Unleash Your Business Potential with the IOC’s Athlete365 Business Accelerator and Alibaba.com.
Great news for athletes aspiring to become entrepreneurs! The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has teamed up with Alibaba.com to launch a new edition of the Athlete365 Business Accelerator programme. This initiative aims to help athletes develop their business ideas and transition smoothly into post-sport careers.
What’s in Store? First introduced in 2018, the Athlete365 Business Accelerator provides a blend of virtual sessions, online learning, and in-person mentoring. The programme, supported by the Yunus Sports Hub and hosted on the Athlete365 platform, has already benefited over 4,700 athletes. Out of these, 471 participated in online workshops, and 61 had the chance to work with a local mentor.
Alibaba’s Role: Alibaba.com, the first Worldwide Olympic Partner to support this initiative, brings its expertise as a leading B2B online marketplace. Athletes will gain unique insights into e-commerce, enhancing their entrepreneurial skills and business ventures.
Educational Tools and Mentorship: Through this programme, Alibaba will provide athletes with:
- Educational tools
- Mentoring services
- Funding opportunities
The programme kicks off with five online bootcamps available in French, English, and Spanish. These sessions cover the basics of the initiative and outline the entrepreneurial journey ahead. Alibaba.com will also deliver a key session on B2B e-commerce fundamentals.
Deep Dive into E-Commerce: Athletes eager to deepen their business knowledge can join an online course, which includes:
- A session on leveraging artificial intelligence in business
- Access to a comprehensive online library of entrepreneurial resources
Upon completing the online course, 25 athletes will receive mentorship from the Yunus Sports Hub network. Additionally, Alibaba.com will offer expert sessions on sourcing and sales strategies, directly mentoring all B2B e-commerce-related projects.
Pitch Your Ideas and Win Big: Participants will have the chance to pitch their business ideas to a panel of experts. Three winners will receive a promotional package, including branding and promotional assets. Moreover, 50 athletes will receive USD 10,000 worth of coupons for Alibaba.com services, such as membership, AI tools, expert advice, and dedicated customer care.
Empowering Athletes: According to Emma Terho, Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, Alibaba.com’s support will enable athletes to transform their creative ideas into viable business opportunities. Terho highlights the high potential within the Athlete365 community, consisting of over 170,000 members, and emphasizes the importance of technology in overcoming the challenges of starting a new business.
Since becoming a Worldwide Olympic Partner in 2017, Alibaba has been committed to helping the IOC modernize the Olympic Games with innovative cloud and e-commerce technologies, aligning with the Olympic Agenda 2020+5.
This is your chance to turn your entrepreneurial dreams into reality. Get ready to accelerate your business journey with Athlete365 and Alibaba.com!