The LA Dodgers accelerator wants a piece of this Kansas City startup
August 23, 2016 | Bobby Burch
Wearable tech startup ShotTracker is furthering its inroads into the world of professional sports.
The Overland Park-based firm recently was accepted into the Los Angeles Dodgers and R/GA Ventures’ accelerator program that aims to revolutionize sports with innovative technology.
The LA Dodgers Sports Accelerator’s 2016 class of companies includes five firms from around the world that will gain access to industry partnerships and expertise.
ShotTracker developed a three-piece wearable device — a net sensor, wrist sensor and app — that allows basketball players to track shot attempts, makes and misses. With the accelerator, however, the firm will focus on its “ShotTracker TEAM” technology, which captures real-time stats for basketball teams, yielding analytics for coaches, players and fans. The technology uses embedded sensors around a court, on a player’s shoes and in a Spalding basketball to collect the data.
“It means a lot to our company to be part of the LA Dodgers accelerator with R/GA because of the guidance and resources it provides,” ShotTracker CEO Bruce Ianni said. “The opportunity to collaborate with the Dodgers’ leadership, not to mention the other companies in the program, is really exciting for us.”
Ianni said he hopes ShotTracker will gain new perspectives on how it can quickly scale its business. The added visibility in the marketplace should help too, he added.
Dodgers CEO Stan Kasten said that the accelerator aims to move sporting technology into the future.
“The Dodger organization remains committed to utilizing our brand and this outstanding platform to continue to drive our industry forward,” Kasten said in a release. “The unbelievable worldwide interest in our first accelerator and the success the 10 companies achieved has certainly been a major asset to us and the sports and entertainment industry.”
The accelerator program begins on Aug. 22, affording ShotTracker the opportunity to engage with the Dodgers’ leadership, business units and industry network. It will also tap R/GA’s marketing, branding, design and technology services. The program will conclude in November at which time each startup will present to industry leaders, partners and customers in the sports, technology, and entertainment communities.
The LA Dodgers Sports Accelerator offers upwards of $120,000 in exchange for up to 6 percent equity in a startup. It also provides a shared workspace in Los Angeles, mentorship and business development opportunities.
Led by co-founders Ianni and Davyeon Ross, ShotTracker has realized solid traction since its 2013 founding.
ShotTracker has raised $5 million to date, scored a partnership with Golden State Warrior superstar Klay Thompson and has teamed up with equipment giant Spalding. In addition to endorsements from the likes of University of Kansas Basketball coach Bill Self, the company was also named to Startland News’ 10 Top Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2016.
2016 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Think accounting: 3 ways to drive your accountant insane
In this Think column, Emerging Business CFO founder Dan Schmidt shares three ways to drive him, and other accountants, crazy. The Think column helps entrepreneurs to stop and think about the various aspects of starting and running a business. Accountant and finance professionals are generally known to be level-headed clear thinkers, able to ride the crests of emotion…
Kansas City seeks leaders for Smart City board
The City of Kansas City, Mo., is now seeking nominations to lead the city’s smart city efforts. City leaders hope to attract citizens with experience in smart city technologies to help advise the City of Fountain’s coming Cisco Smart City project, in addition to its other smart city efforts. The newly authorized “Smart City Advisory…
RECAP: 1 Million Cups focuses on time with Mixtape, Flowh
There was a theme at today’s 1 Million Cups KC, and it was time. Two startups presented their businesses, both at different stages, and both in different industries, but both dealing with time — how we remember it and how we manage it. Mixtape founder Joel Johnson was first to present his firm, which created…
Lean Lab eyes $25K in national pitch contest
The Lean Lab, a Kansas City-based education innovation incubator, is hoping to strike gold in a national pitch competition in California. The organization on Wednesday will be pitching its model in the Teach For America Social Innovation Awards, an annual competition in which the Lean Lab hopes to snag a $25,000 prize. Lean Lab is the…