The Los Angeles Dodgers' are known as one of the more innovative teams in professional sports for their implementation of advanced statistics to help their team perform on the field. But lately, the team's front office has stolen the show for their love for tech startups.
Last year, the organization announced the creation of the Dodgers Accelerator, in association with R/GA. The first graduating cohort featured LA-based stars like Appetize and FocusMotion. Recently, the organization announced their second-ever cohort, featuring five growing tech startups.
Greenfly creates a technology platform that enables companies to easily build, manage and leverage networks of content contributors. The Santa Monica-based startup was founded by former Los Angeles Dodger Shawn Green. President and CEO Daniel Kirschner said he feels that the team's history of innovation and breaking down barriers will benefit cohort members immensely.
What do you expect to get out of the program?
We expect to learn from two of the best organizations in sports and marketing, the Dodgers and R/GA. We will accelerate the growth of our business by learning from the best and making use of their tremendous support and resources.
What does the opportunity to join the Dodgers Accelerator mean to Greenfly?
We are excited to be part of this incredible program with one of the most iconic teams in US sports, and one of the most forward-thinking agencies in the world.
What does the Dodgers' focus on tech have to say about the sports technology industry?
The Dodgers have a storied tradition of breaking down barriers and engaging new audiences. The Dodgers' present becomes the sports industry’s future, and their focus on tech indicates the profound impact technology is having on the way teams develop their players, engage their fans, and strive for excellence.
Who is your favorite Los Angeles Dodger of all time?
Maury Wills. Maury had a very positive and personal impact on Shawn’s career as a coach and mentor to Shawn.
Renegade creates next-generation, Sweat X branded sports detergent, stain and odor technologies, specifically engineered to meet the demands of an active lifestyle. Their product is used at the professional, collegiate and youth sports levels across the country. The company is based in Beachwood, Ohio, and CEO and co-founder Cathy Horton feels tremendously honored to have been accepted to the program.
What do you expect to get out of the program?
We are looking forward to deploying the gifts and talents of the R/GA team, and to growing our market presence with the support of and alignment with the Dodgers' family.
What does the opportunity to join the Dodgers Accelerator mean to Renegade?
It is an enormous honor to be selected by the LA Dodgers accelerator. The Dodgers are now not only our treasured customer, but are also an evangelist for the growth of our company and its products. Their pairing with R/GA makes telling our brand story possible, at the same time as harnessing our explosive growth.
What does the Dodgers' focus on tech have to say about the sports technology industry?
It is clear that the sports industry is a remarkable and well entrenched economic engine that continues to be positioned for growth in America. Likewise, technologies offering new products and services that disrupt and improve delivery or performance in the sports sector are equally vital to that marketplace. The Dodgers and its leadership clearly understand the financial synergies between the established industry and these compelling new technologies that seek to change and deliver value to it. The Dodgers should be applauded for their vision and their ability to embrace celebrated technology disrupters that are promising to the future of sports excellence in our country.
Who is your favorite Los Angeles Dodger of all time?
Don Sutton.
Keemotion has created an automated production technology that enables broadcast partners around the world to produce, customize and stream professional-quality HD video. The company splits its operations between offices in NY and Belgium. CEO Milton Lee is keenly aware of the Dodgers attitude towards tech innovation, and is very familiar with the organization's history on the field.
What do you expect to get out of the program?
The program has already been rewarding. From the strategic conversations we've had with management to the introductions that have been made to potential partners, the Dodger's are helping us develop our strategy and grow our business. Now that the program has officially started we're excited to dive head first into the relationship with R/GA.
What does the opportunity to join the Dodgers Accelerator mean to Keemotion?
Keemotion's inclusion in the Dodger's Accelerator validates the potential both Keemotion and the Dodgers' feel we have. We are honored to be part of their second class.
What does the Dodgers' focus on tech have to say about the sports technology industry?
I think the Dodgers' focus on tech is a reflection of management's forward thinking mantra. It is the right time, the confluence of the mobile revolution, cloud based computing and big data have opened the doors for new technologies like ours to penetrate the world of sports.
Who is your favorite Los Angeles Dodger of all time?
Ron Cey. My childhood had 3 Dodger's-Yankees World Series matchups, '77, '78 and '81. Ron Cey was tough as nails. Gotta love a guy nicknamed "The Penguin," who made it in the majors for over 15 years. Fernando [Valenzuela] was a close second!
ShotTracker creates a product that captures real-time stats for basketball teams, giving youth programs affordable access to potentially game-changing analytics. The team is based in Kansas City, Missouri, and co-founder Dayveon Ross said he believes the accelerator will give him and his team insight as to how they can effectively scale their startup.
What do you expect to get out of the program?
We hope to gain new perspectives on how we can quickly scale our business, gain some great visibility in the marketplace and accelerate implementation of our technology though our relationship with R/GA and via some pretty incredible new partners.
What does the opportunity to join the Dodgers Accelerator mean to ShotTracker?
It means a lot to our company to be part of the accelerator because of the guidance and resources it provides. The opportunity to collaborate with the Dodgers' leadership, not to mention the other companies in the program, is really exciting for us.
What does the Dodgers' focus on tech have to say about the sports technology industry?
The Dodgers focus on tech shows that they are truly interested in the advancement of all sports and supporting new business models along the way.
Who is your favorite Los Angeles Dodger of all time?
Duke Snyder. He's the Dodgers all-time home run leader, and at ShotTracker, we're all about home runs.
Israel-based WSC Sports Technologies has developed a platform that creates personalized sports videos automatically and in real-time, helping sports leagues and broadcasters engage fans and monetize their content. Director of business development Aviv Arnon said the Dodgers Accelerator is a fantastic way to increase awareness for all participants.
What do you expect to get out of the program?
We believe the program will help us get more sports media owners to partner with us, and start using our technology and automate video creation and distribution. We have identified several opportunities that the accelerator would enable us to explore.
What does the opportunity to join the Dodgers Accelerator mean to WSC Sports Technologies?
We are excited to take part in this program. The Dodgers are a global brand and their vote of confidence in us further validates our technology and product.
What does the Dodgers' focus on tech have to say about the sports technology industry?
Sports technology is booming right now. With major tech companies moving into the space, VC funds dedicating themselves to sports-related technologies and many startups with amazing tech that are focusing on sports. Among other things, changes in media consumption are reshaping the industry, and the Dodgers are ahead of the curve to identify that and help drive innovation.
Who is your favorite Los Angeles Dodger of all time?
We'd have to say Jackie Robinson, for breaking breaking down the barriers he did, much as we try to do with our company.
Submissions were edited for length and clarity. Images via Facebook and Flickr.
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