Global Trade Missions and Business Matching Excursions Archive

With support from Federal and State Governments, the ASTN previously hosted international trade missions to China, Europe, India and the USA. Our global connections give our members genuine networking opportunities with local agencies.

• South Australian Sportstech Export Capability Initiative
• Game Plan Japan: Sports Business Delegation – April 2025
• US Market Research 2025
• US Excursion 2025
• Victorian Sport Economy - Trade Mission to the Gulf (November 2024)
• Business Excursion to the USA East Coast (March2024 )
• Trade Mission to the UK & Europe (April 2024 )
• European Trade Mission and Business Matching trip (June 2023)
• USA East Coast Excursion (March 2023)
• Trade Mission to China (October 2019)
• Trade Mission to China (May – June 2019)
• Trade Mission to the USA (February – March 2019)
• Trade Mission to India (October 2018)
• Trade Mission to Europe (May 2018)

View our current global activities.

South Australian Sportstech Export Capability Initiative

ASTN in partnership with South Australian Government Department of State Development (DSD) is running the South Australian Sportstech Export Capability Initiative.

The South Australian Sportstech Export Capability Initiative provides South Australian sports technology companies with the tools they require to explore and expand into the competitive US and allied markets.

ASTN and DSD encourage applications from South Australian companies within the sportstech industry, as well as those from adjacent industries who have a product or offering that has an application within sports.

Program Outline

• May 2025: Export-ready workshop – ASTN will facilitate a full-day workshop for selected South Australian-based companies. The workshop will cover international engagement and export readiness, providing practical information, knowledge and guidance.
• May – June 2025: Export-ready mentoring – Selected companies will participate in a targeted mentoring program. Mentors will provide advice and guidance to companies on export market entry strategies, validate market entry plans and assist with action plans for companies to enter international markets.
• September 2025: South Australian sports technology delegation to the United States – Selected companies will participate in a mission to the Los Angeles and San Francisco/Bay Area that will include:
  • Facilitated business matching opportunities
  • Site visits to sports venues and precincts
  • Meetings with sports organisations and sportstech companies
  • Meetings/activities with in-country support services and networks.

Please note: Additional support is being negotiated with partners including DSD to further support the participants and delivery of the program, to be confirmed.

Travel arrangements are to be managed by the individual companies, however ASTN’s preferred travel provider Sportslink Travel, will be happy to assist with travel packages.

Eligibility Criteria

This program is only open to companies registered within the State of South Australia.

Companies must have a validated product or technology solution that they are either currently exporting or are ready to seek export markets.

Companies must be available to attend all program activities:

• Full day Export-Ready Workshop to be held in Adelaide on 13 May 2025.
• US Excursion to Los Angeles and San Francisco/Bay Area in the week commencing 15 June 2025.
• Online mentoring sessions, to be scheduled between May-June.

Companies must be able to self-fund all expenses associated with travel, meals, and accommodation (including visas and passports).

Companies backed by sufficient capital to fund an expansion.

One delegate per company is permitted to attend the US Excursion, unless previously negotiated with ASTN and DSD.

Program Application

Eligible companies are encouraged to submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) via the link below.

Places are limited and may be allocated based on eligibility criteria/first to apply basis.

Expression of Interest (EOI) is now closed. For a list of delegates, please click here.

Key dates

Applications open: Thursday 10 April 2025
Applications close: Sunday 4 May 2025
Go Global Excursion: Sunday 6 September - Friday 12 September 2025

Delivery of the initiative may be subject to change and any changes will be notified well in advance.

For any questions or further information, please contact amy.crosland@astn.com.au

Game Plan Japan: Sports Business Delegation – April 2025

Join the Australia Japan Business Co-Operation Committee (AJBCC) and ASTN on a Sports Business Delegation to Japan. Applications are open for companies from Australia's sports ecosystem seeking to export to, form partnerships, and make in-market connections in Japan.

The visit is planned between Monday 21 April to Friday 25 April 2025, to Tokyo and Osaka.
Tokyo: Monday 21 April – Wednesday 23 April
Osaka: Thursday 24 April – Friday 25 April

Applications are encouraged from export-ready Australian Sportstech startups and SMEs as well as sport governing bodies with a genuine interest in making in-market connections to explore opportunities for growth in Japan. The program is tailored to the interests of organisations developing sports technology solutions and those engaged in sports business in general.

