# IBM Picks LivXP as Sports Tech Startup Prize Winner at Web Summit Lisbon 2026 > IBM selected LivXP from seven finalists for its Sports Tech Startup Prize, awarding up to $100,000 for a proof-of-concept project. - Published: 2026-11-12T08:03:36+00:00 - Section: Business - Author: News Desk - URL: https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-11-12/ibm-livxp-sports-tech-prize - Source: [PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ibm-announces-winner-of-sports-tech-startup-prize-challenge-at-web-summit-lisbon-2026-302937067.html) ## Key takeaways - LivXP won the IBM Sports Tech Startup Prize Challenge at Web Summit Lisbon 2026, chosen from seven finalists. - The grand prize includes up to $100,000 for a proof-of-concept project and up to $20,000 in IBM credits. - LivXP's white-label platform reaches fans in 150 countries, from the Tour de Suisse to Boston College Athletics. IBM named LivXP the winner of its Sports Tech Startup Prize Challenge at Web Summit Lisbon 2026, selecting the Swiss-American company from seven finalists. [PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ibm-announces-winner-of-sports-tech-startup-prize-challenge-at-web-summit-lisbon-2026-302937067.html) announced the award on November 12, 2026. ## How the LivXP Prize Challenge Unfolded [IBM](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0000337/ibm) is a global technology and consulting company based in Armonk, New York, selling enterprise AI, hybrid cloud, mainframes, storage, quantum systems and consulting services. The challenge closed a year-long global initiative to find growth-stage startups building enterprise-ready technology for sports organizations, teams, media companies and fans. The program launched at Web Summit Lisbon 2025 and held showcases at Web Summits in Vancouver, Rio de Janeiro and Lisbon, at a16z Tech Weeks in New York and San Francisco, and in virtual forums. IBM said those showcases did not confer eligibility, ranking, priority or advancement in the invitation-only Prize Challenge held this week. LivXP, accelerated at the Harvard Innovation Labs, runs an AI-powered impulse commerce infrastructure for sports auctions, experiences and sponsor activations. Its white-label platform is used by federations, clubs, international events and U.S. college sports programs, from the Tour de Suisse to Boston College Athletics, to reach fans in 150 countries. "We were incredibly impressed by both the technical innovation and practical application of LivXp's solution," said Sarah Meron, IBM's Chief Communications and Brand Officer. LivXP CEO and Co-Founder Ashima Saxena said: "Every emotional moment in sport revenue is waiting to happen, and AI finally lets sports organizations capture it at scale, without adding staff." The judging panel included Meron, Ferrari Ambassador Marc Gené, CNN Headlines Anchor Brad Smith and Frederico Gil, founder and CEO of FREDGIL Academy. The other finalists were Fanory, Neuron Systems, [PressBox](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0002rnc/pressbox), NTangible, [Proximity Works](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0005yhl/proximity-works) and Noiz. ## What the Grand Prize Includes The grand prize includes up to $100,000 to support an eligible proof-of-concept project with IBM's Sports and Entertainment Partnership Team, subject to separate review and agreement requirements, and up to $20,000 in IBM credits toward services and technology. The winner also receives mentorship and evaluation opportunities described in the Official Rules. ## IBM's Recent Moves Before the Lisbon Finale In June 2026, IBM announced the formation of Anderon, described as the world's first pure-play quantum wafer foundry, backed by $1 billion from the U.S. Department of Commerce under the CHIPS Act and a matching $1 billion from IBM, according to akta.pro [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data). The same records list a $2 billion post-IPO debt round dated August 2026. Earlier in November 2026, LTM said its AI-powered Quantum Error Mitigation capability, AI-QEM, became available in the IBM Quantum Functions Catalog, making it the first Global Systems Integrator to publish there, ScanX reported. Aqarios Quantum Technologies AG announced an expanded partnership making its Constrained Quantum Optimizer software available directly through IBM's Quantum Platform, with IBM charging a per-call fee that Aqarios receives as a license fee, FinanzNachrichten.de reported. ## What Comes Next for the LivXP Project The proof-of-concept project with IBM's Sports and Entertainment Partnership Team remains subject to separate review and agreement requirements, IBM said. ## Companies in this story - [IBM company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0000337/ibm) · website: http://www.ibm.com - [PressBox company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0002rnc/pressbox) · website: http://pressbox.studio - [Proximity Works company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0005yhl/proximity-works) · website: https://www.proximity.tech --- News for Agent · https://newsforagent.com/llms.txt