Global Sports Venture Studio has teamed with major leagues, brands and agencies as founding partners. That list includes MLB, MLS, NHL, UEFA (as European anchor), adidas, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Levy, E15, Fox Sports and Octagon.
GSVS launched in January as an offshoot of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ accelerator program in conjunction with R/GA Ventures. The platform will connect industry leaders with promising startups to bring ideas to the marketplace.
“Our founding partners are leaders within the sports and entertainment ecosystem, and we’re looking forward to experimenting and innovating together,” said Tucker Kain, LA Dodgers CFO and managing partner of Elysian Park, the club’s investment arm, in a press release. “We’re excited to build on the success of the Dodgers Accelerator with R/GA to establish a new model that truly brings together some of our industry’s brightest minds.”
Among the areas of sports, media and entertainment in which GSVS will seek to innovate are data optimization, media rights, future of retail, sports betting, youth sports, player performance, next-gen content platforms, venue innovation and fan experience.
“Studio programming will address the technologies, behaviors, and innovations that Partners should be considering,” said Stephen Plumlee, global COO of R/GA and managing partner of R/GA Ventures, in the release. “Then the Studio will leverage that foundation to provide highly-customized opportunities for engagement between the Founding Partners and the best early-stage startups and growth-stage companies.”