The Baskonia Alavés Group and BerriUp have successfully closed the call for the Startup Challenge, receiving 119 applications from tech startups to innovate in mobility, fan engagement, and sustainability.
The Baskonia Alavés Group and BerriUp have received 119 applications in the first edition of the Startup Challenge, a programme seeking tech startups willing to test their solutions in a real environment: the sports district of Vitoria-Gasteiz. Of these, 70 correspond to the MVP or existing product category and 49 to the disruptive idea category.
The Verticals That Attract Startups the Most
The fan engagement challenge has been the most popular, with 54 applications (30 MVP and 24 ideas). It is followed by sustainability, with 34 (25 MVP and 9 ideas), and smart mobility, with 31 (15 MVP and 16 ideas). Startups have seen these areas as an opportunity to validate their technologies in a real stadium.
Regarding origin, 93 applications are from Spain —53 of them from the Basque Country: 21 from Álava, 28 from Bizkaia, and 4 from Gipuzkoa— and 26 are international. The programme has managed to attract talent from outside the borders, demonstrating its global reach.
A Support Ecosystem for Selected Startups
Startups that pass the filter will participate in an acceleration programme designed alongside BerriUp, which will include specialised mentoring, strategic support, and access to funding through Easo Ventures. Additionally, BIC Araba will provide support as an entrepreneurship centre to facilitate their landing in the territory.
Aitor Jiménez, Director of Innovation and Technology at the Baskonia Alavés Group, stated: “Surpassing 100 submitted projects confirms the enormous interest in transforming the sports industry through innovation and technology. For Baskonia-Alavés Group and The Faktory, this response validates our commitment to open innovation and connecting entrepreneurial talent with real challenges in sports.”
For his part, Jon Ander Merodio, General Director of BerriUp, highlighted: “The total number of applications received reflects the importance of joining forces among key players in the ecosystem. It is time to support projects so they can validate their technologies in a real environment alongside the Baskonia-Alavés Group.”
Saray Zárate, Regional Deputy for Economic Development and Sustainability of the Álava Provincial Council, emphasised that “the reception of this call confirms the strength of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Álava and its capacity to test disruptive solutions in real environments.”
Next Steps: Finalists and Pilots in September
The application submission period closed on June 30. The jury, made up of programme collaborators —Baskonia-Alavés Group, BIC Araba, Álava Provincial Council, Easo Ventures, and BerriUp— along with external agents such as Área 101, Moeve, and Mobility Lab, will select three finalists for each vertical. On July 10, these finalists will present their projects to the jury, which will choose a winner in each category.
The acceleration programme and the development of the pilots will begin in September. The selected startups will work closely with the Baskonia Alavés Group in a real environment, allowing them to test and scale their solutions. For entrepreneurs, this is a unique opportunity to validate their technology in a top-level stadium with the backing of a leading sports group.
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