Comcast NBCUniversal Announces the 10 Startups Selected for the Inaugural SportsTech Accelerator, powered by Boomtown
Comcast NBCUniversal has unveiled the 10 startups chosen for its inaugural SportsTech Accelerator, powered by Boomtown. Selected from over 1,000 applicants from 70 countries, these startups will address critical areas in sports technology, including media, fan engagement, and athlete performance. The program runs virtually for 12 weeks and features mentorship from industry leaders and a custom curriculum designed to enhance startup success. A Demo Day is scheduled for May 26, 2021, allowing participants to present their innovations to venture capitalists and executives.
- Selected startups showcase potential in various sports tech sectors, potentially driving innovation.
- Partnership with industry leaders offers significant mentorship opportunities for startups.
- Increased visibility and networking opportunities for participating startups during Demo Day.
- None.
Comcast NBCUniversal today announced the 10 startups selected for the first annual Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech Accelerator, powered by Boomtown Accelerators.
Chosen from over one thousand applicants in 70 countries, these 10 companies will bring their innovative solutions to Comcast NBCUniversal and the SportsTech partner consortium, which includes NBC Sports, Sky Sports, Golf, NASCAR, U.S. Ski and Snowboard, USA Cycling, USA Swimming, and Comcast Ventures. Startups were selected based on their technology solutions focused on the accelerator’s eight focus areas: media and entertainment, fan/player engagement, athlete/player performance, team and coach success, venue and event innovation, fantasy sports and betting, esports, and the business of sports.
Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 program, which kicks off today and lasts 12 weeks, will be held virtually. The founders will participate in this immersive accelerator from cities across the globe, including Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, and Geneva, Switzerland.
The companies will engage in a custom curriculum featuring workshops on fundraising, sales, marketing and branding, product/market fit, mental health, company culture, and working with corporations, and will meet seasoned startup founders who will share their insights on building and selling highly successful businesses. In the future, each company will have the opportunity to work at Comcast NBCUniversal’s Central Division Innovation Center in Atlanta at Truist Park, which overlooks the Atlanta Braves stadium.
“At Comcast NBCUniversal, sports, entertainment, and technology are central to what we do across our streaming, broadband, and aggregation businesses. Our inaugural SportsTech accelerator brings together this focus with our long tradition of working with founders and startups,” said Sam Schwartz, Chief Business Development Officer, Comcast Cable. “In collaboration with our partners who represent some of the strongest brands in sports, we are excited to mentor and learn from these founders and see how their technologies can drive innovation in the sports and entertainment industry.”
The Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech accelerator program will feature mentorship from industry leaders from Comcast NBCUniversal as well as strategic advisors from the Boomtown network and the partner consortium, including Will McIntosh, Executive Vice President, Digital and Sports Consumer Business, NBC Sports Group; Lora Dennis, Senior Vice President, Digital Media NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations; Steve McElwee, Chief Technology Officer, Digital Sports and Sports Consumer Business at NBC Sports; and Craig Neeb, Chief Innovation Officer of NASCAR. Jenna Kurath, Vice President, Startup Partner Development and Head of SportsTech, will lead the startup teams as they work with mentors and business units throughout the program and beyond, and as they seek deals or proofs of concepts with Comcast, NBCUniversal, and Sky brands.
At the conclusion of the program, the companies will participate in a virtual Demo Day on May 26, 2021 and present their businesses before some of the world’s leading venture capitalists, startup founders, business executives, and media. To learn more, visit www.comcastsportstech.com.
The 2021 class of the inaugural Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech Accelerator, powered by Boomtown includes:
Ane Swim, A William Pleshette Company, Atlanta, GA
William Pleshette Company designs advanced swimming apparel for diverse swimmers and aims to eliminate the barriers that keep people from enjoying the water. Their flagship product, Ane Swim, provides hair protection and the ability to keep hair completely dry so that everyone can enjoy the freedom of swimming.
Dibz, Toronto, Canada
For event venues that have unsold seats, Dibz provides a text messaging solution for guests to instantly upgrade their seats.
Eon Media, Toronto, Canada
Eon Media makes a full-featured suite of next-generation video-streaming software with 60
GlobalM, Geneva, Switzerland
GlobalM provides professional streaming solutions in broadcast quality to media outlets and broadcasters featuring an advanced secure video streaming network to meet the requirements for high-quality, low-latency LIVE or file-based video delivery over the Internet.
nVenue, Dallas, Texas
Real-time predictive analytics designed for fan engagement, nVenue’s AI/ML software delivers powerful play-by-play predictive insights to fans before each play.
Safety Skin, Cleveland, Ohio
Safety Skin develops and sells reflective skin and body care products to help cyclists, runners, and others prevent accidents and improve roadside safety.
Sharper Sense, New York, New York
Sharper Sense develops a neural interface that enhances athletes’ perceptual ability, leading to enhanced awareness and reaction times during training and competition.
The Sonar Company, San Antonio, Texas
The Sonar Company uses proprietary ultrasonic tone technology to transmit and receive data, interactions, beacons, and messages between devices in locations where traditional wireless communications is impossible or impractical.
StreamRecap, Los Angeles, California
StreamRecap builds video solutions for teams, leagues, and streamers across all esports, with a focus on instant automatic highlights and coaching tools.
XiQ, Atlanta, GA
XiQ develops smart devices that replace the conventional key ignition on most non-automotive vehicles, including golf carts and construction vehicles. They enable security, fleet IoT, and mobility sharing solutions to alleviate the transportation challenges facing many communities today.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq:CMCSA) is a global media and technology company with three primary businesses: Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal, and Sky. Comcast Cable is one of the United States’ largest high-speed internet, video, and phone providers to residential customers under the Xfinity brand, and also provides these services to businesses. It also provides wireless and security and automation services to residential customers under the Xfinity brand. NBCUniversal is global and operates news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures, and Universal Parks and Resorts. Sky is one of Europe's leading media and entertainment companies, connecting customers to a broad range of video content through its pay television services. It also provides communications services, including residential high-speed internet, phone, and wireless services. Sky operates the Sky News broadcast network and sports and entertainment networks, produces original content, and has exclusive content rights. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.
About Comcast SportsTech
Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech is a 12-week accelerator program, run in partnership with Boomtown Accelerators, that features an unprecedented partnership of three of Comcast NBCUniversal’s sports brands - NBC Sports, Sky Sports and Golf Channel – alongside NASCAR and three US Olympic sports organizations: U.S. Ski & Snowboard, USA Swimming, and USA Cycling. This partnership brings an early lens into innovation solutions, exclusive access to research and business insights, and differentiated value to Comcast’s media rights relationships. The program brings creative solutions to the partner consortium and to market through the lens of eight core investment categories: Media & Entertainment; Fan/Player Engagement; Athlete/Player Performance; Team & Coach Success; Venue & Event Innovation; Fantasy Sports & Betting; esports; and the Business of Sports. Learn more at www.Comcastsportstech.com for more information.
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