The Sports Market Report 2025 highlights how technology innovations like advanced robotics, performance analytics, and smart rings are improving athlete training and competition. It explores shifting consumer preferences, investment opportunities, and emerging startups shaping the industry’s future. This report provides stakeholders with a concise analysis of trends driving growth and innovation in the sports sector.
This report was last updated in January 2025.
Executive Summary: Sports Industry Outlook 2025
- Industry Growth Overview: The sports market size will grow from USD 507.69 billion in 2025 to USD 635.42 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate of 5.8%. On a micro level, the sports market experienced an annual growth rate of 9.68% as per the Discovery Platform’s latest data.
- Manpower & Employment Growth: The sector employs over 400K individuals, with an addition of 29K+ new employees in the last year.
- Patents & Grants: The industry holds more than 220 patents and approximately 450 grants. The patent growth rate is 8.47% yearly, with the U.S. and China leading in patent issuance.
- Global Footprint: Key country hubs include the US, UK, India, Australia, and Italy, while major city hubs encompass London, New York City, Melbourne, Singapore, and Los Angeles.
- Investment Landscape: Investors have closed over 6K funding rounds, with average investment values exceeding USD 16 million per round. More than 4K investors are actively involved.
- Top Investors: Key investors such as Bain Capital, Bridgepoint, Topgolf Entertainment, and more have collectively invested over USD 3.69 billion.
- Startup Ecosystem: Five innovative startups include PaddleMate (paddle and oar-mounted sensor), SportsPower AI (autonomous AI coach assistant), IMPROVR (VR for brain-based exercises), Bolt6 (optical tracking & cloud replay), and Okrabook (sports booking & scheduling platform).
Methodology: How We Created This Sports Market Report
This report is based on proprietary data from our AI-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, which tracks 25 million companies and 20 000 technologies and trends globally, including detailed insights on approximately 5 million startups, scaleups, and tech companies. Leveraging this extensive database, we provide actionable insights on emerging technologies and market trends.
For this report, we focused on the evolution of sports over the past 5 years, utilizing our platform’s trend intelligence feature. Key data points analyzed include:
- Total Companies working on the trend
- News Coverage and Annual Growth
- Market Maturity and Patents
- Global Search Volume & Growth
- Funding Activity and Top Countries
- Subtrends within sports
Our data is refreshed regularly, enabling trend comparisons for deeper insights into their relative impact and importance.
Additionally, we reviewed external resources to supplement our findings with broader market data and predictions, ensuring a reliable and comprehensive overview of the sports market.
What Data is Used to Create This Sports Industry Report?
Based on the data provided by our Discovery Platform, we observe that the sports industry ranks among the top 5% in the following categories relative to all 20K topics in our database.
These categories provide a comprehensive overview of the industry’s key metrics and inform the short-term future direction of the industry.
- News Coverage & Publications: The sports industry received coverage from over 560 publications in the past year.
- Funding Rounds: Our database includes data on more than 6K funding rounds.
- Manpower: The workforce in the sports industry exceeds 400K workers, with the addition of over 29K new employees in the last year.
- Patents: The industry holds more than 220 patents.
- Grants: A total of 450 grants are received which support various initiatives for improving sport industry capabilities.
- Yearly Global Search Growth: The industry experienced a yearly global search growth of 6.06%
Explore the Data-driven Sports Industry Report for 2025
According to The Business Research Company, the sports market size will grow from USD 507.69 billion in 2025 to USD 635.42 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate of 5.8%.
The Sports Industry Report 2025 uses data from the Discovery Platform and encapsulates the key metrics that underline the sector’s dynamic growth and innovation.
The database comprises 899 startups among over 7500+ companies, reflecting a vibrant ecosystem. Over the past year, the industry experienced a growth rate of 9.68%.
Credit: The Business Research Company
In terms of innovation, the database holds more than 220 patents and approximately 450 grants. This data highlights the active development of new technologies and solutions within the sector.
The global workforce in this industry exceeds 400K individuals, with an employee growth of 29K over the previous year.
