Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech Accelerator’s newest expert partners will advise a new class of startups starting in February.
The WWE and the PGA Tour are joining the Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech Accelerator program as advisors, Comcast NBCUniversal announced Tuesday.
They join an impressive group of expert partners that includes NBC Sports, Sky Sports, GOLF, Comcast Spectator, US Cycling, US Ski and Snowboard, USA Swimming, and NASCAR. SportsTech’s second rising class of startups officially joins the program in February, with each receiving individual mentorship from an advisor company throughout the duration of the company’s run.
“Disruption is in our DNA. Considering SportsTech’s innovation categories from fan engagement to venue and event innovation, we’re extremely excited to invite these disruptive entrepreneurs into our organization and identify ways to enhance our fan experience and introduce the sport to a new generation,” said Rajan Mehta, WWE’s executive vice president and chief product and technology officer.
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Run in partnership with Boomtown Accelerators, Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech is a 12-week accelerator program that welcomes companies and entrepreneurs across the worlds of sports and technology looking to create solutions that will transform competitive and professional sports. The program especially welcomes ideas across eight investment categories
- Media and entertainment
- Fan/player engagement
- Athlete/player performance
- Team and coach success
- Venue and event innovation
- Fantasy sports and betting
- Esports
- Sports business
“By embracing emerging technology solutions through the Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech accelerator, we aim to continually elevate the experience that we provide to our athletes and fans, so that people of all backgrounds encounter an authentically welcoming environment across our game,” said Lance Stover, PGA Tour’s senior vice president of new ventures.
Comcast SportsTech accelerator selected 10 startups from a pool of more than 1,000 applicants for its inaugural cohort earlier this year. The inaugural class secured 16 business deals with Comcast and accelerator partners, and that deal count has more than doubled today to 30. Comcast and Boomtown invests $50,000 into each selected company, and the second cohort for the accelerator will be announced on Feb. 22, 2022.
“We’re thrilled to welcome PGA Tour and WWE, two iconic global sports and entertainment brands, into our Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech partner consortium to engage with these entrepreneurs as they seek to change the way consumers experience sports,” said Jenna Kurath, Vice President, Startup Partnerships at Comcast and Head of Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech. “This shared commitment to developing the next generation of sports technology builds upon NBC Sports’ longstanding and trusted partnerships with both organizations, from partnering with the PGA Tour to deliver unparalleled live tournament coverage, to Peacock being the exclusive home of the WWE Network for fans across the country.”
Startups selected to the SportsTech accelerator will gain valuable access to PGA Tour and WWE business leaders on top of those currently involved with the program. SportsTech’s advisors have helped founders develop deep industry relationships that can translate into measurable results for their businesses.
