Burnley Football Club, a prominent name in the Premier League, has taken a significant step towards digital innovation. The club has launched an Innovation Hub and selected three tech startups to collaborate with. These companies will work together to deliver new digital experiences, enhance fan engagement and foster innovation.
The Innovation Hub invited tech companies worldwide to apply for an opportunity to pitch their solutions at a virtual Pitch Day hosted from Turf Moor. More than 200 applicants from around the globe responded to this call, showcasing the global interest in sports technology.
Alan Pace, chairman of Burnley Football Club, said:
“I’m absolutely delighted to welcome our inaugural cohort of start-ups for year one of the club’s Innovation Hub. We received some excellent applicants, and the three we’ve chosen will add significant value across the business. We’re excited to get to work with them all over the next six months.”
Following rigorous evaluation, six finalists were shortlisted. They presented their solutions before a judging panel comprising leadership from Burnley FC and ALK Capital as well as industry expert advisors.
Winning tech startups
Emerging victorious from the Innovation Hub pitch day were three startups - Camb.ai, Mantis XR and Piing. Over the next six months, these companies will work closely with Burnley FC's operations team to deploy and test their technologies in real club environments.
Camb.ai uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology that can instantly translate content into more than 150 languages while preserving each voice’s tone and personality. This innovative solution could potentially revolutionize communication within international football clubs like Burnley FC by breaking down language barriers among players of different nationalities or fans across borders.
Mantis XR employs spatial technology that enables teams to build loyalty based on relationship data rather than fragmented vendor systems. This approach could significantly improve fan engagement strategies by providing more personalized experiences based on individual fan data rather than relying solely on third-party vendors' information. Piing offers stadium-scale interactive games designed to engage tens of thousands of fans simultaneously during matchday downtime periods. By turning these downtimes into sponsorship-ready activations, Piing's solution could provide a new revenue stream for the club while enhancing the overall fan experience.
The selection of these three tech startups marks the beginning of a long-term strategy by Burnley FC to embed innovation across all aspects of the club. The goal is to establish a repeatable model for adopting and scaling emerging technology. This initiative not only positions Burnley FC as an innovator in football but also sets an example for other clubs to follow in embracing digital transformation within sports.