Moreover, the heatmap also highlights the top five country hubs, the USA, the UK, India, Australia, and Italy. It also showcases major city hubs, including London, New York City, Melbourne, Singapore, and Los Angeles.
The fantasy sports market size is estimated at USD 37.28 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 71.24 billion by 2030, at a compound annual growth rate of 13.83%.
The global sports technology market is anticipated to grow from USD 25.20 billion in 2025 to USD 86.22 billion by 2033, at a compound annual growth rate of 16.62% as per Straits Research report.
A Snapshot of the Global Sports Industry
The sports industry demonstrates an annual growth rate of 9.68%. The database includes 899 startups which reveals a landscape with major entrepreneurial activity. Among these startups, over 570 are in the early stages of development.
Additionally, the report highlights more than 300 mergers and acquisitions. The industry holds over 220 patents, with more than 60 unique applicants contributing to this innovation.
The yearly patent growth stands at 8.47%. The leading patent issuers are located in the US, with over 80 patents, and China, with around 50 patents.
Explore the Funding Landscape of the Sports Industry
The average investment value per funding round exceeds 16 million USD. There are more than 4K investors actively engaging in this sector. The total number of funding rounds closed surpasses 6K and investors have directed their funds toward over 1470 companies.
Moreover, Ohio State University’s football program was valued at USD 1.96 billion, surpassing other major college football programs.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is expected to focus on investing in emerging sports with high growth potential, such as women’s soccer and rugby, in 2025.
Who is Investing in the Sports Industry?
The combined investment value of the top investors in the sports industry exceeds USD 3.69 billion.
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- Bain Capital has invested USD 460 million across 2 companies. Bain Capital Ventures led a USD 135 million funding round for EvenUp which is a legal AI startup.
- Pearl Abyss has invested USD 425.6 million across 2 companies. CCP Games, a Pearl Abyss subsidiary, raised USD 40 million to develop a triple-A blockchain game in the EVE universe.
- DH Private has invested USD 418.7 million across 2 companies.
- Nextalia has invested USD 400 million in at least 1 company. Nextalia Ventures led a USD 19.6 million Series B for Hlpy S.p.A. to drive international growth and acquire MySchleppApp.
- Nordic Capital has invested USD 400 million in at least 1 company. Nordic Capital agreed to acquire U.S.-based Anaqua for USD 2.5 billion from Astorg.
- Bridgepoint has invested USD 371 million in at least 1 company. Bridgepoint merged with Energy Capital Partners to create a private assets platform.
- Walt Disney has invested USD 350 million in 1 at least 1 company. Disney announced a USD 1.5 billion investment to acquire an equity stake in Epic Games.
- Silver Lake has invested USD 342.7 million across 3 companies. Silver Lake plans to privatize Endeavor Group in a USD 13 billion deal.
- Topgolf Entertainment has invested USD 275 million across 2 companies. Topgolf Callaway Brands and Visa signed a multiyear deal to enhance customer benefits and experiences.
- City Football has invested USD 250 million in at least 1 company. CFG entered into a partnership with Istanbul Basaksehir, a Turkish football club linked to President Erdogan.
Moreover, the sports sponsorship market is expected to increase from USD 114.41 billion in 2024 to USD 189.54 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.73%.
Top Sports Industry Innovations & Trends
This section highlights the top three trends in the sports industry, supported by firmographic data.
- Advanced Robotics, is developing the sports industry through innovations in injury prevention, recovery methods, and training. This trend identifies over 1480 companies employing more than 80K individuals, with 7K+ new employees added in the last year and an annual growth rate of 9.88%.
- Performance Analytics is improving athlete strategies and decision-making, driving growth in the sports industry. This trend encompasses over 980 companies. The sector employs around 70K+ individuals, with an increase of 6K+ new employees in the past year. Further, the annual growth rate for performance analytics reaches 16.41%.
- The Smart Ring trend offers athletes with real-time biometric data for performance tracking and recovery. More than 200 companies work in this domain. This trend employs over 9K+ individuals, with 800+ new employees joining in the last year. The annual growth rate for smart rings is 17.97%.
