Our Sports & Entertainment Startups to Follow in 2026 Report is Out
For the fourth year in a row, LaSource has released its Sports & Entertainment Startups to Follow report, offering a clear snapshot of where innovation is actually taking shape across the sports industry.
When the first edition launched in 2023, the objective was straightforward: cut through the noise of a fast-moving ecosystem and highlight technologies that were moving beyond hype. Four years later, that ambition remains, but the market has evolved.
The 2026 edition reflects a more mature landscape. Rights holders, startups, and investors are making fewer experimental bets and focusing more on solutions that deliver tangible value. Technology is no longer operating in silos; commercial, operational, performance, and media use cases are increasingly converging, with collaboration becoming a structural part of the ecosystem.
This year’s report features 40 Sports & Entertainment startups, selected through LaSource’s advisory work, network, and annual application process. The cohort spans a wide range of maturity levels: from early-stage companies addressing specific pain points, to fast-scaling businesses already embedded with leading clubs, leagues, federations, and media organisations.
Together, these startups provide a practical view of how innovation is being implemented today across the sports value chain, both on and off the field. More importantly, they highlight where the industry is heading next: toward integrated solutions, clearer business cases, and long-term adoption.
The Sports & Entertainment Startups to Follow in 2026 report is designed as a working resource for rights holders, partners, and stakeholders looking to better understand the technologies shaping the future of sport.
LaSource is a sports consulting agency working closely with startups, tech innovators, and major sports organisations to accelerate growth, shape strategy, and unlock new commercial pathways