CoachMate Selected by UEFA for Champions Innovate: Budapest 2026 Programme
CoachMate is proud to announce that we have been selected by UEFA as one of a small group of startups to partner in the Champions Innovate: Budapest 2026 programme.
Champions Innovate is UEFA’s global innovation initiative focused on shaping the future of football through collaboration between governing bodies, federations and emerging technology partners. The 2026 programme is centred on one of football’s most important challenges:
How do we create positive environments and stronger role models that encourage positive behaviours in grassroots football?
Working alongside UEFA and the Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ), CoachMate will contribute to the design and testing of digital solutions that support coaches, volunteers and educators to deliver better experiences for young players.
Supporting the People Who Power Grassroots Sport
CoachMate was founded with a simple belief: sport makes lives better - when the right environments and role models are in place.
Across the world, grassroots football relies on passionate volunteers, teachers and community coaches who shape young people’s first experiences of the game. While motivation is high, these individuals are often under-supported, time-poor and navigating increasingly complex expectations around safety, wellbeing and positive behaviour.
CoachMate exists to bridge that gap by turning national frameworks, values and best practice into simple, practical digital tools that fit naturally into real-world delivery. Our platform provides coaches with session support, micro-learning, behaviour nudges and engagement tools that help create inclusive, safe and enjoyable environments for every participant.
A Global Opportunity to Scale Behaviour Change
Through the Champions Innovate programme, CoachMate will collaborate with UEFA and MLSZ to explore how digital tools can enable behaviour change at scale - supporting consistent standards, stronger role modelling and better experiences across diverse grassroots communities.
The programme will kick off with an in-person workshop in Budapest, bringing together UEFA, national federation representatives and selected startups to co-design solutions and establish the roadmap for the pilot phase.
The learnings from this project will inform future deployment models that can be replicated across other national associations and markets.
Building on Proven Delivery
CoachMate already partners with leading sporting organisations across Australasia, including New Zealand Football and Cricket Australia, delivering scalable digital platforms that support tens of thousands of coaches, teachers and young participants.
Our selection by UEFA reflects growing international recognition of CoachMate’s ability to translate strategy into practical delivery - combining technology, behaviour design and content expertise to drive meaningful impact at grassroots level.
Looking Ahead
We’re excited to begin this journey with UEFA, MLSZ and our fellow programme partners and to contribute to a project that aligns so closely with our purpose.
We look forward to sharing updates as the programme progresses.
You can read UEFA’s announcement and follow the journey via the links below:
