2025 BİGG Sports Awards

The 2025 BİGG Sports Awards have been organized as a comprehensive award program aimed at supporting entrepreneurship in sports technologies in Türkiye, promoting domestic production, and transforming innovative solutions into economic value. The event, carried out in collaboration between the Ministry of Industry and Technology and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, constitutes the thematic sports technologies pillar of the BİGG (Individual Youth Initiative) Program and has become a platform reflecting the digital transformation vision for the sports industry.

Overall Framework

Venue and Date

The ceremony was held at the Riva Camp and Education Facilities, owned by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in the Beykoz district of Istanbul. It took place on 25 July 2025 and concluded with presentations by the award-winning companies, statements from the ministries, and photo sessions.

Organizing Institutions

The award ceremony was organized through strategic cooperation between two ministries:

• Ministry of Industry and Technology: Ensured evaluation of projects based on criteria such as technical competence, commercial potential, and contribution to domestic production.
• Ministry of Youth and Sports: Took responsibility for supporting projects aligned with sports policies, facilitating access of award recipients to sports fields, and integrating projects into the sports infrastructure.
• TÜBİTAK (BİGG Program): Managed the entire process from call for applications to technical support and provided financial contribution.

Objective and Scope

Primary Objectives

The 2025 BİGG Sports Awards went beyond the conventional notion of an award distribution ceremony by focusing on three key goals:

• Promoting Innovation in Sports Technologies: Supporting local startups to develop technology-based products in the sports sector.
• Enhancing Domestic Production and Economic Value: Reducing dependence on imported sports equipment and elevating domestic products to competitive levels.
• Structurally Transforming the Sports Industry: Reconfiguring sports not merely as a domain of physical performance but as a strategic economic sector.

Thematic Focus Areas

Projects supported under the program focused on the following areas:

• Wearable technology products
• Training analysis systems
• Health-focused sports equipment
• Virtual and augmented reality applications
• Big data analytics and artificial intelligence-based solutions

Based on these themes, applications were evaluated across five distinct categories, with the highest-scoring projects in each category recognized as award winners.

Application and Evaluation Process

A total of 58 startups applied to the 2025 call. These applications underwent a multi-stage evaluation process:

• Pre-evaluation: Assessment of technical suitability, target audience, and technological maturity of the project.
• Panel Presentations: Live demonstrations and technical presentations to the jury.
• Final Selection: Scoring based on impact analysis, commercialization potential, and feasibility.

At the end of the competition, five companies were selected as award recipients without ranking, and six additional companies received honorable mentions.

Government Representatives in Attendance

Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak

In his speech at the ceremony, Minister Osman Aşkın Bak emphasized Türkiye’s historical dependence on imported sports equipment. He noted that significant investments have been made to change this landscape through domestic production policies and stated:

• “You cannot manage what you do not measure.” He stressed the necessity of digitally monitoring athletes’ performance and training processes.
• He highlighted the importance of scientifically tracking athletes’ health conditions and referenced pilot applications conducted under his ministry at the Turkish Wrestling Federation.
• He argued that technological infrastructure is essential to turn sports into a lifestyle and expressed the desire to direct young people’s interest in platforms like TEKNOFEST toward this sector.

Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak (Anadolu Ajansı)

Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır

In his address, Minister Kacır drew attention to global trends in sports technologies. Among the data he provided:

• The global sports technology market reached a value of $26 billion in 2024.
• It is projected to grow to $139 billion by 2032.

Kacır stated that Türkiye must not only be a user of sports technologies but also become a country that exports and leads in this field. In this context:

• He announced that 25 companies developing sports technologies have been included in the “Turcorn 100” program designed to open them to global markets.
• He emphasized the need to integrate investments in Türkiye’s sports infrastructure with entrepreneurial policies and underscored that the BİGG Sports Awards are a vital component of this strategy.

Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır (Anadolu Ajansı)

Award-Winning Startups and Project Areas

Under the 2025 BİGG Sports Awards, five startups were equally honored without ranking. These companies received high scores from the jury based on technical, economic, and innovation criteria for their innovative technologies developed across different categories. Each startup was assessed as addressing a distinct need within the sports industry while demonstrating strong commercial potential.

Catchpad Sports Education and Entertainment Technologies

Catchpad won the award for its motion-based sports education games and interactive platforms designed for children and youth. The company gained particular recognition for its sensor-supported sports game systems developed specifically for physical education classes and foundational training. Its products employ AI-powered algorithms that combine entertainment with exercise. The jury highlighted the pedagogical value of its products and their broad applicability in schools.

Catchpad Sports Education and Entertainment Technologies (Anadolu Ajansı)

KODGEM Technology Industry and Trade

KODGEM developed portable sensor systems that analyze athletes’ biomechanical performance data. The company’s software platform, integrated with wearable devices, enables real-time monitoring of joint angles and muscle activity, contributing to training optimization. Its applicability in physiotherapy and rehabilitation further enhances its versatility. The project received additional technical praise for its high rate of locally sourced components.

Murat Uzdaş Shooting Range and Training Systems

This company distinguished itself with laser-based training platforms developed for shooting and precision sports. The system enables both individual training tracking and team-based scenario simulations. Users’ target accuracy rates, reaction times, and levels of concentration are analyzed through software. The system’s safety advantage—offering a solution without ammunition—provides a critical benefit, especially for younger age groups.

Murat Uzdaş Shooting Range and Training Systems Award Presentation (Anadolu Ajansı)

Vagustim Health Technologies

Vagustim won the award for its vagus nerve stimulation devices designed to accelerate recovery after injury and restore balance in the central nervous system of athletes. The company’s product is based on a non-invasive application method, offering a novel approach to athlete health. The jury’s evaluation was decisively influenced by the company’s R&D expertise and results from clinical pilot applications.

Weartechclub Wearable Sports Products Services and Technologies

Weartechclub is a startup that designs smart apparel and equipment for professional and amateur athletes. Its products include integrated fabrics capable of measuring parameters such as heart rate, sweat composition, and muscle tremors. These data are synchronized with mobile devices to provide athletes with personalized analysis and recommendations. The system, particularly tailored for individual sports users, was also recognized for its success in data security and user experience.