The Business of Women's Sports

The Business of Women’s Sports
The first full-day conference dedicated exclusively to women founders building the women’s sports industry. Thursday, December 3, 2026 · Rough & Tumble Flagship, Ballard · Part of Sports Venture Week

Full event details, agenda, speakers and sponsorship info: thebusinessofwomenssports.com

About the day
Women’s sports are the fastest-growing sector in the sports industry, routinely exceeding projected revenues, valuations, ticket sales and every other KPI investors track. The money is moving. This day is about who’s moving it, where it’s going next, and how founders get in front of it.

The conference brings together 150 women founders, industry leaders and investors from venture capital, private equity and family offices, all building or investing in women’s sports.

What the day includes

• 3 panels with women building leagues and teams, and founders who have led successful raises.
• 1 luncheon: a curated lunch plus small-group growth sessions.
• Top 10 pitch: women founders pitch live to active investors and advisors. The top three compete for a yearlong 1:1 mentorship.

Built by women founders. For women founders.
We’re skipping the ballroom, the expo hall, the badges on lanyards and the small talk. One day at Rough & Tumble with the people who run companies and teams, write checks, build products and fill the stands. Pull up a chair. The next big deal in women’s sports could start at your table.

Agenda

• 9:00am · Check-in & coffee
• 10:00am · Opening panel
• 10:45am · Breakouts
• 11:30am · Panel
• 12:30pm · Curated luncheon & growth sessions
• 1:30pm · VC panel: investing in women’s sports
• 2:30pm · Women-founder pitches begin
• 4:00pm · Pitch finals & closing remarks
• 4:30pm · Cocktail hour, until 6:30pm

Pitch competition
Women founders building in or around sports (teams, leagues, media, tech, apparel, venues, fan experience, health and performance) are invited to apply. The top 10 pitch live, and the top three compete for a yearlong 1:1 mentorship. Applications close Sunday, November 15, 2026. Apply to pitch here.

Who should attend
Investors and fund managers · Founders and operators in sports and sports-adjacent businesses · Team, league and venue executives · Brand and media partners · Athletes and former athletes moving into business · Anyone who wants to understand the business of women’s sports

Details
Date: Thursday, December 3, 2026
Time: 9am – 4:30pm, followed by a cocktail hour until 6:30pm
Venue: Rough & Tumble Flagship, 5309 22nd Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107 (Ballard)
Website: thebusinessofwomenssports.com
Pitch applications (close Nov 15): thebusinessofwomenssports.com/pitch

Brought to you by
Rough & Tumble, Seattle’s home for women’s sports, and Gametime Hero, the platform for teams and communities. Part of Sports Venture Week, presented by Venture Black, Seattle, November 30 – December 5.