In January 2025, the concluding event of the practical project of the students in the 3rd semester of the Bachelor’s program in Digital Business took place at the headquarters of LAOLA1 and Sportradar. After weeks of intensive work, the event provided the perfect setting for the students to present their projects and receive valuable feedback from business.
A creative poster walk in the sports tech environment
At the heart of the event was an exciting poster session in which the students presented their innovative concepts for implementing sports challenges in the fields of soccer, tennis and skiing. The posters were exhibited in the LAOLA1 recreation room and reviewed by fellow students, lecturers and experts from the sports tech industry. The direct exchange with the LAOLA1 experts, who provided valuable insights and constructive feedback, was particularly valuable.
Thomas Berger, Head of LAOLA1, was very impressed by the event and praised the students’ intensive engagement with the topic. He emphasized that he was introduced to many new ideas, some of which confirmed existing approaches or opened up new perspectives. He sees potential to use some of these ideas in future developments at LAOLA1 and was happy about the exchange with the students.
Sebastian Kunc, Deputy Head of Operations LAOLA1, also praised the well thought-out poster presentations and highlighted that some of the ideas could be implemented immediately. He was particularly impressed by the concepts of the ski and soccer groups as well as the marketplace approaches in tennis. The possibility of customizing avatars with branded equipment is also an exciting idea that is already playing a role in internal considerations at LAOLA1.
Metaverse fan zones: The future of sport
A particular highlight of the project was the development of creative and forward-looking ideas for metaverse fan zones for sports enthusiasts. The students impressively demonstrated how digital technologies can revolutionize the fan experience. The potential that virtual fan zones offer for interacting with fans and how they can change the sports experience in the long term was discussed in depth.
The expectations of Philipp Pilatowicz, Head of Partnerships Cheeer, were also exceeded by all project groups. “I particularly liked the implementation of the ideas and new viewpoints. The students did a really great job of implementing their ideas, some of which we have already been able to introduce.”
Philip Bachtik, Business Developer at LAOLA1.at, was delighted with the inspiring event full of new food for thought to make even abstract product topics more tangible. He particularly highlighted the emphasis on the community concept, as this offers great opportunities for activation, especially in the context of changing user and media behavior. As a ski fan, his focus was naturally on ideas relating to skiing.
An inspiring setting for exchange and networking
In addition to the innovative ideas, the extraordinary location of LAOLA1 also contributed to the unique atmosphere. In addition to the poster session, a paddle court, billiards, darts and air field hockey provided opportunities for relaxed interaction. The students were also able to try out VR technologies, which proved to be a real experience for many.
The opportunity to exchange ideas with experts such as Niki Beier from Sportradar and representatives from Cheeer was particularly enriching. These discussions opened up new perspectives and made it clear how important the link between theory and practice is for innovation in the sports tech industry.
Successful conclusion with a culinary finale
After the intensive poster session and the inspiring discussions, the evening ended in a convivial atmosphere with drinks and sandwiches. This opportunity was used by many to make contacts, think ahead with ideas and discuss new approaches for future projects.
The students are looking forward to the next exciting practical project and to further inspiring encounters between university and business.