Thematic Analysis of Studies on Startups in Iran and Mapping their Scientific Landscape in Sports

This study aimed to conduct a thematic analysis of research related to sports startups in Iran and map their scientific landscape. The research method was analytical-applied, conducted in two phases: thematic analysis and roadmap design. The study employed thematic analysis as the primary approach to analyze qualitative data in the domain of sports startups, aiming to extract and categorize patterns of meaning from the data set. Subsequently, the scientific map was developed using Ravar Matrix software, identifying centrality and betweenness indices. The statistical population included all published articles using the keyword "sports startup." For this purpose, a targeted sampling method was applied to collect relevant articles. In total, 6 articles from domestic journals and 37 articles from international journals were identified, reviewed, and analyzed. Data analysis was performed using Excel software for charting and Ravar Matrix software for mapping. Findings revealed that sports startups represent an emerging topic, with the published articles categorized into three thematic areas: startup initiation, development strategies, and supportive mechanisms. The thematic analysis identified 85 initial concepts. In the axial coding stage, these concepts were grouped into 85 concepts, 13 themes, and 3 main categories based on thematic and conceptual proximity. Ultimately, the scientific map of startups was drawn for 14 variables with high recurrence rates. The study demonstrated that this topic has gained the attention of researchers in sports sciences and marketing in recent years. Furthermore, it is a nascent field with the potential to foster economic growth in society as an innovative strategy.