In the context of business analysis, the sponsor is the type of stakeholder responsible for initiating the effort to define a business need. The sponsor is typically a senior executive or a key stakeholder who has the authority and responsibility to allocate resources and ensure that the project aligns with strategic business objectives.
They play a critical role in the early stages of project development by defining the business need, which sets the direction for the project and guides the work of the business analyst.
References: This information aligns with the definitions and roles of stakeholders in business analysis as outlined in the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK) and other learning resources provided by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA)1.