IIT Madras inaugurated the Sports Tech Start-Up Conclave’ in New Delhi on July 12, 2024. This is an initiative by the CoE in Sports Science and Analytics at IIT Madras, strictly aiming to enhance indigenization and technological support for Atmanirbhar Bharat in sports.

The two-day conclave will also bring to the fore glimpses of the present and future work of IITM CESSA in sports technology and products. It also aims to give a fillip to overall sporting excellence in the country and aid the efforts of the Government of India and various sports bodies in their attempt to host the country’s first-ever Olympics in 2036.The conclave also attempts at bringing an increase in deep tech start-ups of the sports sector by according them investment support, whereby this comes for the final shortlisted sports tech start-ups. It is being sponsored by Dream Sports, Vedanta, and SFA Play.

Objectives of the Conclave The ‘Sports Tech Start-Up Conclave’ held by IIT Madras is replete with several objectives. These are boosted indigenization and technology support for Atmanirbhar Bharat in the sports sector.Showcase of the current work and plans of IITM CESSA in sports technology and products.Drive on overall sporting excellence in the country.Support to Government of India’s initiatives and various sports bodies to host Olympics in 2036.Investment support to the final shortlisted sports tech start-ups.

Significance of the Conclave The conclave is important because it provides a single platform for the sports industry and technology ecosystem, bringing together leading innovators and entrepreneurs, researchers, and other stakeholders under one roof. It provides a platform to discuss and showcase the latest trends, developments, insights, and opportunities in the domain of sports tech.Support for Sports Tech Start-ups Among the shortlisted sports tech start-ups, few would be presenting their business before the esteemed jury during the conclave in the startup funding session. Few of these unique Apps are those that leverage vision to make better cricket training sessions, India-specific athlete management systems, and sports learning platform/ module developers.

IIT Madras has plans to support at least 200 sports tech start-ups in the next five years. The institute plans to provide funding of up to Rs 5 crore for sports tech start-ups across India to foster innovation in the sports industry.

Conclusion: Event Description The IIT Madras ‘Sports Tech Start-Up Conclave’ facilitates boosted indigenization and technology support to Atmanirbhar Bharat in the sports sector. This Conclave would provide a platform for the showcasing of the current work going on driving sporting excellence and supporting the initiatives of the Government of India and different Sports Bodies towards hosting Olympics in 2036. It supports sports tech start-ups concerning investment support and funding opportunities.