Sport, technology and business

A complex love triangle?

The synergies between sport, technology, and business are dynamic, but often complex, filled with opportunities as well as challenges. Athletes are meant to push the boundaries of human performance, and technology offers innovative tools to enhance their talents through smart equipment, wearables, or data analytics. The integration of these sectors, however, is not always smooth. Entrepreneurs and tech companies know that sport is a fertile ground for innovation, but we know that founders, researchers and athletes are not running the same race, and usually have different finish lines. This creates a fascinating triangular relationship, where the pressure for constant improvement, competition, and innovation exists on all sides.

Technology is serving the athletes - and athletes are giving back

Many top athletes are not only consumers of technology but are actively engaged in shaping its future, through their own resources and business journeys.

The most epic role model on this field? Kobe Bryant.

"I started to see the passion and dedication from entrepreneurs.

I related to it because it’s how I approached the game every day."

Kobe Bryant's ventures, including his investment in tech startups and the development of innovative products, are successful examples of how athletes are both drivers and consumers of sports technology. And it is not an isolated case: another NBA star, Stephen Curry has collaborated with tech firms to create products that enhance athlete performance. Their innovations range from fitness trackers to shooting technology. These entrepreneurs-athletes not only contribute to propel technological advancements but also invest their wealth into shaping the future of sports technology. The results of these collaboration are improving training and performance while also creating new chances to invest and grow the athletes' personal brands.

Mindset connections: improve, innovate, compete

Thinking about it, the mindsets that drive success in sports, technology and business are incredibly similar. Athletes, just like entrepreneurs, have to master resilience, focus, and a drive for continuous improvement in order to achieve their goals. Just like an athlete working through the pain of a grueling training session, entrepreneurs must push past setbacks, manage stress, and maintain a clear vision of their long-term goals.

This concept of 'mental toughness' was developed through research and it indicates the skills needed by an individual to perform at their peak. Research with some of the world's best athletes shows that mental toughness is the capacity to respond positively to multiple, and sometimes conflicting, pressures in order to deliver consistently high levels of performance. It is underpinned by four core skills:

• Handling pressure

• Self-belief

• Motivation

• Focus

The entrepreneurial mindset, where adaptability, risk-taking, and goal-setting are key, is nearly identical to that of a competitive athlete, making the crossover between the two fields as powerful as natural.

The future of sport, technology, and business: synergies and challenges

The intersection of sport, technology, and business holds immense potential to push boundaries. Athletes and tech companies are collaborating on groundbreaking innovations, such as AI-driven performance analysis, wearable technology, and much more. But some questions arise from this intriguing intersection: as AI enters the field, how much of our favourite athletes' style and instinct will be kept intact? How can we be sure that relying on technology will not diminish that personal and incredibly human touch that defines sports?

Moreover, while the elite can afford the latest tools, the access to such technologies constitutes a risk of disparities, knowing that these tools are already influencing heavily the performance and effectiveness of training.

In this environment, the responsibility of athletes as social entrepreneurs will play an even more crucial role. To ensure that innovations will not only drive performance, but are also accessible and equitable. By prioritizing sustainability and inclusivity, they can foster healthy and responsible advancements.

The key will be collaboration: tech, business, and sport working together to create solutions that enhance human potential.