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Strong Out Of The Box: Sports Innovation Lab Signs 10 Launch Customers

Ten companies have signed on as launch customers of the Sports Innovation Lab, a sports technology research and consulting firm founded by a trio that includes IOC Exec Board member ANGELA RUGGIERO and former NFLer ISAIAH KACYVENSKI. The company expects future clients to spend at least $100,000 annually for access to the startup’s full range of services and database of more than 1,000 sports and fitness technology vendors, though an annual subscription to the database is cheaper than that. The launch customers include: IBM, Octagon, Gatorade, Booz Allen Hamilton, Go4It, Stack Media, Harvard Innovation Labs, MIT Sports Tech Research Group (STE@M), the NFLPA and the USC Center for Body Computing. Ruggiero, Kacyvenski and former Forrester VP/Research JOSH WALKER founded the company in early ‘16 after deciding the sports world would pay for detailed analysis of the sprawling, rapidly changing world of technology vendors. Exact pricing is customizable. “We keep seeing large, sophisticated organizations making large decisions about tech, sometimes with very limited information,” Kacyvenski said. “That’s not acceptable in any other industry and it shouldn’t be acceptable in the sports industry at all." The firm will formally launch tomorrow. The basic service provided by Sports Innovation Lab is the database of potential technology solutions for teams, leagues, brand marketers, host cities, broadcasters or anyone else in the industry. The database is divided into 30 emerging segments and can offer research and trend analysis of these vendors. Customers can purchase one-on-one advisory sessions and access to the firm’s competitive analysis of a given industry segment, branded “Scout." Also, the Lab will run an events business, scheduling its inaugural research forum for Feb. 16-17 at the Harvard Innovation Lab.

WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED
: Ruggiero gave a few examples of who might want their service: A venue trying to upgrade wireless connectivity, or a new sponsor looking to optimize fan engagement in activations, or players unions or teams looking for the best biometric analytics providers. They hope the lab’s database will be a more efficient answer than the traditional path of merely hiring a consultant with personal connections or expertise. “We’re trying to build an efficiency play,” she said. “We think we’ll have the most complete source of information. You can do what you want with it, you can go do your own due diligence or you can hire us to to help you with the information. This is about helping the industry get better."

STEPPING INTO THE PUBLIC
: The Sports Innovation Lab last month made its first public move, joining the NFLPA and other partners to found the OneTeam Collective, a new business accelerator targeting sports-focused startups. Ruggiero, Kacyvenski and Walker are funding the business themselves. The team also includes DAVID THYRESSON and WINSLOW HICKS. The firm is based in the Booz Allen Hamilton Innovation Center in Boston. A group of 37 independent, unpaid consultants have agreed to advise the trio and clients, including Causeway Media Partners Managing Partner BOB HIGGINS, Jaguars Senior VP/Football Administration & Technology TONY KHAN and NFL Players Inc. VP/Business & Legal Affairs SEAN SANSIVERI. To create the database, the Lab compiled data, mostly already public, from technology startups around the world, a process heavily influenced by their expert advisors. They may buy or license non-public company information to include in the database in the future, Walker said. “It’s not so much that you couldn’t go out to LinkedIn and see these companies’ information in an isolated way,” Walker said. “it’s organizing the information and providing a framework for it all. And that’s the hard work." Kacyvenski and Ruggiero first met as undergrads at Harvard, where he worked as a security guard at the ice rink where Ruggiero practiced. Kacyvenski and Walker were developing the idea for the Lab when they contacted Ruggiero for advice, who ultimately joined the partnership.

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