Dorsey: SportsTech Accelerator an ‘Enormous Accomplishment’
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowOne of Indiana’s biggest names in technology says a newly-announced multi-million-dollar accelerator is a key opportunity for the state to blend its strengths in tech and sports. Indiana Sports Corp. Board Chair and High Alpha founding partner Scott Dorsey says Techstars SportsTech Accelerator Powered by Indy can impact the state’s sports organizations "in a profound way" in areas from big data science to esports and virtual reality.
In interviews with Inside INdiana Business Reporter Mary-Rachel Redman, Dorsey and Pacers Sports and Entertainment President Rick Fuson discussed the impact of the accelerator.
"For Indianapolis to be the hub for sports-related technology on a global scale is an enormous accomplishment," said Dorsey. "We’re just getting started."
Indiana Sports Corp. joined other founding members Pacers Sports and Entertainment, NCAA and Indiana’s Next Level Fund to announce the three-year, multi-million-dollar partnership with Colorado-based Techstars. The accelerator will select 10 companies each year to come to Indianapolis for the three-month program at the NCAA Engagement Center in the 16 Tech innovation district. Supporting partners include the Indianapolis Colts, Verizon IndyCar Series and Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Indiana Sports Corp. President Ryan Vaughn says Indianapolis stands to see a major economic benefit from the partnership. He says about half of the companies that go through Techstars accelerators, on average, stay and grow in the cities where the program is housed. Vaughn says the sports teams and organizations will also benefit, thanks to the innovation coming from the selected companies.