View profile

Sports Tech Live - Issue #104

Hey Sports Tech Fans, Slightly different one this week. A number of people have reached out to me in
Issue #104  •  November 13  •  View online  •  Suggest a link
Sports Tech Live
Sports Tech Live
All your Sports Tech news in one place, covering topics like AR/VR, Data Analytics, eSports, Live Streaming, Sports Betting, Wearables, etc.
Hey Sports Tech Fans,
Slightly different one this week.
A number of people have reached out to me in recent weeks and some have asked to share their sports tech related news with you.
I have always wanted to include a community section in the newsletter, but it’s extremely time consuming if I have to find stories from the community myself.
So if you have something to share then please reach out and I will happily share it with the 700+ members of the community.
The community is filled with people people hyper-focused on sports tech and sports business.
To give you a sense of the types of members, they include people from sports teams, sports leagues, federations, venture capitalists, angels, esports and gaming executives, sports media, politicians, startups, Fortune 500 companies and on and on.
I wanted to share two of those with you this week.
Joe reached out from Esportudo which is a sports media company focused on delivering the best content for Latino fans. They went through the Techstars Sports Tech Accelerator in Indianapolis this past year.
Tomer from SportsTech Nation reached out as he is part of the team putting on a virtual Sports tech conference that is typically held in person in Israel. The event will run December 7th to 9th and tickets are free.
Check out the links below and please send me an email if you would like a similar shout out!
Have a great sporting weekend,
Will

Calling Startups in Supply Chain Innovation

Techstars Sustainability ChallengeThe Techstars Sustainability Challenge is an equity-free challenge that brings together founders with industry leaders in sustainability. Top Supply Chain solutions in the areas of Data & Automation and Materials & End-of-life Impact will have access to potential commercial opportunities with our corporate partners. We are looking for proven technologies that are able to be pilotable in 2021.
Applications are now open and close March 1, 2021.
Community
Esportudo — The New Sports Culture | by Stephen Braunewell | The Buzz | Medium
Esportudo — The New Sports Culture | by Stephen Braunewell | The Buzz | Medium
For most Latino sports fans, there is no convenient way to access all digital sports content across multiple devices and channels. Because of this, fans are consistently missing out on sports content…
medium.com  •  Share

Sports Tech Nation Summit 2020
Sports Tech Nation Summit 2020
Sports Tech Nation powered by Colosseum is the international summit of the sports tech industry, gathering prominent leaders to discuss the latest trends and providing sports organizations and investors the finest way to get acquainted with the most disruptive ventures from the industry.
www.sportstechnation.com  •  Share

Streaming Wars
Eleven Acquires Mycujoo Streaming Tech To Power Global Sports Service
Eleven Acquires Mycujoo Streaming Tech To Power Global Sports Service
The acquisition of Mycujoo’s streaming technology will provide Eleven Sports with the ability to launch a global services focusing on women’s sport, niche sport, and esport.
www.forbes.com  •  Share

Expect TV Rights Fees For Sports To Soar
Expect TV Rights Fees For Sports To Soar
Next year television networks and a few streaming video providers will begin negotiating with several popular sports leagues for contract renewals. Expect significant increases in rights fees.
www.forbes.com  •  Share

Saudi Arabia set to launch sports rights media company - SportsPro Media
Saudi Arabia set to launch sports rights media company - SportsPro Media
New entity to focus solely on contracts covering the kingdom, says country’s sports minister.
www.sportspromedia.com  •  Share

Canelo Alvarez becomes promotional free agent after resolving lawsuit with DAZN, Golden Boy - CBSSports.com
Canelo Alvarez becomes promotional free agent after resolving lawsuit with DAZN, Golden Boy - CBSSports.com
Alvarez’s manager announced that he would be open to a possible fight this year
www.cbssports.com  •  Share

NBA, NHL, MLB Commissioners On COVID-19, TV Ratings, Fans In Stands & More – Deadline
NBA, NHL, MLB Commissioners On COVID-19, TV Ratings, Fans In Stands & More – Deadline
The commissioners of the NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball addressed the impact of COVID-19 on their sports as well as TV ratings, rules changes and plans for next season during a virtual panel hosted by the Paley Center.
deadline.com  •  Share

Eleven Sports acquires Ligue 1 rights in Poland - Insider Sport
Eleven Sports acquires Ligue 1 rights in Poland - Insider Sport
Eleven Sports Poland will offer coverage of the Ligue 1 Uber Eats for the next four seasons after the broadcaster secured the rights to the French top flight.
www.insidersport.com  •  Share

