Partnership outcomes: measurable business results
Real case studies from European SME partnerships with athletes. Each outcome measured within 60-90 day pilots using structured frameworks. No theoretical benefits—only documented business impact with specific metrics and ROI validation.
Documented partnership outcomes
Product Development Acceleration
Executive Summary
A mid-sized European outdoor equipment manufacturer partnered with competitive trail runners to validate new waterproof technology through structured field testing. Over 90 days, athletes tested prototypes in varied conditions, logging performance data that accelerated the product iteration cycle by 35%. This outcome-based approach eliminated €45,000 in traditional R&D lab costs while delivering actionable insights that improved the final product specification before market launch.
Business Impact
Material specification changed based on field evidence within 8 weeks, enabling Q3 launch instead of Q1 the following year. Product team reduced iteration time from 6 months to 3.5 months through systematic field validation.
Sales Team Performance Enhancement
Executive Summary
A €75M B2B manufacturing company engaged a former professional athlete to translate performance psychology into sales enablement training. Through three half-day workshops, the sales team learned specific objection-handling frameworks and resilience techniques adapted from competitive sport. Within 60 days, qualified second meetings increased 18%, and average deal velocity improved by 12 days.
Business Impact
Training cost €8,500 vs. traditional sales consultancy quotes of €35,000+. Sales pipeline metrics showed sustained improvement over the following quarter, with conversion rates from first to second meetings rising from 42% to 49%.
Employer Brand & Talent Acquisition
Executive Summary
A €120M technology services firm partnered with regional athletes to create authentic day-in-the-life content showcasing company culture and technical challenges. Over three months, the company published six athlete-produced pieces highlighting problem-solving under pressure and team collaboration. Applications to open positions increased 31%, and critically, the percentage of candidates meeting technical requirements in first-round screening improved from 34% to 47%.
Business Impact
Cost-per-qualified-hire decreased by 28%. Time-to-fill for technical positions reduced from 89 days to 67 days. Employer branding investment of €12,000 produced measurable improvements across the recruiting funnel.
Purchase Intent & Brand Conversion
Executive Summary
A regional sports nutrition company activated a portfolio of 8 emerging athletes across climbing, trail running, and cycling disciplines. Through structured 90-day pilots featuring product testing, educational content, and community events, the brand generated measurable commercial outcomes. Analysis showed 10% lift in purchase intent among the exposed audience, with direct attribution to €47,000 in incremental revenue across the pilot period.
Business Impact
Total activation cost of €18,500 (including product, athlete fees, and content production) delivered 2.5x ROI within the pilot window. Brand awareness in target demographic increased 23 percentage points, while consideration metrics rose 17 points.