🏆 A Global Journey to Sports Innovation

Javier Altamirano is the Global Head of Startups at Sportradar, the sports technology giant powering data and innovation for leagues, media, and betting operators worldwide. He is also part of The Collectiv, the sports industry’s first community-powered venture capital fund. His path to the role has been anything but linear — from hotel night shifts in Chihuahua to running media operations at the Olympics, from martial arts instruction to startup scouting for one of sports’ most influential companies. Along the way, he’s worked in three countries, learned five languages, and built a career on finding opportunities in unexpected places.

From Chihuahua to the World Stage

Javier grew up in northern Mexico but had his sights set far beyond. At 19, he moved to Germany to learn the language, then earned his degree in Canada after a life-changing exchange program. Early on, his career had little to do with sports – hotel front desk shifts, sales jobs, and a stint in mutual funds.

But a chance call to his old sports club back home changed everything. “I was just asking about using the gym in exchange for teaching classes,” he recalls. “They said, ‘Actually, we need someone to run all the instructors and programs.’” Managing 30 coaches across sports from racquetball to karate gave him a crash course in running a sports organization. “That was my 360-degree training – from members to media to managing up.”

Chasing Global Impact

With a taste for the sports world, Javier set his sights on something bigger. A scholarship took him to Lausanne, Switzerland for a master’s program in sport management. That led to roles at World Taekwondo and World Rowing, where he traveled the globe managing data, operations, and media centers for major events. The pinnacle came at the Rio 2016 Olympics. “It’s hard to explain the scale until you’re there,” he says. “One night I saw Serena Williams, Simone Biles, Michael Phelps, and the U.S. men’s basketball team back-to-back. That’s not just a career highlight, it’s a life highlight.”

Betting on Startups

After the Games, Javier joined Sportradar in its early growth phase. His role evolved into leading the company’s work with startups, using a methodology called “venture clienting.” Instead of investing directly, his team identifies business problems inside Sportradar and finds startup partners to solve them.

“We’re like a SWAT team,” he explains. “We go into a specific part of the company, find the exact problem, and bring back the startup that can solve it. It’s about impact and being a great client for startups.”

Standing Out in Sports Business

Working across continents and cultures has shaped how Javier spots talent — and the advice he gives to those trying to break in. Two traits rise to the top: clarity and composure.

“Have a clear objective – not just in your career, but in every meeting, every call,” he says. “And keep emotional control, no matter the circumstances. That’s something nobody can take from you.” He’s also quick to remind students that passion alone won’t get them hired. “There’s a dime a dozen people who love sports,” he says. “What’s the skill you bring that makes you different? Start with that, and don’t expect to start at the top. Every experience builds value for the next step.”

Why He Does It

For Javier, motivation comes from two places: proving doubters wrong and building a legacy for his family. “Someone once told me I couldn’t – that’s always stuck with me,” he says. That challenge became fuel, pushing him to take on opportunities that seemed out of reach and to accomplish things no one expected.

But his drive isn’t only about personal achievement. It’s about creating something lasting for the people who matter most. “Now, I do this for my kids, my wife, and the people who believe in me,” he says. “Even on the days you don’t feel like it, knowing you have people counting on you gives you that extra push.”