We are excited to announce our partnership with the Los Angeles Sports Council (LASC) during the Innovation Conference on Wednesday, November 9 at YouTube Theater in Sofi Stadium.
Startup Showdown will be hosted during the LA Sports Innovation Conference to build upon the momentum of the sports tech ecosystem in the city. The annual conference is designed to engage the industry's sports business leaders on emerging trends and cutting-edge innovations in the sports industry. This powerful gathering will highlight and embody the diversity, talent, and passion that has built LA into one of the world's most extraordinary places for sports.
In 2022, the Conference will debut the pitch competition following a full day of programming, including sessions such as the business of sports, athletes in business, and more. Panoramic and LASC are dedicated to creating unique opportunities for early-stage startups, particularly in the sports industry, to present to well-known investors and innovators in the sports tech ecosystem as they look to take their companies to the next level.
In an interview with the LA Times, Paul Judge shared insight into the partnership and the first pitch competition on the west coast. "Mix 'Shark Tank' with an actual party," said Judge. "Wealth is not evenly distributed, opportunity is not evenly distributed. We are asking how can we help make access to capital more fair?"
True to Startup Showdown tradition, every startup finalist selects a rap or hip-hop walkout song, and the judges do too. After the pitches, the judges deliberate backstage and write a life-size check to the winner.
$120,000 on the line for sportstech startups
From the hundreds of Startup Showdown applications, we anticipate receiving, 25 semifinalists will be selected to attend Mentor Day where startups will be paired with experienced founders and tech executives to help refine their pitches and gain valuable feedback. Five finalists will be selected to compete on stage in front of a panel of guest investor judges for a chance to win a $120,000 investment prize, in front of a live audience. In addition to the investment, the winner of Startup Showdown will get access to a wide variety of resources and opportunities as a full-fledged member of our portfolio, including a dedicated acceleration team that helps founders navigate the myriad challenges and hurdles that young startups need to overcome to succeed.
Applications are open for early-stage startups
The call for applications to pitch is now open and closes on September 30. This will be the 13th Startup Showdown competition since inception, with previous stops in Atlanta, Nashville, Miami, and Austin, and 1,300+ mentor sessions hosted, and over $1.6M invested. Meet previous winners. The event brings together thought leaders, dealmakers, industry innovators, and athletes to discuss relevant topics that affect the business of sport in the LA region and beyond.
To learn more about Startup Showdown and apply for future Startup Showdown pitch competitions, visit startupshowdown.vc For more information and to attend the Innovation Conference visit www.lasports.org/innovation-conference to purchase tickets.
