#97 📣 Applications Open: SPORTS TECH BOOTCAMP

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The 2nd week of our two part look at the potential of Esports, on the back of the recent Esports World Cup. And a major announcement around our latest offering - Sports Tech Bootcamp. Class will soon be in session, more details below,

As always, have a great weekend!

The Tremendous Potential of Esports: Competitive level of Gaming still has much to offer

Part II of our two part up close look at Esports on the back of the recent Esports World Cup (EWC) held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Here's Part I from last week, in case you missed it.

Esports is big business, rivaling the traditional sporting realm in both its audience size and financial stakes. For context, according to Statista in 2022 boasted an audience of 530 million viewers. According to some estimates, that is bigger than a lot of sports, including Baseball, Golf and American Football. Importantly, Esports audiences tend to be much, much younger.

While there are significant challenges around the financial models of Esports, there is no denying the cultural influence of Gaming. Perhaps it's pro tier still has potential to be unlocked.

The EWC was a monumental event: 22 tournaments across highly celebrated games, boasting an impressive prize pool of $60 million.

According to Escharts, the EWC amassed 12.5 million viewing hours across streaming platforms. And that is across 500 million viewers according to officially released numbers, underscoring the immense pull of esports.

The tournament reached its peak on opening day, attracting 1.2 million viewers, and held a steady average viewership of 560k throughout the event. This engagement signals healthy interest in esports, and perhaps solidifies its presence alongside other professional sports.

The crossover between Sports and Gaming has been spoken about ad nauseum, but not so much about the tech crossover.

Interactive layers driving fan engagement, multi-modal gathering of fan data, diversified revenue streams - all of these aspects, and others, are crucial to the growth of Esports. And by the way, all the same challenges that any new sport faces while figuring out how to monetise their fan base.

Maybe this is the shift in perception is they key. Instead of looking at Esports as a ‘has been’, the significant Saudi investment has given it a second wind. That points to the potential that could yet be unlocked by a sport that still has a big say on the global sporting stage.

Applications Open: SPORTS TECH BOOTCAMP!

🏆 A Certificate course in Sports Innovation and Technology for those looking to advance their career in the sports industry. Because the future of sports is driven by tech.

✅ Starting this November, over 6 weeks, Team SportsTechX will help you get up to speed with the latest in sports technology.

Over 6 tailored modules, participants will go through a mix of live & recorded sessions, 1-on-1 mentorship, networking, and even internship opportunities if relevant. A first of it's kind, the course is designed to be user-friendly, data-driven and straight to the point.

Live & Recorded content over 6 weeks, covering

• Overview of the Sports Tech Market

• Latest Trends & key developments

• Real world use-cases and examples

And plenty more. A 'No BS' guide to the current state of innovation in sport.

Only 10 seats in the first edition. At an inaugural offer price of € 649.

Application Deadline: 1 November, 2024.

Top News from the World of Sports Tech & Biz

🏀 The NBA opened applications for the fourth (2024) cohort of NBA Launchpad. Applications open till Friday, October 18th, apply here. 

💪🏽 The adidas Community Lab, opened applications for its first ever equity-focused sports tech accelerator for Houston founders. Thanks to a collaboration with Impact Hub and Black Ambition, the diversity-focused program has expanded its footprint for its 2024-2025 cohort.

🎮 EA is set to launch an ambitious new social app that will use its existing technology to mix real-life and virtual sports. Tied in with EA's other sports games, it provides the possibility of unlocking prizes like the ultra popular Ultimate Team cards.

🏀 Saudi Arabia’s PIF-owned SURJ Sports Investment, will reportedly bid for a € 1 billion minority stake in the EuroLeague. 

💪🏽 Starting lineup for the 2024 Techstars Sports Accelerator Powered by Indy has been announced, across various categories: Ticketing (Fanbase & VOW), Fan engagement (Grandstand & SQQ), Athlete wellness (Geysersteam & Wellnify), Player performance (BodyPro & Tzuka) & Recreational sports (RunAgain & FishBuddy). 

🎮 Florida International University launched a dedicated esports lounge in collaboration with gaming PC brand Alienware. The Alienware FIU Esports Lounge is part of the university’s strategy to foster a ‘culture of esports’ on its campus.

 🏋️ Researchers at IIT-M have developed an indigenous portable Point-of-Care-Ultrasound (POCUS) scanner for sports injury diagnosis and management. This can potentially allow on-field diagnosis and immediate assessment of the extent of injury.

🏋️ FitnessAI, the AI-powered gym workout app, launched BodyScan technology for mobile devices. Consumers can now perform fitness scans with the FitnessAI mobile app. 

🎾 Tennis Social AI, launched its V1 Tennis Simulator, which is slated for full-scale production and installation by early 2025. The simulator's customisable video games and training modules allow users to socialise while improving their fitness and technique.

🏈 The National Football League (NFL) launched another Big Data Bowl, where contestants use Next Gen Stats player tracking data to generate actionable, creative, and novel stats.

💪🏽 In a landmark move for inclusivity in sports, the NCAA approved Gallaudet University’s use of a 5G tech-enhanced football helmet, designed specifically for deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes during the 2024 season. This was developed in collaboration between Gallaudet University, AT&T and Riddell.

Money Talks:

💰 UK based commercial grade Pilates reformer, Reform RX, secured $5.1 million in funding, led by Clarendon Fund Managers - the equity fund manager for the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland.

🤝 Dual-listed Flutter Entertainment announced that it agreed to acquire Italian gaming operator Snaitech from a subsidiary of Playtech, at a value of $2.6 billion (€2.3 billion) in cash. Ka-ching!

🤝 It also announced the acquisition of an initial 56% stake in NSX Group, a Brazilian operator of the Betnacional brand, for approximately $350 million. 

🤝 Signing Day Sports announced the signing of a binding term sheet to acquire the majority of high growth Sports Gaming Technology company, Swifty Global, for an undisclosed amount.

🤝 Gaming competition platform Leaguespot, announced its acquisition of youth and community esports league management company Mission Control, for an undisclosed amount.

🤝 Canadian telecommunications heavyweight Rogers signed an agreement to buy Bell's 37.5% ownership stake in the Toronto-based sports franchise owner Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) for C$4.7 billion ($3.46 billion).

💰 Nazara Technologies to raise $ 108 million (₹ 900 crore) in its biggest fundraise.

🤝 It also acquired an additional stake in Absolute Sports, the parent company of Sportskeeda, for ₹ 145.5 Cr. 

Latest from our channels

🎙 #220 World’s First Gaming & Esports District: Qiddiya City 

Continuing the esports World Cup series from the New Global Sports Conference, The Sports Tech Allstars Podcast presents Mike Milanov, Chairman - Advisory Board, Gaming & Esports at Qiddiya.

Mike is a seasoned gaming and esports veteran with a unique blend of industry expertise, entrepreneurial drive and a passion for shaping the future. As Chairman of the Advisory Board, Gaming & Esports at Qiddiya, Milanov spearheads the development of the global gaming and esports hub, the Qiddiya City Gaming & Esports District, ensuring it boldly aligns with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. Demonstrating his strategic foresight, Milanov has contributed to developing forward-looking projects in the gaming and esports industry extending into 2050.

🔙 STX Article: Dominate Your Fantasy Football League: Innovative Tools for a Smarter Fantasy Football Season.

✅ STX Monthly: Last month’s sports tech dealflow, in case you missed it.

💪🏽 SportsTech AllStars Recap: Innovation in Broadcasting Tech