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Impulse Network

Impulse Network (formerly Sports Business Club at the University of St. Gallen) Out of St.

The Impulse Network is a student-driven, not-for-profit movement founded to create impulses for change in the sports industry. Gallen, we are committed to connecting political, business, cultural, and other leaders of society to drive change on a global and regional level.

31/10/2025

Main Stage Session: Winning Globally 🏆🌎

The final session of the Impulse Summit 2025 brought the focus back to where it all begins - the athlete’s mindset.
With Esmée Böbner OLY, former Swiss Olympic beach volleyball player, in conversation with David Eades, this inspiring talk explored what it truly means to win - not just in competition, but in life.

Athletes face constant pressure, public scrutiny, and moments of doubt. Yet, resilience, teamwork, and self-awareness are what truly define lasting success.

“It’s not about the medal - it’s about winning within
yourself.”

A powerful reminder that success in sport and beyond comes from inner strength, balance, and purpose - values that connect athletes

31/10/2025

Panel Talk: The Power of the Athlete Brand 💼🏆

Athletes today are more than competitors — they are entrepreneurs, investors, and brand leaders. In this inspiring discussion, Sol Lovemore, Olivier Ducrey, Roger Franz Wilfinger, and Meriton Ceka explored how digitalization, personal values, and long-term vision are transforming the athlete’s role in business.

As traditional sponsorships evolve, athletes are taking control of their image and influence — building brands that go far beyond performance.

💬 “Digitalisation is opening immense potential for athletes to build their brand.”
💬 “You don’t need to be Serena Williams or Roger Federer to build a brand.”
💬 “It’s not just about money — it’s about long-term alignment and values.”
💬 “An athlete doesn’t have to be a social media influencer.”

The panel emphasized that the most powerful athlete brands are built on authenticity, consistency, and purpose — where business success and personal integrity go hand in hand.

31/10/2025

Panel Talk: The Franchising of European Sports 🇪🇺🏈

As the global sports industry evolves, European leagues are increasingly influenced by the American franchise model - from private equity investments to closed league structures and salary caps. But is this model the future of European sport, or a threat to its traditions?

In an engaging and interactive session, Timo Helbling (Deloitte, Management Consultant) and Florian Hohmann (CFO, Muntagnard) explored the growing impact of franchising on European sports — and how to balance commercial growth with cultural identity.
Key takeaways:
 💬 The U.S. model offers structure, financial control, and scalability - but Europe’s deep-rooted club culture remains its greatest asset. 💬 Sustainable growth means adapting without losing authenticity. 💬 Audience engagement and open discussion showed just how relevant this debate has become for the future of global sports.

A session that reminded us that the future of sport will depend on finding the right balance between innovation and identity.

31/10/2025

Panel Talk: More Than Fans 🌍💬
The next generation of fans is transforming the role of sport from pure entertainment into a catalyst for social change.

In this thought-provoking discussion, Jermain Raffington, Lorenz Beringer, Thyr Rodrigues, and Marisa Schlenker explored how fans today are not just spectators — they’re changemakers, driving movements for inclusivity, sustainability, and social impact.

💬 “A lot of problems in society can be solved through sport.”
💬 “You can do as much wrong as good if you take part in a social cause in the wrong way.”
💬 “Comments are like a game — negativity comes faster, but positive voices can jump in and shift the narrative.”

The conversation highlighted that today’s fans expect more than performance — they expect purpose. Sports organizations that listen, engage authentically, and act responsibly will not just win followers, but lifelong advocates.

31/10/2025

Main Stage Session: Tradition vs. Expansion ⚽🌍

In today’s global sports landscape, clubs face a defining challenge - how to grow internationally without losing their roots.

In this engaging discussion, James O’Neill, Holger Hansen, Peer Niclas Naubert, and Dirk Schluenz explored how historic clubs can expand their global presence while preserving the traditions that define their identity.

💬 “It’s not about old clubs or young clubs - it’s about the strategy you have to grow the team and the club.”
💬 “You can innovate and expand, no matter how old or recent your club is.”
💬 “Globalization is much more than capitalizing on a one-off opportunity. It’s about what you do the remaining 364 days.”

The session underscored that authenticity and innovation are not opposites - they are both essential ingredients for long-term success. Growth in the global era requires staying true to your DNA while evolving to meet the expectations of new fans worldwide.

31/10/2025

Panel Talk: Negoti-AI-te 🤝🧠

How AI is reshaping negotiation in sport

In this session, Andreas Schrader and Lorenz Beringer explored how AI is transforming the way clubs, brands, and rights holders negotiate — from sponsorships and media rights to global partnerships.

The core message: negotiation is no longer just about who has more leverage. It’s about preparation, insight, and building real connection.

Key takeaways:
🦾AI is becoming a powerful preparation tool. It helps identify common ground, anticipate counterarguments, and analyse emotional triggers — especially for senior executives who tend to negotiate under pressure.
🦾“Negotiation is not a boxing match. It’s a dance. You need to build a relationship.”
🦾Strong deals are built on mutual value. Even if the other side is bigger, they still need what you bring to the table.
Digital platforms and audience data are redefining bargaining power.
🦾“With AI on the table, we’re at a whole new level of opportunity.”
🦾But there’s a balance: “We cannot do it 100% with AI. We still have to invest in human capability.”
🦾And one clear warning: “If we don’t use AI now, we’ll die as a company.”

Negoti-AI-te showed how AI can help the industry move from instinct-driven negotiations to data-backed, relationship-led partnerships — a critical step for reaching the next billion fans.

