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SFIA Start-Up Challenge 2025

Showcase your sports & fitness innovation to top industry execs, investors and win SFIA perks

Organizer: Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA)
Deadline: July 31, 2025
Category: Competition
Regions: Rwanda, Burundi, Liberia, Tanzania, Benin, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Sudan, Central African Republic, Djibouti, South Africa, Madagascar, Tunisia, Gambia, Togo, Equatorial Guinea, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Botswana, Mozambique, Comoros, Mauritius, Morocco, Ghana, Algeria, Chad, Cabo Verde, Namibia, Somalia, Niger, Seychelles, Congo, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Mali, Eritrea, South Sudan, Egypt, Gabon, Malawi, Angola, Eswatini, Uganda, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Lesotho, Ethiopia, Sao Tome & Principe, Libya, Zambia, DR Congo
Back to All Opportunities

The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) has opened applications for the SFIA Start-Up Challenge, a dynamic platform for emerging sports and fitness innovators. Designed to spotlight fresh talent and technology in the SportsTech and FitnessTech sectors, this competition invites early-stage start-ups from across Africa to present their solutions to a high-profile panel of industry leaders.

Program Overview

About the Challenge

  • The SFIA Start-Up Challenge offers entrepreneurs the chance to pitch their start-ups directly to over 90 judges, including executives, investors, and experts from the global sports and fitness industry.
  • The challenge aims to elevate promising innovations that address industry needs across performance, health, engagement, and consumer experience.

Key Details

  • Organizer: Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA)
  • Program Website: sfia.org
  • Application Deadline: 31 July 2025
  • Format: Pitch-style competition judged by a large panel of industry professionals
  • Target Participants: Start-ups based in any African country

Eligibility and Focus Areas

Target Regions

  • Open to applicants from all over the globe.

Target Sectors

  • SportsTech: Technology solutions advancing athletic performance, sports infrastructure, or fan engagement
  • FitnessTech: Innovations in personal fitness, wellness tracking, connected devices, and health-tech integrations

Target Stage

  • Stage Agnostic.

Benefits and Exposure

Participants selected to pitch will:

  • Present directly to 90+ industry judges
  • Gain exposure among executives and investors within the SFIA network
  • Compete for an exclusive SFIA membership, offering access to valuable resources, industry data, and networking opportunities

The SFIA Start-Up Challenge presents a high-visibility opportunity for African entrepreneurs at the forefront of SportsTech and FitnessTech. With a judging panel of over 90 influential industry professionals and the potential for recognition and support through SFIA membership, this competition serves as a springboard for start-ups ready to make a mark. Interested founders must submit their applications by 31 July 2025.

SFIA Start-Up Challenge | Sports & Fitness Innovation