Please see AJBCC event page for more information and to complete your application by 28 February 2025 and to receive future updates on this delegation.

Itinerary and Delegate Profile

Delegate profiles for the Japan Sports Delegation

Itinerary for Japan Sports Delegation

Delegation Summary Report

Download: Game Plan Japan Delegation Report

US Market Research 2025

Through a partnership with the University of Washington Consulting Association (UWCA) in Seattle (Washington, USA), ASTN member companies have been conducting market research with US-based students. The 10-week engagement is a competitive program available to Premium ASTN members based on availability and acceptance of the project brief by UWCA. Students from the University of Washington (UW) have previously visited ASTN’s Australian Sports Innovation Centre of Excellence (ASICE) in Cremorne and worked with several sportstech founders in the past.

UW Students visiting Launchpad together with Luke Santamaria, PlaySpark (first row far left)

 

For further details on the program partnership, please also see https://magazine.foster.uw.edu/programs and contact ASTN.

Program Participants

Current Participant - Olly Timing

Previous Participants - Cape Bionics | PlaySpark

Testimonial from Ben Ramsden, Founder, Olly Timing

"From a distance of 10,000 miles, it's very difficult to get a clear overview of a new market opportunity, let alone identify a credible market entry strategy. 

Throughout my career, I have worked in and with many short-term project teams formed from student groups to big-name consultancies. Where you have particularly excelled compared to others has been your ability to identify, interview and summarise primary market research sources. I have also been extremely impressed by your presentation - both individually, and as a team; and in pre-prepared slide decks, and live via Zoom.

I know that I have only seen the shining tip of the iceberg, both for the team and the broader UWC and ASTN organisations. Thank you to everyone else behind the scenes and those who have gone before."

US Excursion 2025

ASTN plans to lead a US Excursion to the USA. The excursion program will start in late February 2025 and will include attending:

• Stadium visit and stakeholder meetings in Los AngelesCA (Tuesday 25 February - Thursday 27 February 2025)
• Welcome by Consul General and attendance of NRL Business Sport Summit followed by NRL games in Las Vegas NV (Friday 28 February - Monday 2 March 2025) - Download: NRL Business of Sport Conference 2025 Las Vegas and see agenda here 
• SBJ Tech Week (Tuesday 4 March - Thursday 6 March 2025) in New York NY
  https://www.sbjtechweek.com/2025/
• MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in Boston MA (Friday 7 March - Saturday 8 March 2025)
  https://www.sloansportsconference.com/
  Please note that tickets to the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference generally sell out. Ticket purchase via Eventbrite link. 

A draft itinerary is available here.

Service Fees & Membership

The ASTN Service Fee is the cost, ASTN may charge companies to participate in the mission. It does not include airfares and accommodation, visas and insurance, on-the-ground transport and living expenses (unless otherwise noted). Participating delegates need to hold a current and suitable level of ASTN Membership. Please discuss the ASTN Service Fee and inclusions/exclusions with ASTN.

Optional Travel Package

ASTN Premium Member, Sportslink Travel offers an optional US travel package. For further details please download information here or contact Sportslink Travel directly.

Summary of ASTN USA Excursion

MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference - event summary

SBJ Tech Week - event summary

ASTN USA Industry Insights Article

Victorian Sport Economy - Trade Mission to the Gulf 2024

ASTN is supporting the Global Victoria Trade Mission to the Gulf in November 2024. For further details, please download the Delegation Directory here. 

2024 Business Excursion to the USA East Coast

In March 2024, the ASTN held a Business Matching Excursion to the USA East Coast.

Please note that itineraries are indicative and anticipated activities subject to change. Minimum enrolment requirements and cost may apply.

• 1-2 March – MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in Boston - please note tickets to the 2024 Sloan Sports Analytics Conference are SOLD OUT! If you are still interested in attending, please register for the ticket waitlist as soon as possible here.
  For accommodation options please check the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference website. To see speakers click here.
• 4 March – Market Entry Seminar and Networking in New York (presented by Austrade)
• 5-7 March – SBJ Tech Week in New York
  For tickets please visit the SBJ Tech Week website. For the agenda click here.

A preliminary draft itinerary is available for download here.

A summary of the Australian Sportstech Program is available via the ASTN event page.

2024 Trade Mission to the UK & Europe

• 8-9 April – Business Matching in West Midlands
• 10-11 April – Sport Accord in Birmingham
• 12 April – Business Matching in London (TBC)
• 15-16 April – Lausanne (Switzerland)

Please note that the trade mission to the UK and Europe is not proceeding as planned. For further questions, please contact ASTN.