31/10/2025

Panel Talk: Tennis & Padel — Parallel Paths or a Shared Future? 🎾🏓

As one of the fastest-growing sports worldwide, Padel is reshaping the landscape of racket sports — but how will it coexist with its long-established counterpart, Tennis?

In this insightful discussion, Olivier Ducrey, Nataliia Bezprozvannykh, Matthieu Amgwerd, and Anja Lüthi explored whether collaboration or competition will define the relationship between the two. From shared infrastructures to evolving club models, the panel highlighted both the opportunities and challenges of growth.

💬 “Padel is not only a new sport to play — it’s also an investment.” 💬 “As tennis federations, our members are clubs. Padel helps to bring people together — the future lies in racket clubs, not just tennis clubs.” 💬 “From a legal point of view, clarity is needed for padel to grow.” 💬 “For the sport to truly develop, it will take time — but its potential is undeniable.”

Padel’s rise illustrates how innovation, accessibility, and community can redefine traditional sports — and how collaboration, not competition, may be the key to the future of racket sports. 🎾💡

31/10/2025

Panel Talk: The Calendar Issue - Can Sports Sustain Its Growth Without Burning Out? 🗓️⚽

As the global sports calendar grows more demanding, athletes face increasing pressure to perform - often at the expense of their mental and physical well-being.

In this deeply reflective panel, Meriton Ceka, Maheta Molango, Torstein Dalen-Lorentsen, and Lukas Eisner explored how relentless schedules, media obligations, and global expansion are pushing the limits of human endurance.

💬 “Nobody has taken the responsibility for athlete mental health.”
💬 “We have to raise the question of how much we actually take care of players.”
💬 “If players aren’t feeling mentally well, they probably won’t feel physically well.”
💬 “We ought to protect those who make us dream.”

The discussion shed light on a crucial truth - growth in sports cannot come at the cost of the people who make it possible. Athlete well-being is not a luxury; it’s a responsibility.

31/10/2025

Innovation at the Forefront — Impulse Summit 2025 Start-up Competition 🚀

The Impulse Summit 2025 showcased some of the most promising ventures in the sports industry during this year’s Start-up Competition, where innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship took center stage.

After an inspiring round of finalist pitches, Raumdeuter was announced as the winner, recognized for its innovative approach to enhancing fan engagement and loyalty. 👏

Finalists 2025:
 🏓 PadelPlay – Delivering smarter play through real-time performance insights 🚴‍♂️ CycloWatt – Advancing power measurement technology for cyclists 🏔️ Provuu – Developing outdoor wearable tech for next-level adventure tracking 💡 Raumdeuter – Redefining fan connection through digital innovation

Jury 2025: • Carsten Koerl, CEO, Sportradar • Thomas Preiss, Strategic Growth Advisor, SportsTechX • Dr. Barbara Schmid, Project Manager Startup Support, Startfeld

A special thank you to Carsten Koerl for his remarkable gesture of increasing the competition prize from CHF 1,000 to CHF 3,000, demonstrating his continued support for emerging entrepreneurs and innovation in sports.

We extend our congratulations to all finalists for their forward-thinking ideas and inspiring contributions. Their passion and ingenuity embody the spirit of progress driving the future of the sports industry.

30/10/2025

Data, AI & Machine Learning – Powering the Future of Sports 🤖📊⚽

In today’s increasingly data-driven landscape, Christopher Craig, Fabian Furch, Douglas Finazzi, Kristina Fraesdorf, and moderator Daniel Cade discussed how AI and machine learning are transforming sports from performance tools into strategic business assets.

From fan engagement to organisational intelligence, the panel explored how technology is shaping smarter, faster, and more resilient decision-making across clubs, leagues, and federations.

💬 “Everyone is so focused on the data that they forget to take a step back.”
💬 “Regulations are not adapting to reality as fast as technology is.”
💬 “We can use AI to show us what’s possible - but humans still decide what matters.”

The consensus? Data and AI may guide the game, but human judgment and ethics remain at its core. The future of sports will be built on balance - between intelligence and intuition.

30/10/2025

Green Gains – Turning Sustainability into a Win for Everyone 🌍💚

In this insightful session, David Quass, Adina Edme, and moderator Marisa Reich explored how the sports industry can turn sustainability from a buzzword into real behavioral change.

From recycled materials to circular design and carbon goals, the panel tackled a key question: how can brands make sustainability feel like a win, not a compromise? 🏃‍♂️♻️

Drawing on the concept of the “60% potential,” the discussion focused on how storytelling, identity-driven marketing, and bold decision-making can inspire consumers to choose sustainable options naturally — not out of obligation.

💬 “Do companies have the courage to put sustainability at their core?”
💬 “People can only do sport on a healthy earth.”

The takeaway? True progress starts when sustainability becomes part of performance - and not apart from it.

30/10/2025

The Next Billion Jobs - What Careers Will Exist in the Future of Sports? 🤖⚽

In one of today’s most forward-looking sessions, Lionel Lefin, Roger Franz Wilfinger, and Joao Frigerio explored how AI, data, and emerging technologies are transforming the sports industry - and what this means for the next generation of professionals.

From AI-powered scouting and virtual fan engagement to e-sports and performance analytics, the conversation centered on how innovation is reshaping the very definition of a sports career. 🌍💡

Key takeaways from the discussion: 💬 “We don’t have to be afraid of AI - we just need to learn how to use it.” 💬 “AI is a game changer, but the key is knowing how to stay on the wave, not in it.” 💬 “Communication remains the most valuable skill in this new era.”

As technology continues to evolve, the leaders of tomorrow will need to blend human creativity with digital intelligence - driving progress, not just keeping pace with it.

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