The Australian Sports Technologies Network (ASTN) is hosting an investment pitching competition to uncover new sports technologies and help entrepreneurs commercialize them. The competition is open to Australian individuals, teams, sporting organizations and small businesses working on sports tech ideas, early projects or startups. Entrants must submit an investment proposal by October 2nd for the chance to pitch to judges on October 16th and win $10,000 or $5,000 in cash prizes. The top 10 submissions will also receive mentoring and networking opportunities to help advance their commercialization efforts.

1. Investment Pitching Competition
2014

2. What is the ASTN?
‘Provide leadership in the commercialisation
and development of the sports technologies
industry in Australia’.

3. What is the ASTN?
• Nationally-recognised collaborative network playing
a lead role in developing the sport tech industry.
• Not-for-profit member-based organisation
comprising of leaders from the industry.
• Assists organisations involved in sports technologies
to develop, grow and take advantage of national and
international opportunities.

4. What is the ASTN?

5. What is the ASTN?
• What is ‘commercialisaton’ of sports technologies?
• Getting sports technologies to consumer markets - not
just to the elite sports markets.
• Grass roots, weekend warriors, leisure / wellbeing and
semi-professionals.
• Accessing $300b global sports consumer markets
($600b + including sports media / property rights).

6. Background of the Competition
• Uncover new sports technologies and assist
entrepreneurs to commercialise these technologies.
• Educate entrepreneurs on what it takes to pitch a new
sports tech innovation (i.e. to an investor).
• Link entrepreneurs to sporting organisations,
manufacturers, retailers, investors and consumers.

7. What are sports technologies?
• Apparel and footwear
• Protective wear
• Equipment & venues
• Wearable devices
• Data & video analytics
• Medical, Nutrition and Health products
• Online & Mobile

8. What are sports technologies?

9. Sponsors & Supporters

10. Who can enter?
• Any Australian individual, team, sporting
organisation or small-to-medium business (SME).
• SMEs must;
• have an ABN;
• generate less than $5 million p.a. in sales, and;
• employ no more than 50 full-time equivalent employees.

11. Who can enter?
• Sports tech ideas, early stage projects or start-up
businesses.
• Projects that have been commercially launched for
less than 18 months (or yet to launch).
• Achieved less than $100,000 in sales.

12. Who can enter?
• Less than a total of $100,000 of venture capital or
non-venture capital (e.g. government grants) to
‘commercialise’ the project.
Note: projects that have received more than $100,000 in ‘Research &
Development’ funding will be accepted (e.g. research, testing and
validating in elite sport).
• Own or have the right to use the intellectual
property developed.
• Not won or been ‘placed’ in a competition of a
similar nature for the project.

13. How to make a submission
STAGE 1 – Go to www.astn.com.au
STAGE 2 – Review the ‘Competition Details’ presentation and
video.
STAGE 3 – Complete the ‘Investment Submission Template’.
STAGE 4 – Sign the ‘Non-Disclosure Agreement’.
STAGE 5 – Send to craig.hill@astn.com.au by 5:00pm Thursday 2nd
October.
All information is available on the website.

14. How to make a submission
• Submissions MUST be completed on the Investment
Submission Template.
• Around 1,500 words.
• Top 10 entrants invited to ½ day Investment Pitching
Education on Friday 10th October (Geelong)
• Top 10 invited to pitch for 8 minutes + 7 minute
questions to a judging panel on Thursday 16th
October (Geelong)

15. Key Dates
Date Activity
Thursday 4th September Launch of Competition
Thursday 2nd October (5pm) Final Date for Submissions
Monday 6th October Submissions shortlisted to Top 10
Friday 10th October Investment Pitching Education for Top 10
Thursday 16th October Investment Pitching Day for Top 10
Monday 20th October
Winners Announced
Innovation Workshop, held by renowned sports
technology experts Steve Blank and Jeremy Engel
Tuesday 21st October Winner & Runners-up presents at 2014 ASTN Annual
Conference

16. The Judging Panel
• Australian Sports Technologies Network
• HeadStart Accelerator
• ICT Geelong

17. Prizes
Winner / Runner’s Up
• $10,000 in cash (Winner) / $5,000 cash (Runners-up)
• Free ASTN membership
• Opportunity to apply as a resident to ASTN’s Accelerator
Program, HeadStart
• Exclusive invite to Innovation Workshop led by Steve
Blank / Jerry Engel, Melbourne (Monday 20th October)
• Invite to ASTN Annual Conference, Melbourne (Tuesday
21st October)

18. Prizes
Top 10 submissions
• Investment Pitching Education (Friday 10th October)
• Exclusive invite to Innovation Workshop led by Steve
Blank / Jerry Engel (Monday 20th October)
• Invite to ASTN Annual Conference, Melbourne (Tuesday
21st October)
• Opportunity to apply for ASTN Headstart Accelerator
• Comprehensive feedback on application

19. Prizes - Optional
HeadStart Accelerator (established May 2014)
• Up to 5 residents invited into October round (Non-investment
round).
• 3 month minimum mentoring program in Geelong
• Unmatched access to networks across sports and
technology industry.
• Residents will need to commit time in Geelong.
• Tick box in application.

20. Prizes - Optional
IT Invention Test
• Sports IT, digital and wearable device entrants
encouraged to enter ICT Geelong’s IT Invention Test
www.itinventiontest.com.au
• Tick box in application

21. Investment Submissions - advice
for entrants
The Investment Submission Template
Assessment
• Elevator pitch – 10%
• Project Description – 10%
• Market Opportunity – 20%
• Target Market – 17.5%
• Business Model – 15%
• Financials – 15%
• IP / Proprietary Knowledge – 12.5%

22. Investment Submissions - advice for
entrants
Looking for the best commercial potential.
Projects . . .
• Potentially ‘disruptive’ technologies (i.e. game changing)
• High level of innovation (i.e. business model and / or
product or service)
• Competitive advantage (i.e. compared to competition)
• Impact on global markets (i.e. scalable and exportable)

23. Investment Submissions - advice
for entrants
Plans . . .
• Articulate
• Clear target market (and how to sell to them)
• Based on a scalable business model
• Well considered financial projections
• Strong chance of commercial success

24. Investment Submissions - advice
for entrants
1. What ‘problem’ are you solving?
• Why is the solution valuable?
• Why will the target market buy your solution?
• Why is it different to anything else already available?

25. Investment Submissions - advice
for entrants
2. Identify and quantify the target market
• Who will buy the product / service?
• Quantify the size of the industry and / or target market?
• Do your research! Has it been done before?
3. How would the business operate (business model)
• How are products / services delivered?
• Key functions of the business / how would it work?
• Is it scalable?

26. Investment Submissions- advice
for entrants
4. Address each topic!
• Template clearly explains what we want to know.
• Make an articulate response to the question.
5. Use visuals (if you have them to accompany
submission)
• Pictures, diagrams, charts.
• 3 min video clips.

27. Investment Submissions- advice
for entrants
6. Don’t get over technical
• Limited words.
• Focus is on commercial outcomes.
• Audience is angel investors and commercialisation experts.

28. Go to the website for all details . . .
Good Luck!
www.astn.com.au