Golden State Warriors launch second-screen NBA draft platform - SportsPro Media
Golden State Warriors launch second-screen NBA draft platform - SportsPro Media
Dubs Draft Room to offer interactive watch party for fans during selection event.
www.sportspromedia.com  •  Share

FuboTV bets on sports wagering as it reaches 455K subscribers | FierceVideo
FuboTV bets on sports wagering as it reaches 455K subscribers | FierceVideo
Virtual MVPD fuboTV tucked a handful of announcements in with its quarterly earnings, including plans to expand into sports wagering.
www.fiercevideo.com  •  Share

Gambling
DAZN Names BetMGM as Exclusive Odds Provider for U.S. Boxing Broadcasts
DAZN Names BetMGM as Exclusive Odds Provider for U.S. Boxing Broadcasts
DAZN and BetMGM have announced the latest evolution of their partnership. The partnership extension kicked off Saturday, Nov. 7 with a highly anticipated …
www.sportsvideo.org  •  Share

Bayern Munich joins the blockchain-based fantasy soccer trend
Bayern Munich joins the blockchain-based fantasy soccer trend
The Ethereum blockchain-based fantasy soccer game Sorare has signed on its latest top European club.
cointelegraph.com  •  Share

DraftKings Announces Sponsorship of Gaming Innovation Studio at University of Nevada, Las Vegas Agreement gives the Company naming rights and ongoing access to local expertise and talent
www.unlv.edu   •   Share

esports & Gaming
Vikkstar announced as new co-owner of CDL’s London Royal Ravens
Vikkstar announced as new co-owner of CDL’s London Royal Ravens
Warzone streamer Vikram “Vikkstar” Singh Barn is officially a co-owner of Call of Duty League’s London Royal Ravens.
www.ginx.tv  •  Share

PUBG Mobile Announces $100 Million Investment For India | AFK Gaming
PUBG Mobile Announces $100 Million Investment For India | AFK Gaming
PUBG Mobile has confirmed its return to the country with a specialized Indian version. It has also announced a $100 Million USD investment for India.
afkgaming.com  •  Share

The DFL and ESL embark on strategic partnership to develop the Virtual Bundesliga
The DFL and ESL embark on strategic partnership to develop the Virtual Bundesliga
Cooperation starts with immediate effect and comprises media rights and production concerning all aspects of the Virtual Bundesliga.
www.dfl.de  •  Share

OpTic Gaming is back in the hands of HECZ, the esports pioneer who never wanted to let go | Sporting News
OpTic Gaming is back in the hands of HECZ, the esports pioneer who never wanted to let go | Sporting News
HECZ announced Wednesday that he had reacquired the popular brand he helped build from the ground up.
www.sportingnews.com  •  Share

76ers GC acquire former MVP OneWildWalnut | Reuters
76ers GC acquire former MVP OneWildWalnut | Reuters
76ers Gaming Club acquired former NBA 2K League MVP Dayne “OneWildWalnut” Downey in a trade Thursday.
www.reuters.com  •  Share

76ers Gaming Club and Saint Joseph's University Announce Interactive Esports Partnership
76ers Gaming Club and Saint Joseph's University Announce Interactive Esports Partnership
/PRNewswire/ – 76ers Gaming Club (GC), the NBA 2K League team of the Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment portfolio, today announced an interactive esports…
www.prnewswire.com  •  Share

Content
Charles Barkley Scores With TV Series ‘The Line’ to Be Unveiled at AFM (EXCLUSIVE)
Charles Barkley Scores With TV Series ‘The Line’ to Be Unveiled at AFM (EXCLUSIVE)
RTG Features unveils project “The Line” at AFM with Barkley and the company he co-founded, Round Mound Media, exec producing
variety.com  •  Share

Disney+ has more than 73M subscribers – TechCrunch
Disney+ has more than 73M subscribers – TechCrunch
Disney+, the streaming service that launched one year ago today, grew to 73.7 million paid subscribers as of early October. That’s according to The Walt Disney Company’s fourth-quarter earnings report, which covers the company’s finances through October 3. The company previously said Disney+ had 60.5 million subscribers as of August 3. The release also includes […]
techcrunch.com  •  Share

