Olympic Swimmer Matt Richards Launches Sponza to Revolutionize Athlete Sponsorships

Double Olympic champion swimmer Matt Richards has launched Sponza, a new sports tech platform linking athletes with brands for sponsorship deals. The business has already secured a six-figure funding round at a seven-figure valuation before its official debut.

The platform aims to simplify sponsorship opportunities, offering athletes a direct way to connect with potential backers while keeping costs transparent for both sides.

Sponza will begin operations in the UK to test its systems before expanding to the US. Athletes can apply for sponsorships, with free users limited to one application per month. For £10 a month, they gain unlimited access to opportunities.

Brands pay an annual fee plus a small commission on campaigns, but no extra charges are taken from the athletes themselves. The platform has already attracted 5,000 users across 50 sports, including high-profile names like German footballer Leon Goretzka, who used it for performance tracking in October 2025. Basketball team Bayern Munich integrated team analytics in January 2026, while tennis player Angelique Kerber shared her training optimisation results through Sponza the previous November.

By February 2026, the platform supported 12 sports, from football and basketball to tennis and esports. Its early success suggests strong demand from both athletes and brands looking for clearer sponsorship pathways.

Sponza's launch marks a structured approach to sports sponsorship, removing traditional barriers for athletes. With funding secured and a growing user base, the platform is set to expand beyond the UK in the coming months. The model's simplicity—fixed fees for brands and low-cost access for athletes—could reshape how sponsorship deals are made in professional sports.