ASTN European Trade Mission and Business Matching trip (June 13th - June 23rd 2023)

In June 2023, the ASTN is organising a trade mission to Europe.

Commencing with a visit to Europe's prominent startup and tech event, VIVA Technology Paris from June 14th to June 17th 2023, the trade mission will visit Switzerland (Geneva/Lausanne and Zurich) before ending with stops in Germany (Frankfurt) and Belgium (Brussels).

A preliminary draft agenda is available for download here. The agenda is indicative only at this point in time and is subject to change. Please note that a service fee will be charged for participants of the trade mission. Current ASTN members will benefit from a member discount.

The official trade mission booklet is available to download here.

Support from the Queensland Government via Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ) and the Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport (DTIS)

1. As part of their ongoing support of the Queensland sport innovation sector, the Queensland Government will offset the ASTN Service Fee* for successful Queensland applicants.
2. Trade and Invest Queensland intend to participate in the mission and provide additional on-ground support to Queensland companies. 
3. It is important to note that this mission is led by the ASTN, who are responsible for company selection.
4. Applicants must adhere to any ASTN terms and conditions for selection and participation.

Support from Global Victoria

1. Global Victoria will offset the ASTN Service Fee* for successful Victorian applicants as part of their ongoing support of the Victorian sport innovation sector.
2. Global Victoria will participate in the mission and provide additional on-ground support to Victorian companies. 
3. Global Victoria and their team in Europe will be hosting a showcase networking event for mission participants, including our London Tech Week delegation during the Paris leg of the trip.
4. It is important to note that this mission is led by the ASTN responsible for company selection.
5. Applicants must adhere to any ASTN terms and conditions for selection and participation.

*The ASTN Service Fee is the cost ASTN will charge companies to participate in the mission. It does not include airfares and accommodation, visas and insurance, on-ground transport (unless otherwise noted) and living expenses. Participating delegates need to hold a current and suitable level of ASTN Membership. Please discuss the ASTN Service Fee and inclusions/exclusions with ASTN.

Excursion to USA East Coast (March 2023)

The ASTN USA East Coast Excursion with the support of Global Victoria was planned around the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in Boston (March 3rd - 4th 2023) and the Sports Business Journal (SBJ) Tech Week in New York City (March 7th - 9th 2023). 

Trade Mission to China (October 2019)

Austrade, in partnership with the ASTN, delivered a sports technology trade mission to China from 15th - 22nd October 2019.

The mission centred around the Annual World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, China where delegates were the exclusive international purveyors of sports tech amongst 900 exhibitors from all aspects of technology.

Mission dates: Wednesday 16 October to Tuesday 22 October 2019

Location: Shanghai and Wuzhen, China

Trade Mission to China (May - June 2019)

Global Victoria on behalf of the Victorian Government and in partnership with the ASTN, delivered a sports and sports technology trade mission to China from 27th May - 2nd June 2019. The mission explored the vast opportunities for Australian sport in China's booming sports market, which is expected to reach RMB5 trillion (A$968b) in value by 2025.

Mission Dates: Monday 27th May - Sunday 2nd June 2019

Location: Beijing & Shanghai, China

Trade Mission to the USA (February - March 2019)

ln partnership with the Australian Government (Austrade) & Global Victoria, the ASTN headed to the USA for a trade mission from 28th February - 8th March 2019.

The program started at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in Boston, MA (1st March - 2nd March) and continued with a visit to Atlanta, GA (3rd March - 4th March), the host city of the 2019 NFL Super Bowl. Delegates visited the emerging technology ecosystem in San Antonio, TX (5th March - 6th March) before concluding the trade mission in the San Francisco Bay Area (7th March - 8th March).

Open the infographic of the trade mission.

Trade Mission to India (October 2018)

Trade Victoria in partnership with the ASTN and with the support of Cricket Australia led a sports technology trade mission to India. The mission visited Mumbai (8th - 10th October 2018) and Delhi (11th - 12th October 2018). The mission included attendance at the India Sports Tech Conference in Mumbai which was organised by Sports Tech World Series.

Trade Mission to Europe (May 2018)

The inaugural trade mission to Europe in May 2018 visited Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Cologne, Berlin and Munich. The program also included attendance at The Netherlands Sports Analytics Conference in Amsterdam.