Marketing & Social
Triller Embraces Sports as it Looks to Challenge TikTok, Reels
Triller Embraces Sports as it Looks to Challenge TikTok, Reels
While TikTok and Reels have both established themselves in sports, Triller is also aiming to break through and reach new users.
frontofficesports.com  •  Share

TikTok says the Trump administration has forgotten about trying to ban it, would like to know what’s up - The Verge
TikTok says the Trump administration has forgotten about trying to ban it, would like to know what’s up - The Verge
TikTok has filed a petition in a US Court of Appeals calling for a review of actions by the CFUIS after it hadn’t heard back on an extension to an impending deadline to sell off its US assets.
www.theverge.com  •  Share

In a push for Gen Z fans, the NFL looks for a leg up on Instagram - Sports Illustrated
In a push for Gen Z fans, the NFL looks for a leg up on Instagram - Sports Illustrated
As every sports league grapples with changing fandom and viewership habits, the NFL is experimenting with new ways of reaching younger fans.
www.si.com  •  Share

Why Unilever’s Clear shampoo created a virtual football pundit for Indonesian men | The Drum
Why Unilever’s Clear shampoo created a virtual football pundit for Indonesian men | The Drum
While fans may not be allowed back into football stadiums due to coronavirus restrictions, Unilever’s shampoo brand Clear for Men has created a virtual pundit for Indonesian football fans, to help them engage with the game in a new way away from the stands.
www.thedrum.com  •  Share

Chelsea becomes first Premier League club to partner with digital Chinese platform Weibo | Official Site | Chelsea Football Club
Chelsea becomes first Premier League club to partner with digital Chinese platform Weibo | Official Site | Chelsea Football Club
Chelsea Football Club is enhancing our presence in China by becoming the first Premier League side to agree a strategic partnership with leading Chinese social media platform Weibo.
www.chelseafc.com  •  Share

Kashi taps Olympian Tessa Virtue for Instagram livestream on wellness | Mobile Marketer
Kashi taps Olympian Tessa Virtue for Instagram livestream on wellness | Mobile Marketer
Kashi, the organic breakfast cereal brand marketed by Kellogg, launched a multichannel campaign in Canada featuring Olympic figure skater Tessa Virtue. As part of the #FullOfLife effort, Virtue will host an Instagram livestream at her @tessavirtue17 account at 7 p.m. ET today, according to an announcement.
www.mobilemarketer.com  •  Share

Partnerships
Beyonce, Peloton strike multiyear content partnership, sending exercise cycle-maker's shares higher
Beyonce, Peloton strike multiyear content partnership, sending exercise cycle-maker's shares higher
Peloton announced a multiyear partnership with singer-songwriter Beyonce, to produce exclusive content with her music for exercise sessions.
www.cnbc.com  •  Share

VR
Oculus Venues will bring Fox Sports boxing events to VR | Engadget
Oculus Venues will bring Fox Sports boxing events to VR | Engadget
Oculus Venues has been giving you a way to attend various events, including NBA games and live concerts, from the comfort of your own home since it launched a couple of years ago. Now, Facebook has teamed up with Fox Sports to bring three Premier Boxing Champions matches to virtual reality through the social VR experience for the Oculus Quest. 
www.engadget.com  •  Share

Women in Sport
Formula 1: W Series to support races at eight grands prix in 2021 - BBC Sport
Formula 1: W Series to support races at eight grands prix in 2021 - BBC Sport
The W Series will link up with Formula 1 next season and beyond with eight support races at grand prix weekends.
www.bbc.co.uk  •  Share

Data
JOAO FELIX IS THE NEW FACE OF ADIDAS GMR, THE INSOLE THAT MERGES PHYSICAL FOOTBALL & DIGITAL GAMING
JOAO FELIX IS THE NEW FACE OF ADIDAS GMR, THE INSOLE THAT MERGES PHYSICAL FOOTBALL & DIGITAL GAMING
Today, we are announcing Portuguese star, Joao Felix, as the new face of adidas GMR, the insole that recognizes the physical movements footballers…
news.adidas.com  •  Share

Google Assistant Portfolio Companies Satisfi Labs and StatMuse Partner to Provide NFL Fans Instant Answers around Stats and Player Info
Google Assistant Portfolio Companies Satisfi Labs and StatMuse Partner to Provide NFL Fans Instant Answers around Stats and Player Info
Satisfi Labs, the conversational AI platform for destinations and experiences, announced a partnership with StatMuse.
aithority.com  •  Share

