Advertising company R/GA joined professional baseball team the Los Angeles Dodgers yesterday to launch the LA Dodgers Sports and Entertainment Accelerator, welcoming 10 startups to the programme’s first cohort.
The selected startups are focused on sectors including sports, technology, media and entertainment. The programme began yesterday and will end with a demo day in November 2015, while participating startups will get access to industry partnerships, mentorships and distribution channels.
Appetize operates an inventory management platform for live events, while Doorstat provides an insight into audience demographics and consumer behaviour, and FieldLevel enables coaches to connect with potential players.
FocusMotion’s technology analyses a player’s movements through wearable devices, and Kinduct is working on software to help people improve their health and fitness, while LeagueApps has created a platform to manage sports events.
ProDay’s smartphone app enables users to follow the workouts of professional athletes, and SidePrize enables fantasy league players to face off against other enthusiasts.
Swish Analytics offers a range of analytics tools for fantasy league players and finally, Yezno is developing a social media platform aimed specifically at sports fans.
Stephen Plumlee, global chief operating officer of R/GA and managing partner of the company’s corporate venturing unit, R/GA Ventures, said: “This programme is significantly different from any traditional accelerator.
“We are fortunate to be working with category leaders such as Appetize, FieldLevel, Kinduct, and LeagueApps, which have already built successful businesses, raised significant rounds and achieved impressive valuations.
“We are also excited to work with each of the emerging companies. With their input, we are innovating on the very idea of what an accelerator is and how a program can create value for companies at all stages.”