The 2024 Euroleague Basketball FanXP competition unveiled its winner at the SPORTBIZ EUROPE event in Barcelona, Spain, this week. Following an intense playoff stage held on October 7 at the Euroleague Basketball headquarters, four finalists—Aucxis with STAR Project, Neoma, Sceenic, and ZATAP—were selected from eight outstanding candidates. These finalists had the opportunity to present their innovative proposals before a distinguished sports business jury at SPORTBIZ EUROPE.
The winning start-up, ZATAP, a Switzerland-based company, has redefined the connection between physical merchandise products and the digital world. By facilitating direct-to-consumer interactions, ZATAP helps brands and sports teams better monetize their customer base. For their groundbreaking solution, ZATAP has earned a €10,000 prize to pilot test their platform within the prestigious frameworks of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and BKT EuroCup.
“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the finalists for their extraordinary work, and especially to ZATAP for their innovative approach to enhancing fan engagement. We are excited to see how these solutions will be integrated into the Euroleague ecosystem and the sports industry,” stated Alex Ferrer Kristjansson, Euroleague Basketball Marketing and Communication Chief Officer. "Getting the chance to meet all these emerging companies and individuals and getting to know the technologies that are coming to shake and shape the future of sports is truly a privilege and very inspiring. We also thank SPORTBIZ EUROPE, LaSource and our esteemed panel of judges for their collaboration and dedication to supporting innovation in sports."
“The Euroleague Basketball FanXP Challenge was an incredible experience for us. We worked closely with two mentors from Euroleague Basketball who helped us identify where ZATAP can add value and strengthen our partnership. The final week, we pitched at Euroleague Basketball’s headquarters and received expert feedback, taking our proposal to the next level. Exhibiting at SPORTBIZ Europe and pitching with the other three finalists on the main stage was amazing. We’re excited to move forward with Euroleague Basketball to deliver extraordinary fan experiences to their community,” shared Lucas Geisser, ZATAP’s Co-Founder and COO.
Finalist Summaries:
- Aucxis with STAR Project (Belgium): Utilizing RFID technology to manage reusable cups at events sustainably, improving operational efficiency, customer experience, and compliance with environmental standards.
- Neoma (France): A guest management solution for large-scale sports events, designed to integrate data across multiple systems and deliver a seamless, personalized experience for attendees.
- Sceenic (UK): Hosting EuroLeague celebrity watch parties on the EuroLeague OTT platform, allowing celebrities and influencers to engage with fans while watching live games.
- ZATAP (Switzerland): Connecting physical merchandise with the digital world, enabling brands and sports teams to create direct-to-consumer interactions and unlock new revenue streams.