5 Top Examples from 890+ Innovative Sports Industry Startups
The five innovative startups showcased below are picked based on data including the trend they operate within and their relevance, founding year, funding status, and more. Book a demo to find promising startups, emerging trends, or industry data specific to your company’s needs and objectives.
PaddleMate tracks Performance with Paddle and Oar-Mounted Sensor
PaddleMate is a Hungarian startup that develops a performance measurement system for paddling and rowing sports to track and improve athlete performance.
The system works by using a combination of a paddle-mounted sensor (POD), an onboard data-collecting unit (tracker), and an application dashboard.
The POD measures pulling force, stroke rate, symmetry, and force curves which transmit this data via Bluetooth to a phone or tracker.
The tracker is mounted on the boat or board, and records velocity, position, and tilt angle. It offers live data streaming for coaches to monitor performance in real-time.
The application dashboard visualizes and summarizes this synchronized data to track performance trends over time.
PaddleMate’s technology offers athletes and coaches insights into their training, enabling them to make data-driven decisions to improve technique, efficiency, and overall performance.
SportsPower AI delivers Autonomous AI Coach Assistant
US-based startup SportsPower AI develops AICA, an Artificial Intelligence Coach Assistant that provides real-time game insights and tactical recommendations.
AICA uses analytics to monitor every move during a match for users to ask questions in natural language, whether by voice or text and receive immediate answers. This AI assistant also features real-time alerts, game simulations, and tactical advisories for coaches and fans to stay informed throughout the game.
AICA identifies deviations in a player’s action or team performance and alerts users to key moments such as when a player reaches a milestone.
Further, the system advises coaches on optimal substitutions or line-ups against an opponent’s strategies. With its simulation feature, coaches experiment with different player combinations for better roster management and scouting.
IMPROVR leverages VR for Brain-based Exercises
IMPROVR is a German startup that develops a brain-based performance training solution that integrates mixed reality (MR) technology with scientifically backed methods for cognitive and neuro athletic skills for athletes.
The system combines exercises focused on neuroaesthetics, coordination, cognition, and mental agility that allow athletes to train key brain functions for peak performance.
Using a mobile VR device, athletes access personalized training programs that incorporate gamified elements that make the exercises engaging and immersive. This allows athletes to stay ahead of the competition and allows for measurable progress through tracked data.
IMPROVR’s technology enables elite and amateur athletes to improve their brain skills and increases focus, coordination, and cognitive abilities essential for success in sports.
Bolt6 provides Optical Tracking & Cloud Replay
UK-based startup Bolt6 develops optical tracking and cloud-based technologies for sports officiating, athlete and fan experiences, and commercial performance for competition organizers.
Its products, such as SENTINEL, Shotlink 2.0, and Cloud Video Replay, leverage data collection and real-time analytics for the accuracy and efficiency of sports events.
SENTINEL is a sports officiating technology that has passed official tests without failure. Shotlink 2.0 drives data collection for the PGA Tour and offers precision tracking to improve gameplay analysis.
Cloud Video Replay offers a professional content experience through a cloud-based platform for anyone with a device and an internet connection to access replay services.
Okrabook delivers Sports Booking & Scheduling Platform
Okrabook is a UAE-based startup that provides an online software solution to streamline booking and scheduling for sports academies, facilities, and gyms.
The platform automates various administrative tasks, such as customer booking journeys, registrations, schedules, payments, and invoicing.
The startup offers solutions such as sports training, facility management, and fitness management to manage coaching, camps, classes, and facility rentals.
Its also features, including easy scheduling, enhanced customer experience, and marketing tools, improve operational efficiency and productivity for businesses to scale their services.
Gain Comprehensive Insights into Sports Industry Trends, Startups, or Technologies
In 2025, the sports technology sector will continue to evolve, driven by performance analytics, wearable devices, and artificial intelligence. As applications expand across various sports disciplines, the emphasis on improving athlete performance and fan engagement will grow. Innovations in real-time data tracking, performance measurement, and coaching tools will drive efficiency and effectiveness in training regimens.
Get in touch to explore all 890+ startups and scaleups, as well as all industry trends impacting sports industry companies.
