Identifying Factors affecting the Creation and Sustainability of Startups related to Sports Talent Identification

Today, sports startups play a significant role in economic development and, consequently, in the promotion of entrepreneurship. The aim of this study was to examine the factors influencing the creation and sustainability of startups related to sports talent identification. The research was applied in nature, and data were collected using the Delphi method. The statistical population consisted of experts and specialists in sports startups and talent identification, who were selected through purposive sampling (n = 30). The results indicated that the key factors contributing to the creation of startups in the field of sports talent identification included the educational system, individual factors, differentiation and innovation, environmental factors, managerial factors, and sociocultural factors. In addition, the factors influencing the sustainability of these startups comprised the management system, institutional factors, specialized teams, development infrastructure, effective marketing, and the utilization of educational and knowledge capacities. The findings highlight the complexity and multidimensional nature of the process of creating and sustaining sports talent identification startups. The establishment of these startups is not limited to innovative ideas alone but also depends on effective interaction with educational, managerial, and sociocultural contexts. Furthermore, the sustainability of these businesses requires a combination of internal factors (such as team expertise and managerial agility) and external factors (such as institutional support and well-developed infrastructure). By revealing the interrelationship between micro- and macro-level factors, this study suggests that policymakers should provide a sustainable framework for the growth of this ecosystem by designing targeted support programs, including facilitating access to financial resources, and fostering collaboration networks between startups and educational institutions.