PFL Partners with IBM to Enhance Real-Time Data Collection | GamblingNews
PFL Partners with IBM to Enhance Real-Time Data Collection | GamblingNews
The Professional Fighters League and Flagship Group Solutions entered into a deal to improve the league’s SmartCage real-time data
www.gamblingnews.com  •  Share

Startups
Stadia Ventures
Stadia Ventures
Stadia Accelerator helps established sports & esports startups get to the next level through the combination of up to a $100,000 equity investment, intensive mentoring, and connections to the top sports & esports business executives in the country.
www.stadiaventures.com  •  Share

The Brand Test is a once in a lifetime opportunity to engage
with leading sports brands around the Globe.

Deals
Sports Tech Investor DRIVE Adds CEO, Four Portfolio Companies – Sportico.com
Sports Tech Investor DRIVE Adds CEO, Four Portfolio Companies – Sportico.com
DRIVE, founded by DraftKings, will focus on companies in the gaming platform, human performance, fan engagement and data spaces.
www.sportico.com  •  Share

Entercom Communications acquires QL Gaming Group in $32m deal - SBC Americas
Entercom Communications acquires QL Gaming Group in $32m deal - SBC Americas
Live audio content provider Entercom Communications Corp has closed on the acquisition of sports data and igaming affiliate platform QL Gaming Group (QLGG) this week in an all cash deal for approximately $32m.
sbcamericas.com  •  Share

Press Sports is a social media platform that aims to give athletes a space to showcase their clips for recruitment opportunities. It’s the scrapbooking features of Instagram and the career focus of LinkedIn, but exclusively for athletes.

Fnatic Raises $10 Million and Launches Crowdfunding to Accelerate High-Performance Esports – European Gaming Industry News
Fnatic Raises $10 Million and Launches Crowdfunding to Accelerate High-Performance Esports – European Gaming Industry News
Fnatic, a leading global esports brand, today announces that it has raised $10 million in an internal round led by Beringea with participation from existing investors Unbound, LVL1 Group, JHD as well as key management.
europeangaming.eu  •  Share

eCommerce
Inside the first-ever online Masters merchandise shop (yes, of course it’s spectacular)
Inside the first-ever online Masters merchandise shop (yes, of course it’s spectacular)
On Monday, Augusta National flung open the doors to its virtual Masters shop, offering would-be patrons an eye-popping selection of Masters-branded merch.
golf.com  •  Share

ESPN Layoffs
ESPN Confirms Future Shut Down of Esports Editorial Operations – The Esports Observer｜home of essential esports business news and insights
ESPN Confirms Future Shut Down of Esports Editorial Operations – The Esports Observer｜home of essential esports business news and insights
ESPN Esports will be shutting down its entire esports division, notwithstanding work that has already been filed. The division will no longer publish new news or articles and will also see its social media accounts go dark in the days ahead, sources with knowledge of the situation have told The Esports Observer.
esportsobserver.com  •  Share

The future of ESPN after the layoffs – The Athletic
The future of ESPN after the layoffs – The Athletic
After 500 jobs were impacted in ESPN’s workforce reduction last week, where does the network go from here?
theathletic.com  •  Share

Connor Schell, ESPN's Top Content Executive, to Depart by Year's End - Variety
Connor Schell, ESPN's Top Content Executive, to Depart by Year's End - Variety
Connor Schell, the ESPN executive who oversees all of its non-game content, will leave the sports-media giant by the end of the year
variety.com  •  Share

Election 2020
Sports Helped Shape Biden. But Expect a Quieter Fan in the White House. - The New York Times
Sports Helped Shape Biden. But Expect a Quieter Fan in the White House. - The New York Times
Playing football in high school helped the president-elect overcome a stutter. And while he is known to be a sports fan, he has not displayed a taste for inserting politics in sports.
www.nytimes.com  •  Share
Techstars Startup Digest Sports Tech Live is curated by:
Will Martin Will Martin
will.martin@startupdigestmail.com
Did you see something you think we should include in our newsletter?
Suggest a link
Copyright © 2021 Techstars, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted-in on one of our websites.
Our mailing address is:
Techstars
1050 Walnut St #202
Boulder, CO 80302
If you were forwarded this newsletter and you like it, you can subscribe here.
If you don’t want these updates anymore, please unsubscribe here.
Manage all your newsletter subscriptions here.
This newsletter is carefully curated with Revue