The Business of Women's Sports

The Business of Women’s Sports
A full-day track of Sports Venture Week · Thursday, December 3, 2026 · Rough & Tumble, BallardFull event details, agenda, speakers and sponsorship info: thebusinessofwomenssports.com
Full description
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 Business of Women’s Sports is the first-ever full-day Sports Venture Week track dedicated to the business side of women’s sports and the women disrupting and growing the space. It takes place at Rough & Tumble, Seattle’s first women’s sports bar, in the heart of Ballard.
The day combines three things:

Strategic conversations with the women driving national investment in women’s sports: team owners, league and media executives, operators and investors.
Learning and coaching sessions: breakout sessions, and a curated lunch built around real questions, not small talk.
A pitch competition for women founders, judged by the VC investors who know this market best.

Whether you’re an investor sizing up the category, an operator building in it, a founder raising for it, or a fan who wants to understand what’s behind the headlines, you’ll leave with a clearer picture of the business and the people shaping it.
Agenda

9:30am · Registration, check-in and coffee
10:00am · Opening panel
10:45am · Breakout sessions
11:30am · Panel
12:30pm · Curated lunch with conversation prompts
1:30pm · VC panel: investing in women’s sports
2:30pm · Women-founder pitch competition
4:00pm · Networking and happy hour (until 6:00pm)

Pitch competitionWomen founders building in or around sports (teams, leagues, media, tech, apparel, venues, fan experience, health and performance) are invited to apply to pitch live to a panel of VC judges. Applications close Thursday, November 12, 2026, and everyone hears back by November 15. 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: 9:30am – 6:00pm
Venue: Rough & Tumble Flagship, 5309 22nd Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107 (Ballard)
Website: thebusinessofwomenssports.comPitch applications (close Nov 12): thebusinessofwomenssports.com/pitch
Brought to you by
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.