SportGen Summit: Paris, New Hub for Sports Business

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Key Takeaways

1The SportGen Summit will take place in Paris on May 27 and 28, attracting 1,500 participants from the sports business sector.

2The founders, former Sorare alumni, aim to make Paris a capital of sports business, competing with London and New York.

3Renowned figures such as David Trezeguet and Dominic Thiem will participate, with a focus on networking leading to partnerships.

💡Why it matters — This event positions Paris as a key player in the global sports business network, boosting the local economy and business opportunities.

A Unique Event in the Heart of Paris

The SportGen Summit is set to make its debut on May 27 and 28 at the Pavillon Gabriel in Paris. This event, which promises to attract around 1,500 participants, aims to be an essential meeting point for professionals in the sports business.

Paul Perrin and Aurélien Linÿer, former employees of the company Sorare, decided to launch this ambitious project after their time at this French Tech startup. Their goal is to create a major B2B event that coincides with the first week of Roland-Garros. According to them, this prestigious tournament presents a unique opportunity, as it already brings together many influential players in sports, from media to agencies and brands. They envision transforming this opportunity into an international platform to foster exchanges between the French ecosystem and its European and global counterparts.

Paris, Future Capital of Sports Business?

The two entrepreneurs met at Sorare in 2022, when the company was still in full expansion. Their experience at Sorare, particularly with prestigious partnerships such as those with Messi, Mbappé, the NBA, and the Premier League, inspired them to make Paris a nerve center for sports business. Currently, major events in this sector mainly take place in London and New York. Perrin and Linÿer believe that Anglo-Saxon events often occur in venues that are not conducive to an immersive experience.

To bring their vision to life, they have successfully raised funds from influential figures in sports, such as Patrick Mouratoglou, former coach of Serena Williams, Rudy Gobert, NBA player, Randal Kolo Muani, Tottenham player, and Frédéric Maus, CEO of WSN. These investors provide not only financial support but also a valuable network of contacts to attract major figures to the summit.

A Program Rich in Opportunities

To offer a high-end experience, the Pavillon Gabriel will be transformed with two stages, meeting rooms, and spaces dedicated to networking. The founders want participants to be able to plan their meetings in advance through a networking app available in early May. The goal is to facilitate exchanges and foster partnerships and deals.

Around 1,500 people are expected, and the event will be capped off with a gala dinner after the first day. The organizers hope that these meetings will lead to fruitful collaborations.

Prestigious Guests on the Agenda

For this inaugural edition, the SportGen Summit has managed to attract renowned personalities such as Eno Polo, president of the ATP, Victoriano Melero, general director of PSG, Teodora Ivanova-Limon from the WTA, Dominik Beier from Bitpanda, and Laurent-Éric Le Lay, director of sports at France Télévisions. Other influential figures like Dominic Thiem, winner of the 2020 US Open, and David Trezeguet, famous for his golden goal at Euro 2000, will also participate.

The event will host representatives from prestigious clubs such as PSG, OM, and Racing 92, as well as sports agencies like IMG. Private equity funds such as CVC, 20VC, LionTree, and Carlyle will also be present, along with investment banks and law firms.

The organizers aim for a high-quality audience, with over 70% of participants at the C-Level and 55% of international visitors. Their priority is to maximize ROI for participants by creating a conducive business environment.

A Startup Competition to Foster Innovation

Alongside the conferences and meetings, a startup competition titled “The Draft” will be organized in partnership with Maddyness. Ten startups will be selected to present their projects before a jury of international experts. The winning startup will receive AWS credits and support from PSG Labs.

This first edition of the SportGen Summit promises to be exciting and is expected to be held annually during Roland-Garros. The globally recognized tennis tournament offers exceptional visibility, particularly to the American audience. The organizers are already considering strengthening the synergies between the SportGen Summit and Roland-Garros for future editions, hoping to make this event a resounding success from its very first year.