Arizona State University and Green Sports Alliance Forge Dynamic Collaboration to Drive Innovation

The Global Sport Institute at Arizona State University (GSI) and the Green Sports Alliance (GSA), a world-renowned environmentally-focused trade organization, have come together to establish a multifaceted collaboration centering on innovation within the rapidly evolving landscape of sustainability.

As sustainability takes center stage in sports, from the grassroots level to the professional arena, ASU and GSA will strategically mobilize and leverage networks to make a more significant impact in addressing challenges that confront the world of sports and beyond - particularly in the areas of waste, water and energy.

"The Green Sports Alliance is eager to partner with the Global Sport Institute at Arizona State University to support seeds of future sustainability solutions that are needed to decarbonize our economy," said Roger McClendon, Executive Director of Green Sports Alliance. "These innovations will ultimately benefit the green sports community and broader sports industry, creating healthy and equitable communities for the next generation."

A pivotal aspect of this collaboration is the introduction of the global sport + sustainability venture challenge designed to empower early stage startups looking to make an impact through sport. Founders will apply to present their ideas to a panel of industry leaders, vying for grant funding, mentorship, and the opportunity to pilot their products and/or services. The winning ventures will also be given exhibition space and will be highlighted at the 2024 Green Sports Alliance Summit. 

“We are thrilled to collaborate with the Green Sports Alliance to launch our latest venture challenge,” said Jeff Kunowski, Global Sport Institute Associate Director of Innovation Programs. “ASU is consistently recognized as a leader in innovation, sustainability and global impact and by leveraging our collective passion and expertise with GSA, we can empower the next generation of innovators and changemakers.” 

GSI, working closely with its partner the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute at ASU, has hosted over a dozen pitch events to provide mentorship, pilot opportunities, and the distribution of nearly $400,000 in funding to early stage startups thanks to the aligned support of sponsors like adidas, Oak View Group, and Arizona Coyotes. 

Applications for the sport + sustainability venture challenge will open in early November ‘23 with a virtual demo day taking place in early 2024. The competition will culminate at the 2024 Green Sports Alliance Summit. 

If interested in learning more about the collaboration or venture challenge, you can submit an inquiry at: globalsport.asu.edu/sport-innovation

About Global Sport Institute at Arizona State University:

The Global Sport Institute informs, convenes, and educates stakeholders in the global sport ecosystem and champions sport entrepreneurship and innovation to seek solutions to global threats in sport. As a cross-disciplinary enterprise, the institute’s mission is to help people and organizations get the most out of sport and to drive positive change throughout the world. Follow the Institute on Instagram and LinkedIn.

About the Green Sports Alliance

The Green Sports Alliance leverages the cultural and market influence of sports to promote healthy, sustainable communities where people live and play. The Green Sports Alliance convenes professional sports leagues, sports governing bodies, colleges, teams, venues, their partners, and millions of fans around meaningful change toward a more sustainable future. Through the Play to Zero® program, it leads the embrace of renewable energy, waste diversion, water efficiency, and environmentally preferable practices. Through its marquee event greening division, The Green Sports Alliance delivers best-in-class sustainable productions to minimize environmental impacts and maximize community legacies, driving scalability and replications across the industry.

The Green Sports Alliance is committed to sharing best practices, visit greensportsalliance.org for more information. Follow on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok. Subscribe to YouTube and Newsletter.

About the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute at Arizona State University:

The J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute serves as a premiere connecting and collaborating conduit across Arizona State University, the greater Phoenix community, nationwide and throughout the world. The Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute helps propel entrepreneurial aspirations by way of opportunities to explore, share, test and advance ideas. As a central source of information, resources and people, engaging with the Edson E+I Institute is to develop an entrepreneurial mindset, engage with global and local events and communities, and launch an idea through mentoring, funding, spaces and commercialization. Follow Edson E+I on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. More information at: http://entrepreneurship.asu.edu