Sprint, DFA open applications for parallel programs within 2020 Corporate Accelerator

When one of Kansas City’s most popular corporate accelerators returns in the spring, its cohort will be more meaningfully defined and tailored to its twin partner industries — 5G mobile technology and agtech/dairy food products, said Ari DeGrote.

Ari DeGrote and Tina Peterson, Sprint Accelerator

“We are looking at these two programs as being separate, but parallel — this will really help call out the unique characteristics of the verticals from each partner, while also providing efficiencies on our end for founder education,” said DeGrote, community and programs manager for the Sprint Accelerator.

Applications are now open for both the Sprint and Dairy Farmers of America segments within the Sprint Corporate Accelerator Program. The deadline to apply is Jan. 31, 2020.

Click here to apply on behalf of a 5G mobile tech startup.

Click here to apply with a agtech/dairy food company.

The 90-day accelerator is set to begin April 6 in Kansas City.

“With Sprint True Mobile 5G now live in parts of nine metropolitan areas, including Kansas City, we’re enabling incredible new connections to people and things, services and opportunities,” said Bryan Fries, Sprint vice president for 5G market strategy and global services.

Jonathan Yarbor, Nodecraft, 2019 Sprint Accelerator cohort

Startups working on the next disruptive emerging technology that will lead to the development and commercialization of 5G-enabled products, applications, and solutions that deliver on the brand promise of True Mobile 5G are encouraged to apply, Fries said, noting cohort members will take advantage of the 5G network’s increased capacity, lower latency, and fast speeds.

Sprint’s areas of interest include, but are not limited to: Enhanced mobile experiences in gaming, entertainment and social networking; Mobile fan engagement for viewing, content creation and live event interaction; Smart home; Internet of Things (IoT); Edge computing; Digital infrastructures (security, asset management); Smart places (city, factory, building, corporate campus); Mixed reality/immersive simulations; Healthcare and telemedicine; Tactile internet; Web 3.0; Data security; Hyper-Ledger; Blockchain; and Business process improvement.

Josh Green, Brooklyn Buttery, 2019 Sprint Accelerator cohort

DFA is seeking early stage food product companies that are dairy-focused or dairy-based. 

The national, farmer-owned dairy cooperative also is looking for companies with agtech applications related to any portion of the dairy value chain, including but not limited to product testing, data management, herd health and management, supply chain optimization, sustainability and traceability. 

Doug Dresslaer, Dairy Farmers of America

“With ag tech, our goal is to identify companies with applications or technologies that can help us improve processes or reduce margins to ultimately enhance productivity on our members’ farms,” said Doug Dresslaer, director of innovation at DFA. 

Ag tech categories of particular interest to DFA include dairy ERP systems, drone technologies, robotics and automation technologies for the farm, sensor technologies in agronomy, digester efficiency and new technology in animal health around mastitis.

“Ultimately, we’re looking for companies where we see long-term potential, as the end goal is to hopefully help and partner with them in some way,” said Dresslaer, who previously served as managing director for the Sprint Accelerator.

Click here for more information about the Corporate Accelerator.