Sportiva Venture Studio (SVS), a new venture studio, has officially launched with a mission to empower African sports tech innovation. The company, located in Nigeria, aims to revolutionize the African sports tech landscape by providing holistic support to startups.
SVS plans to build a portfolio of 10 globally competitive sports tech startups and create a digital platform to serve the technology needs of sports clubs and federations across Africa.
The launch addresses a significant problem in the African sports industry, which receives less than 1% of global sports investment and sponsorship despite a youth population of over 400million. According to the presentation, less than 20% of African sports organizations have integrated digital platforms, and more than 65% of sports tech startups struggle to secure Series A funding.
The launch event had in attendance Government representation from Lagos State Sports Commission, Founders building solutions in Sports tech, legal firms with specialty in startups and sports law, Gaming development studios, media houses and investors both high net worth individuals and Asset management companies shared valuable insights and experience during a panel session which was moderated by a seasoned sports media expert, Mr Enitan Obadina, who examined the topic: “Unlocking the Next Frontier: Investing in Africa’s SportsTech Ecosystem, Exploring challenges in venture finance, deal flow, and collaboration”
With esteemed panelists who shared practical insights and sparking visionary discussions were Barr. Muyiwa Ayojimi, CEO, PLC Nominees Ltd, Mr Dele Ige, CEO, PAC Asset Management Company, Ugochinyere Onyewuenyi, Founder, SportsReels and James Alabi, CTO, Sportiva Venture Studio.
Sportiva Venture Studio’s solution is a co-founding approach that provides capital, operational expertise, and go-to-market support to its startups. The studio will focus on three key verticals: performance AI, fan engagement, and tools for sports executives. SVS aims to position itself as the leading technical provider for African sports, building the digital backbone for the continent’s sports industry and preparing its startups for successful global buyouts. The first major exits are projected for 2030-2031.
