Last April, the LA Dodgers and advertising agency R/GA announced the creation of a sports accelerator—an opportunity for emerging sports startups to access $120,000, mentors and contacts within the sports industry.
Well, after 600 applications from the 34 countries, the Dodgers program has chosen its 10 inductees, who will benefit from the sum of money above and 80 mentors to counsel them over the course of three months. There will be an invite-only demo day in November at Dodger Stadium to showcase all of these companies, and their progress since being initiated by the Dodgers Accelerator.
One might think that the Dodgers would themselves be looking to benefit from this accelerator, growing startups that could positively impact their front office and field players. But, there are a few companies on the list that would operate in a different realm than professional baseball.
Take LeagueApps for example, a company that has raised nearly $5 million in investments over four years for their program that enables people to create and manage organized sports in their own community.
This is in contrast to mobile app ProDay, also a finalist within the accelerator program, which has yet to completely launch their platform for helping the everyday person workout with professional athletes.
“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,” said Stephen Plumlee, Global Chief Operating Officer, R/GA and Managing Partner of R/GA Ventures. “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.”
Kinduct Technologies CEO Travis McDonough was equally pleased about being named to the final 10.
“We are ecstatic being named as one of the companies in the Dodgers Accelerator, it is truly an All-Star cast of companies,” said McDonough. “We are going to have some of the best mentors in the industry and have the opportunity to take the next step for Kinduct in our growth process.”
Diversification in size goes along with the diversity in the markets that these companies are trying to reach—ranging from the fantasy sports enthusiast to the college sports recruiter.
The complete list of the Dodgers Accelerator finalists can be found at their site.