Sportek Hub, in collaboration with Real Sociedad and its foundation, launched a technological innovation challenge earlier this year with the aim of responding to the training needs of the football club. Wellk, the Eibar-based startup specializing in the development of mobile sports applications, was selected among six other candidates in the call for the Challenge Program launched each year by Sportek Hub.
Wellk is currently working with the club to develop a solution that optimizes training management, integrating mobile technology and a design focused on personalization. To tell us how this project is evolving, Aritz Guinea, CEO of the startup Wellk, and Jon Ercilla, from Real Sociedad’s Technology and Digital department, share their experience in the development of this innovative platform and take stock of their participation in the Sportek Hub challenge.
What were your joint objectives when you started this project? Jon Ercilla: The main objective was to be able to use a system to manage, assign and follow athletes in the fulfillment of their exercise plan, in a simpler and more technologically advanced way. All this with the clear approach of not limiting the solution to the football field and thinking of something that could be used in other team or individual sports.
Aritz Guinea: The objective is to develop a platform that facilitates adherence and prescription follow-up, with a focus on the user, in initiation, rehabilitation and strengthening; that is versatile, with multiple devices, assignments and languages; and scalability.
How do you value the experience of working together?
JE: On the part of Real Sociedad, the experience has been very positive. We have found a team with a lot of talent and a desire to evolve, which has been an important part of the process we have defined.
AG: The experience has been extremely positive and enriching, in an environment that is both close and demanding. Being able to work with an entity like Real Sociedad, allows us to push our knowledge to the limit, testing, improving and customizing our services. A unique opportunity to innovate and grow with a sports reference.
How did the club go about defining the platform to meet your needs?
JE: We had the scope and needs very well identified in advance. At the beginning of the project we had many meetings on both sides to find out how to translate everything into the solution that Wellk envisioned. Once the answers were clarified, the process has been very fluid and constantly improving, thanks to the working methods defined in the initial meetings.
What challenges and difficulties did you encounter in the process of developing the MVP and how did you deal with them?
JE: For our part, we have encountered the problem of making the extra dedication compatible with the daily work we do within the Club. But we have always looked for alternatives to be able to move forward and not stagnate in our development.
AG: Collaborating with an organization such as Real Sociedad means facing challenges such as adapting to its high standards, managing expectations and ensuring smooth technology integration. In addition, it is crucial to protect sensitive data and coordinate effectively with multiple departments. These challenges have been met with flexibility, effective communication and a collaborative approach.
What do you consider you have contributed from Wellk during the development of the project?
AG: We provided a comprehensive, specialized and professional solution developed by a multidisciplinary team of experts in health, rehabilitation, physical activity, design and technology. A proposal that has evolved and improved by incorporating feedback and adjusting to the challenges posed.
What impact do you expect this platform to have on the club’s operational efficiency?
JE: The impact will be immediate, as the MVP will start to be used starting in January. This will facilitate and standardize training planning. It will also provide us with a source of data that will be cross-referenced with the usual data we already use to draw new conclusions.
What can the development with Real Sociedad bring to Wellk?
AG: The development with Real Sociedad gives us experience in a high-performance environment, validation of our solutions in demanding conditions and the opportunity to improve our technical capabilities. This project not only reinforces our credibility, but also inspires us to innovate and create new functionalities adapted to the elite sports sector.
How has participating in this challenge benefited you both?
JE: In our case, the challenge has allowed us to cover a need that we had identified for some time, so we are very satisfied. In addition to having an immediate impact.
AG: Participating in the challenge has benefited us by strengthening our position as an emerging startup, validating our solution in a real and demanding environment and improving our technological capabilities.
Do you think Sportek Hub should continue to offer the Technology Challenges Program?
JE: Without a doubt. In addition, we believe that it should be expanded to more areas. Nowadays, the world of sport is more than just physical activity and this opens up a range of many more possibilities. Without a doubt, we believe that there can be very interesting projects in new areas.
AG: Yes, we believe that Sportek Hub should continue to propose the Technology Challenges Program. This type of initiative fosters innovation, connects startups with real industry needs and creates opportunities to develop solutions that bring tangible impact. In addition, it allows to validate technologies in challenging environments, strengthen the sports ecosystem and promote collaboration between companies and sports organizations.
