businesses with mentorship from Arsenal’s senior leadership team, a product validation from Arsenal stakeholders and supporters, an opportunity to test their products in a live fan environment, a network of external mentors with diverse market expertise and (the best part) an opportunity to gain investment from the Club.
Launched today! #ArsenalInnovationLab. Supporting startups to help innovate in the sports sector. Apply at: https://t.co/IuRA8u3mOR pic.twitter.com/tW7v0lFh2o
— L Marks (@LMarks) September 7, 2017
Arsenal Football Club was founded in 1886 in Woolwich, South London before it moved to Highbury, North London in 1913. It moved to Emirates Stadium in 2006. Since its formation, the club has boasted of thriving on a pioneering and innovative spirit and this step is the latest revealing of that claim.
The deadline for registration for this is 12 October 2017. Thereafter, the businesses pitch for a part in the programme will commence on 21 November 2017. The 10-week intensive collaboration will start on 15 January 2018.
Apply here
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