Dallas Cowboys and local entrepreneur Rob Wechsler officially launched its Blue Star Accelerator program Monday.
The accelerator and investment venture, which will live on the team’s campus in Frisco, Texas, will give companies at the intersection of technology, sports and entertainment the opportunity to leverage both the Cowboys and Wechsler’s relationships and expertise.
In recent months, other professional franchises such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia 76ers and Minnesota Vikings have launched similar incubation startup labs and accelerator programs, a growing industry trend which will undoubtedly continue heading into 2017.
“The vision for The Star was to bring incredible opportunities not only for the Jones Family businesses, but for the sports industry as a whole,” said Dallas Cowboys Owner, President and General Manager Jerry Jones in a statement. “We are constantly looking to innovate, evolve and utilize our resources in the most effective way possible. Rob Wechsler is the ideal entrepreneur to partner with us to bring the vision of Blue Star Accelerator to life. We see this residence incubator program as a perfect match for what we are doing with our headquarters and our business as a whole.”
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Added Rob Wechsler, CEO and Founder, Blue Star Sports in a statement: “I am thrilled to partner with the Jones family here in Frisco with a new joint mission to help young, growth-stage companies reach their full potential by utilizing our combined network and expertise.”
The application process is now live for startups and entrepreneurs, who will soon present to the Jones family, team executives, Wechsler and other potential investors. Those companies selected will then be embedded at the team’s global headquarters, The Star.