SFS EXTRA TIME 2025 kicks off: soccer innovation startup competition
In partnership with Almaviva – final stage on Nov. 18, 2025, Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy
Social Football Summit officially launches SFS EXTRATIME 2025, the startup competition dedicated to innovation in the soccer and sports industry, created in partnership with Almaviva, an Italian leader in digital transformation.
The challenge, now in its new edition, will be held as part of the8th edition of SFS – Social Football Summit, scheduled for Nov. 18 and 19, 2025 at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, offering startups and SMEs a unique opportunity for visibility, networking and discussion with industry players.
SFS EXTRATIME aims to select the most innovative and high-impact technological, economic and social solutions that can meet the current and future challenges of the football industry.
Applications will be collected from September 18 to October 31, 2025 through the official website www.socialfootballsummit.com.
A maximum of 6 finalist projects will be selected for Demo Day, during which teams will present their pitch in front of a panel of industry experts.
Startups and SMEs will be able to apply for projects in four main areas:
-Technologyand performance-innovations for athletes, teams, and sports data analysis.
-Fanengagement and new experiences-digital and interactive solutions to engage fans.
-Business modeland sustainability-business models with economic, social and environmental impact.
-Media, content and entertainment-new formats and strategies for telling and experiencing soccer.
The winning team will receive a prize of 5,000 euros in cash, as well as access to special mentions and opportunities offered by partners.
All finalists will also have the opportunity to:
-Participate for free in SFS 25 (with two passes per team);
-take part in a pitch preparation course;
-present their project in front of an international audience of stakeholders, clubs, media and investors.
“With SFS EXTRATIME, we want to give space to those who bring innovative ideas and solutions to improve soccer in a sustainable and digital way“-said Gianfilippo Valentini, CEO of SFS. – “The partnership with Almaviva further strengthens our mission of fostering the meeting of sports, technology and entrepreneurship.”
“Innovation in the world of sports, thanks in part to Artificial Intelligence, is not just ‘supporting technology,’ it is becoming an integral part of the way we practice, experience and follow activities and competitions,” said Antonio Amati, Deputy CEO of Almaviva. ” Each new idea can evolve sports tactics, performance, the business and entertainment. Hence the importance of a challenge to design the future of increasingly sustainable and inclusive soccer.”
“Since the first edition in 2018, then called ReSoccer, we have launched many challenges during SFS editions that have allowed us to discover and accompany innovative projects that we now see growing and consolidating. With this new challenge taking shape in Turin, we hope to identify original initiatives capable of interpreting new trends and bringing a concrete contribution to innovation in soccer and sport.”, dichiara Vincenzo Filetti, responsabile della startup competition di SFS.
Key dates:
-Nov. 18, 2025 – Demo Day and awards ceremony at Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy
-September 18, 2025 – Opening Call
-October 31, 2025 – Closing Call
-November 6, 2025 – Communication of finalists
-Nov. 12, 2025 – Kick-off meeting and pitch training
