BURNLEY FC INNOVATION HUB
Burnley FC Innovation Hub pairs promising sports tech with real club needs through hands-on pilots. Through the Hub, Burnley FC will serve as a testbed for start-ups to validate their products, generate traction, and build towards potential partnerships - all within a live Premier League environment.
Who we are
BURNLEY FOOTBALL CLUB
Burnley FC is a football club from the town of Burnley in East Lancashire. Founded in 1882 and turning professional in 1883, the club enjoys a rich history. They were crowned champions of England on two occasions in 1920/21 and 1959/60, lifted the FA Cup in 1914, and are two-time winners of the FA Charity Shield in 1960 and 1973.
Burnley FC currently competes in the Premier League under Head Coach Scott Parker. With professional men’s and women’s teams, a strong academy, and a culture of smart risk-taking, we’re building the future of football.
ALK CAPITAL
OWNER OF BURNLEY FOOTBALL CLUB
ALK Capital is a team of professionals with decades of experience in senior operating roles, specialising in the acquisition and operations of modern sports, media, and entertainment, and related technologies. In 2020, ALK Capital completed its investment in Burnley FC via its sports investment arm, Velocity Sports Partners (VSP). Their first and flagship football club, Burnley FC is not only the cornerstone of the local community, it is a blueprint for what VSP and ALK Capital aim to achieve in building one of the greatest sports platforms in the world.
Alan Pace
MANAGING PARTNER, ALK CAPITAL & CHAIRMAN, BURNLEY FOOTBALL CLUB
Alan Pace has 20 years in the financial services industry and over a decade of sports management experience. A dual British American national, he was formerly a Managing Director and Global Head of Sales for Securities Services at Citi, responsible for overseeing a multibillion-dollar division. Alan is a former partner at SCP Worldwide LLC – owner of sports, entertainment and media properties – and a previous CEO of Major League Soccer franchise Real Salt Lake, where he oversaw the transformation of a consistently last-place team. This culminated in Real Salt Lake winning the 2009 MLS Cup.
Alan left Citi to start ALK Capital in 2019 and became Chairman of Burnley Football Club after acquiring the Club in 2020. Deeply involved in day-to-day operations and management, Alan serves as a champion for innovation from the inside.
How it works
We will select 2-3 start-ups to participate in a 6-month pilot programme. No upfront investment, just action, insight, and traction.
Application
Mid Aug - Oct 2025
Start-ups will be sourced through a mixture of targeted outreach, open applications, and referrals.
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Pitch Day
Mid Nov 2025
Selected applicants will be invited to pitch their solutions to a panel from ALK Capital and Burnley FC, with 2–3 start-ups chosen to join the programme.
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Pilot Testing
Dec 2025 - May 2026
Pilots will run within club operations, giving start-ups access to our elite athletes, staff, and world-class training facilities, along with direct feedback to test, refine, and validate their product in a live football environment.
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Review
Early June 2026
After the pilot programme, we’ll hold a review session with you and ALK Capital and Burnley FC executives to discuss next steps, including potential partnerships.
What we are looking for
We’re seeking early-stage companies with applied solutions in the following areas. Start-ups should have a working product, a clear use case, and a readiness to test in a live club environment.
Football
Performance
Scouting
Athlete Management
Training & Coaching (incl. Cognitive Training)
Performance Analysis
Medical & Nutrition
Fan
Experience
Fan Journey Management
Smart Stadium
Retail & Social Commerce
Marketing & Media
What makes us different
Unique opportunities you won't get anywhere else.
Direct Line To Leadership
Direct access to Chairman Alan Pace and select Board members.
Ownership with backgrounds in tech, finance, and US sports.
Aligned from day one as leadership is directly involved in selecting partnering start-ups.
Network Beyond Burnley FC
Investor group includes global sport and media leaders (e.g., JJ Watt, Dude Perfect).
Opportunities for introductions to other clubs and strategic partners.
What's in it for you
Real validation. Real visibility. Real access.
Testing and Validation
Test your product in a live Premier League environment and get direct feedback from athletes, coaches, and staff to refine and accelerate product-market fit.
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Visibility and Credibility
Gain brand credibility through Premier League association, build proof points, and boost visibility with future customers and investors.
Strategic Access
Connect with decision-makers at Burnley FC and ALK Capital to unlock partnerships, investment opportunities, and growth across sport tech.
Proven piloting track record
How we support start-ups to succeed.
In 2020, ALK Capital made a strategic investment in AiScout. The scouting platform is currently applied in Burnley FC's live recruitment cycles for talent identification and assessment.
Read More
Read More
MUD Analytics is a data integration tool used at Burnley FC for player recruitment and first team operations.
In 2024, ALK Capital made a minority investment in Rezzil, a sports technology firm focussed on extended reality (XR) for high performance training and immersive fan experiences.
On 9th August 2025, Rezzil delivered a first-of-its-kind, immersive virtual reality broadcast of Burnley FC’s pre-season friendly fixture against Lazio, offering supporters around the world a chance to experience Turf Moor in VR.
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