From Field to Frameworks: Applying Innovation Models to Build a Sustainable Sports Sponsorship Ecosystem in the Philippines

This concept paper explores how innovation frameworks—Blue Ocean Strategy, Business Model Canvas, and Open Innovation—can be integrated to build a sustainable sports sponsorship ecosystem for underserved Filipino athletes. Grounded in personal experience as both a rugby athlete and a dual master’s candidate in MBA Sustainability and Master in Innovation and Business, the study reimagines how partnership-based models can transform sports sponsorship from an exclusive market to an inclusive, community-driven system. By leveraging digital platforms, micro-sponsorships, and open collaboration, this paper proposes a model that advances economic, social, and environmental sustainability in the Philippine sports sector. The findings suggest that structured innovation frameworks can democratize opportunity, reduce inefficiencies, and empower athletes to move from invisible to investable.