| Uncovering the Key Elements Supporting Financial Growth in Sports Startups |
| Paper ID : 1528-SPORTCONGRESS |
| Authors |
|
Leila Moslehi *1, Mohammad Soltan Hoseini2 1Department of Sport Management, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran 2Associate Professor in Sport Management, Department of Motor Behavior and Sport Management, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran |
| Abstract |
| The development of financial support for sports startups plays a crucial role in the growth of the sports industry and the promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship within it. However, the lack of sufficient financial support mechanisms often hinders the establishment and sustainability of such ventures. This study aims to identify the key factors affecting the development of financial support for sports startups. In the first phase, the Delphi technique was applied. Therefore, in this section, the participation of individuals with knowledge and expertise in the research topic was utilized. Ten expert professors who had published at least two articles in the fields of entrepreneurship or sports entrepreneurship participated in the process. After three rounds of Delphi surveys, consensus was reached. In the second phase, confirmatory factor analysis was conducted. The statistical population for this stage consisted of faculty members specializing in sports management, as well as active professionals in the field of sports entrepreneurship and sports startups. The Delphi process resulted in the identification of 29 indicators categorized into six main factors: business idea and project-related factors (6 items), investment risk (6 items), awareness and cultural level (4 items), human resources factors (4 items), sports industry-related factors (5 items), and level of facilities and support (4 items). The model’s fit indices in the confirmatory factor analysis were within acceptable ranges, indicating that the collected data corresponded well with the theoretical model. This study showed that developing financial support for sports startups depends not only on financial factors but also on cultural awareness, human resources, and institutional support. Enhancing investor confidence, improving entrepreneurial education, and reducing investment risks can strengthen the ecosystem for sports entrepreneurship. A coordinated effort by policymakers and industry leaders is essential to create sustainable financial and structural support for the growth of sports startups. |
| Keywords |
| Entrepreneurship; Financial Support; Innovation; Sports industry |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation) |
