Sports Tech Growth Lab - Session 1: How to prepare for investment

Sports Tech Growth Lab is a new GSIC online event format designed to bring more strategic value to our members throughout the year.

Every month, GSIC will host a live 1-hour expert-led session focused on one key growth topic for sports tech companies, startups, scaleups and innovation-driven organizations. Each session will provide practical insights, industry knowledge and direct access to GSIC experts, ambassadors, partners and international ecosystem leaders.

The program is built around the real challenges faced by companies in the sports industry: raising capital, preparing stronger pitches, entering new markets, protecting intellectual property, validating technology, building B2B visibility, accessing public funding and creating business opportunities within the GSIC network.

Unlike traditional webinars, Sports Tech Growth Lab is designed as a live-only experience. Sessions will not be recorded, reinforcing participation, interaction and the value of being present within the GSIC community.

What members can expect

Members will gain access to 12 live sessions per year, each focused on a specific growth challenge. The sessions will combine expert insights, practical recommendations, market knowledge and opportunities for Q&A and networking.

Session 1: How to prepare for investment

Raising capital in the sports industry requires more than a strong product. Investors look for clear market positioning, a scalable business model, credible traction, and a compelling growth strategy. In this live session, we will explore how sports tech companies can better prepare for investment, understand what investors expect, and strengthen their fundraising narrative. The session will provide practical guidance on how to communicate value, identify the right funding opportunities, and approach fundraising as a strategic growth process.

Speaker

Juan Fuentes, Director, GSIC Testing Lab

Appointed as Director of the GSIC Testing Lab in Valencia, Juan leads the lab that tests and validates cutting-edge solutions for health, sport, and entertainment worldwide. With nearly two decades of international experience across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas, he brings a global perspective to ecosystem building, digital transformation, and innovation strategy.

Before joining GSIC, he drove LALIGA’s commercial growth in the Nordics and the Middle East and held strategic roles at Oxford Business Group and ICEX. A member of the sports investment committee and Sports co-chair at EBAN - European Business Angels Network, Juan has evaluated and invested in startups across sports, health, and mobility sectors.

Recognized by Forbes, BBC, and El Mundo, he is also a lecturer and researcher with publications at Harvard Business School, and a strong advocate for impact investment and social entrepreneurship.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/juanfuentesfernandez/