IBM Sports Tech Startup Prize Challenge at Web Summit Lisbon 2026

About

Selected growth-stage startups using AI for the business of sports competed in an invitation-only pitch challenge at Web Summit Lisbon 2026, with a Grand Prize valued at up to USD $100,000 that includes cash toward an IBM proof-of-concept and IBM credits.

Benefits

• 🏆Grand Prize
  One Grand Prize is available, subject to sufficient eligible entries and winner verification, valued at up to USD $100,000 consisting of USD $80,000 in cash to be applied to an eligible proof-of-concept project with IBM’s Sports & Entertainment team under a separate written agreement and USD $20,000 in IBM credits toward IBM services and technology; credits may have additional terms, use restrictions and expiry dates.
• 💼Investment consideration
  The Grand Prize may also include an opportunity to be considered for investment from IBM Ventures, at IBM’s sole discretion.
• 🌍Visibility and network access
  The Grand Prize may also include global visibility, media attention and direct access to IBM’s network of enterprise leaders and investors, as determined by IBM in its sole discretion.
• 🤝Mentorship and evaluation
  IBM states that the Grand Prize includes mentorship opportunities and evaluation opportunities described in the Official Rules.

Eligibility Criteria

• Participation in the Prize Challenge is by prior invitation from IBM at IBM’s discretion.
• Invited companies must be legally formed, corporate entity start-ups in good standing.
• Invited companies must be specifically involved and operating in the sports industry.
• Invited companies must not be ineligible or under any conflicting employment, contractual, legal or other restriction to participate or win a prize.
• Company representatives must be employees of the participating company in good standing.
• Company representatives must be 18 years of age or older.
• Company representatives must have the company’s full authority to represent it in the Challenge.
• Company representatives must not be ineligible or under any conflicting employment, contractual, legal or other restriction to participate.
• Employees, officers and directors of IBM, Web Summit, the Judges and other promotion entities, and individuals or entities involved in organizing, administering, executing, judging or fulfilling prizes for the Challenge, are not eligible.
• Immediate family members and members of the same household of those ineligible individuals are also not eligible.
• The Challenge is void to individuals acting in a personal capacity, government-owned entities, sole proprietorships, partnerships and other non-corporate entities.
• The Challenge is void to contractors, subcontractors, agents and other non-employee individuals.
• The Challenge is void to entities or persons subject to Portuguese, U.S. or U.K. government sanctions, including those on the U.S. Treasury SDN list and the U.K. OFSI list.
• The Challenge is void to companies incorporated in embargoed jurisdictions including Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria and the Crimea region of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, and to companies subject to U.S. export controls or sanctions.
• IBM Ventures describes the startups it is seeking as growth-stage companies from Seed to Series B, not MVP to Seed.

Participation Commitments

• Prior invitation, timely registration and pre-approval are required, and walk-ins are not permitted.
• Participants must review, sign and return required Challenge Documents to IBM’s satisfaction, including the Official Rules, Participation Agreement, Participant/Winner Release of Liability, Publicity Release and other required documents.
• Up to three participants from an eligible company present an in-person, timed formal pitch with a possible Q&A session during Web Summit 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal.
• Attendance on the day of the Challenge is required.
• The Challenge is scheduled during Web Summit 2026 on 9–12 November 2026 in Lisbon, with the pitch period beginning around 12:30 pm WET on 11 November 2026 and ending around 2:30 pm WET on 11 November 2026.
• All transportation, meals, lodging and all other costs, fees and expenses related to participation are at the participant’s cost and responsibility.
• Participants’ presentations must be reviewed by IBM before the event; participants invited from other events are requested to submit their presentation 3–4 days before the event start.
• The pitch must include a deck with information about the company, its solution and any existing clients, with client permission.
• All entry materials and elements must be presented in English.
• All financials, data and monetary information in the pitch deck must be in U.S. dollars only; official euro documents may be converted using a trustworthy online converter.
• Limit one Entry per Participant.
• The Entry must be original to the participant and not created in material part by artificial intelligence, with incidental assistive AI permitted only where it does not generate or constitute a material portion of the Entry.
• The Entry must not include confidential, proprietary, export-controlled or restricted information or copyleft materials, and participants must have all rights, licenses and consents for the Entry.
• Participants must comply with Web Summit’s in-person attendee terms and conditions.
• The winner must be able to accept the prize in its entirety or not at all and is responsible for applicable taxes, reporting and documentation.

Target Sector

Sports & Fitness

Target Location

No positive country eligibility restriction is stated, and the challenge is described as global with companies invited at IBM’s discretion. It is void to individuals acting in a personal capacity, government-owned entities, sole proprietorships, partnerships and other non-corporate entities; contractors, subcontractors, agents and other non-employee individuals; entities or persons subject to Portuguese, U.S. or U.K. government sanctions, including those on the U.S. Treasury SDN list and the U.K. OFSI list; companies incorporated in embargoed jurisdictions including Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria and the Crimea region of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus; and companies subject to U.S. export controls or sanctions.