Burnley Football Club has selected Camb.ai, Mantis XR and Piing to take part in the inaugural cohort of its new Innovation Hub.
The selection follows a highly competitive global application process that attracted more than 200 companies.
The three businesses were chosen after a virtual Pitch Day hosted from Turf Moor, where six shortlisted finalists presented to a judging panel made up of senior leaders from Burnley FC and ALK Capital, alongside industry expert advisors.
Over a six-month pilot programme, the selected companies will work closely with the Premier League club’s operational teams to deploy and test their technologies in real-world club environments.
The pilots will focus on delivering new digital experiences, enhancing supporter engagement and exploring scalable innovation opportunities that could be adopted more widely across the club and beyond.
The inaugural cohort brings together a diverse range of technologies. Camb.ai, based in San Francisco, provides localisation infrastructure for the internet, using AI to instantly translate content into more than 150 languages while preserving tone and personality.
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Meanwhile, Vancouver-based Mantis XR offers a unified fan experience platform that connects data across merchandise, ticketing, hospitality and engagement through spatial technology, enabling clubs to build deeper relationships with supporters.
Manchester-based Piing develops stadium-scale interactive games designed to engage tens of thousands of fans, transforming matchday downtime into sponsorship-ready activations.
It has previously worked with Manchester City and the business is currently a member of GM Business Growth Hub’s ASCEND cohort.
The launch of the Innovation Hub forms part of a long-term strategy to embed innovation across Burnley FC and create a repeatable model for adopting and scaling emerging technologies.
It also follows the launch of The Clarets’ X Originals series for the 2025/26 campaign.
“I’m absolutely delighted to welcome our inaugural cohort of start-ups for year one of the club’s Innovation Hub,” said Alan Pace, chairman of Burnley Football Club.
“We received some excellent applicants, and the three we’ve chosen will add significant value across the business.
“We’re excited to get to work with them all over the next six months.”
Penelope Edmonds, vice president of corporate development & investments at the club, added: “It’s been fantastic to launch this programme and see how world-class founders are applying technology to some of the biggest challenges in football and sport.
“As one of the early movers in this space, we’ve been especially grateful for the level of support from partners across the sports, investment, and technology ecosystems, which has helped make this first cohort possible.
“We’re thrilled to be working with such a strong group of companies and look forward to building, learning, and growing together.”
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