Mentors and experts | Startups in the game

Warren Gregson

Warren has over 25 years’ experience operating at the intersection of science and technology in the global football industry. Previous roles include senior academic research positions and strategic and operational roles in English Premier league clubs, national football associations and key technology providers.

Over the last decade, Warren served as Head of Performance Science & R&D at Aspire Academy and Qatar FA supporting the countries preparations for hosting the FIFA 2022 World Cup. Warren is currently Professor of Applied Exercise Physiology at the Institute of Sport, Manchester Metropolitan University, where he is responsible for leading a large-scale research and innovation partnership with Manchester United FC. Warren also serves as an advisor to sports technology accelerators and several sports technology startups.

Federico Mari

Federico Mari boasts a 15-year financial career intertwined with football, engaging players and club owners. He's now a FIFA consultant, connecting globally with football stakeholders. His investment interests span sports, ed-tech, fintech, and cybersecurity startups. Federico also aids two football-focused startups and lectures at the UK's PFA Business School. He imparts knowledge via international university webinars and conferences. He studied at Harvard Business School and Bocconi University, and holds Athlete Development Specialist credentials from the University of Florida and paads.org.

Carlos Canto

Carlos Cantó is a CEO with 30+ years in sports business. Leading SPSG Consulting, he shapes strategies to drive growth in the sport + entertainment industry. He is a Board Member of Spanish Marketing Association, former Board Member at RC Deportivo La Coruña, and Advisory Board Member of WFS-World Football Summit and BStadium. Sports Business Professor at leading institutions (ESADE, IE, LaLiga Business School, FIFA, etc.)

Sean Bai

Currently, Sean is the Chief Strategy Officer at Ulti.Asia, a leading e-sports media platform in Southeast Asia.

Before this role, he played various significant positions in Valencia Club de Futbol. He served as CEO and Academy Director General, co-founded the Valencia CF Innovation Hub, and was a Trustee of the Valencia CF Foundation. During his tenure, the Academy transformed into a top-notch talent center, ranked 5th best in Europe by FIFA/CIES for three consecutive years. He also oversaw the development of the club's women's football section and launched the first-ever women's youth football academy in Saudi Arabia.

Beyond football, Sean actively engaged the club and academy in numerous community events and social causes. His projects in Valencia CF emphasized people-centric focus, high performance, identity, and innovation.

Lorenzo Galletti

He has always been passionate about sports and technology and had the opportunity to work in contact with some of the most important international brands of the Sport Industry:

He worked with Sky Sport on the Sky Racing Team VR46 project and served as a consultant for AC Milan, adidas, Juventus, Oakley, Lega Serie A, Ferrari, and Pirelli.

Currently, he holds the position of Head of Digital at Parma Calcio 1913, where he and his team are working diligently to guide the club towards an ambitious process of internationalization and growth.

Christoph Rapp

Christoph Rapp is an experienced professional with a diverse background in sports business and marketing. He is currently the International Sales & Retail Manager at ISPO, overseeing several key projects such as ISPO Brandnew, ISPO Digitize, and ES_COM. With a strong focus on consumer insights and community activation, Christoph is instrumental in connecting brands with highly involved sports consumers through the ISPO Collaborators Club. He also serves as a Mentor at leAD Sports & Health Tech Partners, supporting sports startups in their acceleration program.

Previously, Christoph worked as the Sponsorship & Spokespersons Manager for Europe & Russia at Amway GmbH, where he developed cross-channel marketing and communication strategies. He successfully managed brand building initiatives, product launches, and budget adherence.

Gustavo Spanholi

Gustavo Spanholi is an accomplished international football professional with vast experience in the sports industry.

Rohn Malhotra

Rohn is a serial entrepreneur with 13+ years of experience as a startup founder. He began his career as a Management Consultant with KPMG, successfully exited his last startup in 2017, then entered the SportsTech industry in 2018, making Berlin his home. He is also a Venture Partner at a SportsTech VC firm.