The 8th São Paulo Award for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Sports will take place on November 12 and 13, 2026, at the Legislative Assembly of the State of São Paulo (ALESP).

​

The event will bring together startups, investors, companies, universities, accelerators, and public and private organizations for two days dedicated to innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, networking, and business development in the sports industry.

Running from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, the program will feature an Innovation Fair, startup pitches, business matchmaking opportunities, and the selection of three winning startups.

​

Organized by the São Paulo Federation of Sports & Fitness (FPEFIT), with the support and oversight of the São Paulo Municipal Department of Economic Development and Labor (SMDET), the award reaches its eighth edition with an expanded mission: connecting the innovation ecosystem with the sports industry.

​

Beyond recognizing innovative initiatives, the event is designed to create meaningful connections between entrepreneurs and key market players, encouraging partnerships, business opportunities, and the development of new solutions.

​

INNOVATION FAIR

One of the main highlights of the event will be the Innovation Fair, held throughout both days.

​

The 20 finalist startups will have dedicated spaces to showcase their products, services, prototypes, technologies, and innovative solutions to visitors, investors, companies, institutions, and other industry stakeholders.

​

The fair will also serve as a business development and networking environment, giving startups the opportunity to expand their professional networks, present their projects, meet potential partners, and establish connections with investors and institutions.

​

STARTUP PITCHES

On November 13, the 20 finalist startups will take part in the pitch stage, presenting their projects to the Evaluation Committee.

Projects will be assessed according to criteria including:

​

• Technological innovation

• Market potential

• Scalability

• Business maturity

• Team capabilities

• Economic and social impact

• Presentation quality

 

The program will also include a Business Matchmaking Session, designed to connect entrepreneurs with companies, investors, institutions, and other market representatives.

​

The objective is to turn participation in the award into concrete opportunities for partnerships, business development, and long-term relationships.

​

At the end of the evaluation process, the three provisionally highest-ranked startups will be announced.

​

The final result will remain subject to the appeal procedure established in the official regulations and will only become definitive following formal approval.

​

INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

​

Following final approval of the results, the three winning startups will advance to the next stage of the program.

​

They will receive technical and operational preparation for participation in GITEX South America 2027, one of the region's major technology and innovation events.

​

The preparation process will focus on areas such as:

​

• Corporate presentation

• Brand and market positioning

• Product and solution showcase

• Strategic networking

• Business connections

• International exposure

 

The award does not include a cash prize.

Instead, its main value lies in the opportunities offered to the winning startups for development, visibility, networking, and market expansion, including participation in the institutional space planned for GITEX South America 2027, subject to the conditions established in the official regulations.

​

SPORTS AS A PLATFORM FOR INNOVATION

​

The 8th São Paulo Award for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Sports welcomes solutions across a wide range of areas connected to the sports ecosystem.

Eligible sectors and areas of innovation include:

​

• SportTech

• Technology

• Artificial Intelligence

• Data & Analytics

• Health & Wellness

• Physical Activity & Fitness

• Education

• Management

• Sustainability

• Inclusion

• Accessibility

• Social Impact

• User Experience

• Sports Equipment

• Digital Services

​

The initiative highlights the role of sports as a platform for innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, and economic development.

It recognizes companies capable of combining technology, creativity, and business strategy to create solutions with the potential to generate meaningful impact across the sports industry.

​

By bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, companies, educational institutions, and public-sector representatives, the award aims to strengthen its position as a meeting point between those developing innovative solutions and those who can help accelerate their growth.

​

EVENT INFORMATION

​

8th São Paulo Award for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Sports — 2026

Dates: November 12–13, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Venue: Legislative Assembly of the State of São Paulo — ALESP
Location: São Paulo, Brazil

​

Organized by:
São Paulo Federation of Sports & Fitness — FPEFIT

With the support and oversight of:
São Paulo Municipal Department of Economic Development and Labor — SMDET