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Founderz’s work applying artificial intelligence to sports made its way to California this October. Our Co-CEO and Co-Founder, Anna Cejudo, was invited to present the CE Europa Women’s Team case study at the USC Next Level Sports Conference, one of the leading events focused on the future of sports, technology, and the entertainment industry.
Held at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, and organized by the USC Annenberg School and the USC Marshall School of Business, the event brought together global leaders such as Roger Goodell, Maria Sharapova, and Casey Wasserman.
In this setting, Anna shared how our project with the CE Europa Women’s Team demonstrates that artificial intelligence can elevate athletic performance and open new pathways for athletes’ professional development.
The project that redefined how AI is applied in sports
During her presentation, Anna introduced one of the most representative projects of our work in AI for sports: our collaboration with CE Europa Women’s Team. What began as a learning experiment eventually became a real example of sports transformation powered by data.
Anna described how, just over a year ago, a team fighting to avoid relegation decided to turn to artificial intelligence to analyze their performance, optimize decision-making, and professionalize processes typically accessible only to clubs with large budgets.
With the support of Microsoft Copilot and a group of five international Founderz students working as data analysts, Europa improved its corner-kick effectiveness by up to 28%, reached 89% accuracy in tactical predictions, and generated a 14x economic return on the initial investment.
That competitive leap culminated in a historic promotion to the 1ª RFEF, one of the most demanding tiers in Spanish women’s football.
Anna also highlighted a key point: this model not only boosts athletic performance, it also creates real professional opportunities. Fifteen Europa players have already trained with Founderz in AI and are applying those skills in their careers beyond the pitch.
Our perspective on AI in sports
The CE Europa Women’s Team case reflects a belief that has guided our work for some time: artificial intelligence is no longer a tool reserved for tech elites, it is a strategic resource capable of professionalizing any sport. At Founderz, we believe the sports industry is at a turning point, and those who embrace AI will shape its transformation in the years ahead.
With this vision in mind, and in collaboration with the Global Sports Innovation Center (GSIC) powered by Microsoft, we developed an Online Program in AI in Sports. This training initiative was created to address a growing need within the industry at a moment when the global market for AI-driven sports solutions is expanding at an unprecedented pace.
The program features insights from organizations such as LaLiga, Real Madrid, ONE Championship and Cricket Australia, along with the participation of Microsoft experts. It is designed for clubs, leagues, federations, sports companies, and professionals seeking to position themselves at the forefront of innovation.
This is the vision that drives us: making AI accessible, practical, and responsible within the sports world, and supporting those who aim to lead its evolution.
