"Today marks the start of the Arsenal Innovation Lab, a ten-week programme working with six start-up organisations to identify ground-breaking new fan experiences," said Arsenal FC, 07/09/2017.
"We launched the Arsenal Innovation Lab in September 2017 with innovation specialist L Marks and after receiving over 250 applications, invited 22 to come and pitch their ideas in a 'Dragon’s Den' style event in November," said the London club.
"The pitch day saw a range of creative and innovative ideas presented with six startups selected to move forward as part of the Arsenal Innovation Lab’s ten-week programme. These six start-ups will be mentored by senior business leaders from the club and have the opportunity to test and demonstrate products or services. At the end of the programme, we will assess whether to make further investment to finalise and progress the ideas," added Arsenal FC.
The Arsenal FC Innovation Lab is the result of a collaboration between the club and L Marks, a company specialised in innovation created in 2012.
"Innovation has always been at the heart of the club since its formation in 1886" (V. Venkatesham, Arsenal FC, 15/01/2018)
• Our aim is to create better experiences for our supporters all around the world, from retail experiences to digital content. We are looking forward to taking this next step in the Arsenal Innovation Lab and developing these pioneering ideas to take the club forward."
Vinai Venkatesham, chief commerical officer at Arsenal FC, on 15/01/2018
• I'm very excited to see what each team will achieve working closely with Arsenal over the next ten weeks and what these developments will mean for the future of the sporting sector."
Stuart Marks, chairman of L Marks, on 15/01/2018
Arsenal Innovation Lab: the six selected start-ups
Botnation AI
"A French startup that creates Artificial Intelligence chatbots on messaging apps, voice apps and websites. On the programme they will help Arsenal to provide supporters with purchases on the arsenaldirect e-commerce store.
They are already used by 700 companies in 53 countries.
Aireal
Allows digital content to coexist in reality using geospatial Augmented Reality, visible through mobile devices. The Dallas based company will help Arsenal to engage with its global supporters by providing them with the ability to place static and moving 3D digital objects, such as players or trophies, anywhere in the world for fans to interact with. This will create infinite ways for the club’s supporters to experience the Arsenal world like never before.
I likethat
A London-based startup that offers a complete and on-demand retail experience where users can purchase directly from international media sites, including Arsenal.com, without having to navigate to the club’s e-commerce store, ArsenalDirect.com.
It also provides a revenue stream for publisher websites.
KonnecTo
An Artificial Intelligence-based data collection and analysis platform, based in Tel Aviv, that will help enable Arsenal to analyse their supporters’ personal interactions with them and to translate that information into actionable insights. They will work closely with the Partnerships team to provide a deeper understanding of Arsenal's supporter base and help identify potential partnerships.
Peak
a data analytics company based in Manchester that will focus on helping Arsenal grow using data and artificial intelligence. Founded in 2014, it has grown rapidly and, in 2015, won Tech North’s Northern Stars competition as a 'top tech startup in the UK'.
Worapay
A mobile ordering and payment technology company. On the programme they will focus on helping Arsenal improve the matchday experience for supporters by allowing them to place orders, make payments and have their food and beverage delivered. Based in London, WoraPay’s tech is already being distributed to UK retailers by the Lloyds Banking Group and Mastercard."
Arsenal FC, press release, www.arsenal.com, on 15/01/2018
Think Football 2018: "Mobile Applications: Constraints and Opportunities for Clubs", at Paris-Dauphine University, Thursday 01/02/2018
Registration is required to attend the second edition of Think Football, held at the Universtity Paris-Dauphine, on Thursday, 01/02/2018 (from 08:45 to 18:00 CET).
Free access and priority reservations to subscribers of News Tank Football.
Paid access for non-partners and non-subscriber service providers.
Partenaires majeurs : • Emirates (compagnie aérienne) :
- sponsor maillot et des tenues d’entraînement, depuis 2006-07, jusqu’en 2027-28 ; estimé à 16 M£ par saison sur la période 2014-2019 ; estimé à 40 M£ par saison sur la période 2019-2024
- droits de naming du stade sur 2004-2028, estimé à 10 M£ par saison • adidas (équipementier) : estimé à 60 M£ par saison, 2019-2030
• Visit Rwanda (promotion touristique) : sponsor manche, 2018-2025, 10 M£ / an • Sohba Realty (immobilier) : sponsor titre du centre d’entraînement (Sohba Realty Training Centre) et sponsor manche du maillot d’entraînement, depuis 2023-24
Partenaires officiels :
• Acronis (cybersécurité) : depuis 2018-19
• Ball (aluminium) : depuis 2020-21 • eFootball PES 2021 (jeu vidéo, édité par Konami) : depuis 2017-18 (partenaire régional), 2018-2022 partenaire officiel • Sportsbet.io (paris sportifs) : depuis 2019-20 • Socios.com (cryptomonnaies) : depuis 2021-22 • Sokin (services financiers) : depuis 2021-22 • eToro (trading) : depuis 2021-22 • StatSports (analyse de performance) : depuis 2021-22 • Sobha Realty (immobilier) : droits d’appellation du centre d’entraînement de Colney à partir de 2023-24 • Dirt is Good (produits ménagers, groupe Unilever) : depuis 2023-24 • Google Pixel (smartphones) : depuis 2023-24 • Hotels.com (hôtels) : depuis 2023-24 • MG Motor (constructeur automobile) : partenaire automobile à partir de 2024 • ComAve (e-commerce) : depuis 2024-25
Partenaires régionaux :
• Cadbury (confiserie) : depuis 2020-21 • Ganzberg (bière) : pour le Cambodge, depuis 2019-20 • Intel (solutions informatiques et technologiques) : depuis 2018-2022
• Lavazza (café) : depuis 2018-19 • Octopus Energy (fournisseur d’énergie) : au Royaume-Uni, depuis 2016-17
• Therabody (bien-être) : partenaire de récupération depuis 2020-21 • TCL (téléviseurs) : pour le Royaume-Uni, le Moyen-Orient et l’Afrique, depuis 2023
Partenaire majeur - Arsenal Women FC :
• Mastercard (solutions de paiement) : depuis 2019-20
