Area 01 · The fan
Fan Engagement
Tools that deepen the connection between a program and its fans on game day and between seasons.
Game-Day ExperienceTicketing & LoyaltyContent & CommunityDonor Engagement
College Sports Gateway is ISG's program to source, vet, and pilot emerging sports technology inside college athletic departments. Selected companies partner directly with athletic departments that provide campus access, distribution, mentorship, and growth marketing to help them scale.
Athletic departments need better technology and new revenue. Sports tech companies need the one thing that sells to athletic departments: proof from their peers. Gateway connects the two and gives both sides a stake in the result.
A proven product that solves a real department problem, and a commitment to building it alongside athletic department partners.
A real pilot environment, internal distribution, mentorship from department leaders, and growth marketing that puts the company in front of peer institutions.
Sourcing, vetting, and compliance review, the contracts on both sides, and the case studies and peer introductions that turn one pilot into the next deal.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Every company follows the same path from application to showcase.
Companies apply at any time. Products in one of the four priority areas get priority review, but strong products outside them are welcome.
Finalists present to ISG and athletic department leaders. ISG screens for fit, product maturity, and NCAA compliance.
Selected companies run a year-long pilot inside a participating athletic department, or a season-long pilot for sport-specific products.
Companies present pilot results and case studies to athletic directors and conference leaders, building the peer proof that sells the next department.
After the showcase, companies stay in the Gateway portfolio and can keep working with their partner departments.
Gateway prioritizes four problems athletic departments are actively trying to solve. Strong applicants show a clear path to results inside a department.
Tools that deepen the connection between a program and its fans on game day and between seasons.
Products that help student-athletes perform, recover, and stay healthy on and off the field or court.
Platforms that turn athletic, operational, and fan data into decisions coaches and administrators can act on.
Technology that helps departments find, win, and grow revenue: sharper prospecting, better leads, clearer data, and more efficient outreach.
Selling into college athletics is hard because athletic departments buy on proof from their peers. Gateway is built to help you earn it.
Run a year-long pilot inside a real athletic department and leave with the case study every other school asks for.
Pilot results from a real athletic department give you the reference other ADs ask for before they buy.
Use the Gateway Portfolio Company designation in sales and fundraising materials.
Partner departments are invested in your success. When your company grows, they win too.
Departments get first look at pre-screened companies and a real stake in their success.
Gateway partners with athletic departments across every level of Division I, from Power 4 programs to basketball-focused conferences and beyond. What they share is a reputation for innovation. These are the programs other athletic departments look to first, so results earned here carry weight across college athletics.
Elite departments setting the pace for the industry.
Programs where basketball drives the brand and the business.
Innovative departments at every level that peers follow.
Sports technology companies with a working product, ideally in one of the four priority areas, that can show results inside an athletic department over a year-long pilot.
A real pilot environment, internal distribution, mentorship from department leaders, and growth marketing that puts your company in front of peer institutions.
Gateway gives priority to fan engagement, athlete health and well-being, data and analytics, and revenue generation. Strong products outside those areas are welcome to apply.
ISG reviews every company and agreement against NCAA and conference requirements before it reaches a department.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Tell us about your company and the athletic department problem you solve. Athletic departments can reach out here too.
The ISG team reviews every submission and will follow up by email.
Prefer email? Reach the team at josh@invaluablesports.com