Overview

The Startup Competition and Trade Show provides an opportunity for selected startups and small companies to showcase their innovations in the fields of sports-related technologies, products, and services. This year, the SSAC Startup Competition and Trade Show offers two tracks: (1) Fan Experience and (2) Competition and Performance. Those that are selected by the SSAC committee will have the opportunity to present their products and/or services to potential customers, business partners, investors, and employees. The winner of each track will receive a $3,000 cash prize.

This year, the competition will be held virtually with each contestant submitting a pre-recorded pitch. Not only does this make the event more accessible than ever, but the format allows startups to creatively communicate their visions in ways that are impossible on a traditional stage.

Past participants include successful organizations such as ShotTracker, Noah Basketball, Nex Team, and many others that have leveraged their exposure to industry thought-leaders to successfully raise larger funding rounds.

Apply now!

FAQ

How can my company participate?

Companies should apply here by March 14. Selected participants will be notified shortly after with further details about the logistics of the event.

When and where will the SSAC Startup Competition and Trade Show be?

The 2021 SSAC Startup Competition and Trade Show will take place virtually on April 8-9, 2021.

What does participation in the Startup Competition and Trade Show look like?

Trade Show Booth: Each participating startup will be given a virtual booth to showcase its product or service to conference attendees.
Startup Competition: Each startup will pre-record a 5 minute pitch for the judging panel of industry experts and investors. Startups should explain how their companies are revolutionizing the sports industry. The event on April 8-9 will include a stream of this recording and a short live Q&A session.

What is the eligibility criteria for the Startup Competition and Trade Show?

In order to participate in the startup competition and trade show companies must meet the following criteria:

• Will pay the entry fee to participate ($1,500)
• Have not raised over $15 million, as of date of application
• Have participated in one or fewer MIT SSAC Startup Competition & Trade Shows
• Founders of the applying company retain some portion of ownership in the company

What are the benefits of participating in the Startup Competition and Trade Show?

The Trade Show is a valuable networking and business development opportunity for all startup participants. Stakeholders from across the sports industry such as investors, corporate sponsors, media companies, professional athletes, general managers, customers, and more will be among conference attendees.

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Winners of the Startup Competition, as determined by our panel of judges, will be awarded a $3,000 cash prize.

Do you have additional information about the Trade Show Booth?

The SSAC committee will distribute additional Trade Show Booth guidelines to participants.

Do you need a specific type of format for our company logo?

Please be prepared to provide high-resolution versions of both color and black-and-white renditions of your logo, in both vector (SVG) and raster (PNG or JPG) formats to accommodate all applications across the conference platforms.

Does the MIT SSAC have a social media presence? If so, how can our company interact with the MIT SSAC?

Yes, the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference (SSAC) is on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Once payment is confirmed, the MIT SSAC will be able to engage with your startup (e.g. follow, retweet) on social media. Therefore, we recommend any public disclosure of your organization’s attendance to be announced after the payment confirmation.

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