Applying Growth Hacking Strategies in the Sport Industry: A Conceptual Framework for Virtual Sport Service Businesses

Bahajroy, Masoumeh; Khodaparast, Siavash; Nasiri, Mehran

doi:10.22124/jsmd.2026.34244.3084

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper I Open Access I Released under (CC BY-NC 4.0) license

Authors

¹ PhD student in Sport Management, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran

² Assistant Professor of Sport Management, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Lahijan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran

³ Assistant Professor of Sport Management, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Anzali Branch, Islamic Azad University, Anzali, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22124/jsmd.2026.34244.3084

Abstract

Objective: This research aimed to identify factors and present a conceptual framework for applying the growth hacking method in virtual businesses and startups of sport services in Iran.
Methodology: The research method was qualitative with a thematic analysis approach (Braun & Clarke, 2006). The research participants included academic experts (university professors and researchers with a focus on business studies, entrepreneurship, and sports marketing) and executive experts (managers, consultants, and experts in the field of virtual businesses and sports services). The sample size was selected based on reaching theoretical saturation (16 people). Sampling was also done using the theoretical (judgmental) method and based on the expertise, experience, and responsibility of the experts. The research tool was a semi-structured exploratory interview. The validity of the tool and research results was evaluated and confirmed based on the desirability of the scientific and executive competence of the interviewees, confirmation of the content validity of the interview framework by expert researchers, and the inter-coder reliability (0.72). To analyze the findings, a four-stage conceptual coding method with a thematic analysis approach was used.
Results: The findings showed that the extracted themes included 6 general themes, 13 main themes, 45 sub-themes and 142 conceptual codes. Based on that, a thematic network was drawn. The general themes included; feasibility assessment of growth hacking for businesses, smartening the business system for growth hacking, capacity building of businesses for rapid growth in the market, marketing capability of growth hacking for businesses, user community and customer growth hacking and functions of growth hacking in virtual sports services businesses.
Conclusion: Based on the findings, it can be said that the application of growth hacking innovation in virtual businesses and startups of sports services in the country is a multi-stage, multi-level, and multi-dimensional process that achieves operational capability through market scoping and system capacity building. Therefore, it is suggested that the presented framework be used for the analysis and planning of businesses in the sports service industry.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Sport Economics, Marketing and Tourism

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Applying Growth Hacking Strategies in the Sport Industry: A Conceptual Framework for Virtual Sport Service Businesses

References

References

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript Available Online from 01 October 2026

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 01 October 2026