"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.
Lead partners: • Emirates (airline):Lead Partner
- Shirt and training kit sponsor, since 2006-07, until 2027-28; estimated at £16m per season over the 2014-2019 period; estimated at £40m per season over the 2019-2024 period
- stadium naming rights, from 2004-05 until 2027-28, estimated at £10m per season
• adidas (equipment supplier): estimated at £60m per season, 2019-2030
• Visit Rwanda (tourism promotion): left sleeve sponsor, 2018-2021, estimated at between £5m and £10m per season • Sobha Realty (real estate) naming rights to the Colney training centre since 2023-24
Official partners: • Acronis (cybersecurity): since 2018-19 • Athletic Brewing Co. (non-alcoholic beer) from 2024-25
• Ball (aluminium): since 2020-21 • Betway (betting) • eToro (trading): since 2021-22, men's & women's team since 2023-24 • Google Pixel (smartphones): since 2023-24 • Jugo (digital events & video conferencing) since 2022-23
• eFootball PES (video game, published by Konami): since 2017-18 (regional partner), 2018-2022 official partner • Dirt is Good (laundry brand, Unilever) since 2023-24 • Persil (washing detergent) • Pixstory (social media platform) • Prime (energy drinks) • Socios.com (cryptocurrency) official partner and Fan Token since 2021 • StatSports (performance analysis): since 2021-22 • Hotels.com (online hotel booking) : since 2023-24 • MG Motor (car manufacturer): automotive partner since 2024 • ZC Rubber (tyres & rubber) • ComAve (e-commerce): since 2024-25
Regional partners:
• Cadbury (confectionery), since 2020-21 • Camden Town Brewery (beer) • Extramarks (education) • Labs Group (real estate investment, NFTs) • Lavazza (coffee): since 2018-19, official coffee partner of Arsenal Women since 2021-22 • Octopus Energy (energy supplier): in the UK, since 2016-17 • TCL (televisions): for the UK, Middle East and Africa, since 2023
Major partner of Arsenal Women FC: • Mastercard (payment solutions): since 2019-20
