South Africa’s MatchKit.co crowned 2023 Sports Technology Awards Startup of the Year

Bryan Habana’s platform committed to athlete brand building and financial fitness scoops top honours on global stage

Johannesburg – In arguably the most impressive win in the sports tech startup’s short history, MatchKit was awarded Startup of the Year at the recent 2023 Sports Technology Awards, held in Manhattan, New York.

The 10th Sports Technology Awards, presented in association with NBC Sports Next, saw some of the biggest brands in global sport convene to see who would secure the coveted trophies in the ‘Oscars of Sports Technology’. Other noteworthy brands that joined MatchKit on the winning podium included NBA, Apple, Warner Bros. Discovery, World Athletics and the ICC.

MatchKit co-founder Mike Sharman, who accepted the award in person, says that unlocking commercial opportunities for the global community of marginalised and ‘Cinderella Sports’ athletes has been a dream for the team co-founded by Bryan Habana, Shaka Sisulu, Ben Karpinski and Carli Schoeman, since the platform went live in the midst of the Covid pandemic.

“Our tech has been used to power SA Hockey to the Tokyo Olympic Games, it was the vehicle for a movement to reward our Olympic medalists with more than R400,000 in less than a week when the Sports Ministry said its commercial coffers were empty, and more recently James Gerber has used our platform to put a young man through high school. To be rated as the best Startup of the Year, amongst the most cutting-edge technology and business solutions that the sports world has to offer, is absolutely unreal.”

He adds, “The MatchKit team has worked tirelessly to get to this point, and I wholeheartedly believe that this award is a stepping stone for our global ambitions. Our platform and the services offered, will only get better from here.”

About MatchKit.co:

Launched in 2020, MatchKit has:

· Signed up more than 2,500 athletes

· Athletes with a collective reach of 9.1m+ fans globally

· Been used as a vehicle for crowdfunding more than R3.4m for athletes in need

• Below are two case studies re SA Hockey and SA Olympic medal bonuses

About The Sports Technology Awards:

The Sports Technology Awards are the world’s leading celebration of tech-led innovation in sport, dubbed ‘The Oscars of Sports Technology’. Recognised as the leading, international mark of excellence, The Sports Technology Awards celebrates tech-led innovation in sports, globally. Founded in 2013, The Awards evolve each year to reflect the important factors influencing every facet of sports.

The cycle of each year’s awards start when entries open in September. Our judges, over 50 industry experts, review all the entries, with the shortlist of successful brands announced in February. The Awards ceremony is then staged each year in May.

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