Introducing the Stevenage FC Innovation Lab — an agile startup accelerator built for football’s boldest innovators.
As Stevenage FC continues a new phase of growth, the club is opening its doors to a new kind of teammate — the founders creating what’s next.
The SFC Innovation Lab is designed to help startups validate their products in a live professional football environment, accelerate traction and growth, unlock pathways to strategic partnerships, and access a curated network across sport, technology, and venture capital.
Through the Innovation Lab, three startups will be selected to run a 12-week pilot programme — gaining rare access to real-world validation and industry exposure.
The initiative aims to create a bridge between the startup ecosystem and football — giving founders access to strategic value, real-world testing, and a platform for growth, while enabling the club to work directly with the game’s leading innovators.
Elias Youssef, Head of Growth & Innovation at Stevenage FC and the SFC Innovation Lab lead, said:
“The Innovation Lab represents a major step in how football clubs can work with founders. My belief is that success in the modern game won’t come from sticking to the status quo, but from being bold enough to challenge it — and this initiative gives founders the chance to do exactly that, inside a live professional environment.”
Clive Edwards, Chief Revenue Officer at Stevenage FC, added:
“Our vision is clear — to build a club that thrives on innovation and competes with a bold, forward-thinking spirit.
The launch of the SFC Innovation Lab demonstrates our commitment to that vision, and we’re excited to collaborate with the next generation of innovators driving change across the game.”
If you’re building something that belongs in the future of football, this is your invitation to accelerate it — with us.
Applications officially open on Wednesday, 22nd October.
PRESS & MEDIA
For media enquiries, please contact: media@stevenagefc.com.