KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
Abu Dhabi’s sports start-up ecosystem reached a key milestone as seven emerging businesses presented their concepts to investors and industry leaders at the Yas Conference Centre.
The showcase marked the conclusion of the third cohort for the Ethara 1TW Innovation Hub (E1H), a joint initiative by Ethara and sports investment firm OneToWatch.
With the latest intake, the incubator has now supported 20 start-ups, offering mentorship, business development workshops, and access to commercial networks.
The latest cohort features companies operating across sports technology, data integrity, executive coaching, fan engagement and media.
Among the participants presenting at the event was MintaMark, an artificial intelligence platform founded by former police lieutenant colonel Norbert Rubicsek that uses tracking data to highlight unusual on-field behaviour for integrity reviews.
In sports management, Tanya Gordon’s DIME Consulting focuses on leadership and team performance coaching for high-pressure environments.
The intake also includes consumer and digital media platforms. Mariaucris Pirela Figueroa presented FitCalendar, an event aggregator for local fitness sessions and competitions, while Amr El-Beheiry’s Fanzword offers interactive fan engagement tools for brands.
In sports media, former sports rights lawyer Bubs Felix pitched ShePlayz, a platform dedicated to women’s sports content. Esports startup The Stadium Gaming, co-founded by Ahmad Hilal and Ahmad Al-Ashqar, presented its competitive ranking platform for digital football, while Hind Sergieh’s Arkub showcased its work designing interactive physical attractions for sports venues.
Ethara Strategic Development Executive Director Guillaume Dufond highlighted the variety of sectors targeted by the latest group of entrepreneurs.
"Cohort 3 shows the breadth of ambition now coming through E1H, from fitness to sports gaming, women’s sports media and immersive entertainment," Dufond said. "These founders are creating new experiences for fans and new solutions for the industry, and that is exactly what we set out to support at Ethara."
"With 20 start-ups now through the programme, and earlier founders building partnerships and giving back to those who follow, E1H continues to help position Abu Dhabi as a hub for innovation in sport, entertainment and live experiences," he added.