TORONTO – Rogers is partnering with Toronto’s Ryerson University on a national competition designed to give Canadian startups an opportunity to develop innovative technology solutions for the sport industry.
The Next Big Idea in Sport competition will provide up to 10 selected startups with four months of incubation at the Digital Media Zone at Ryerson University (DMZ) and the chance to win cash prizes totaling $100,000. Startups are encouraged to explore innovation opportunities within the sports industry spanning analytics, athletic performance technologies, analysis of business management, fan engagement, consumer experiences and social innovation.
Applications are due by May 1, 2015 and up to 10 startups from across Canada will be selected to incubate at the DMZ in Toronto before presenting their companies to a panel of judges after four months of incubation. The top three finalists, as determined by judges that will include CFL commissioner Mark Cohon and senior leaders from the likes of Rogers, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment and the Canadian Olympic Committee, will be provided with prizes of $50,000, $30,000 and $20,000 in cash funding, respectively.
"We are passionate about innovation at Rogers, and we want the Next Big Idea in Sport to inspire students and startups to develop new and creative solutions for athletes, coaches, teams, sport media and even professional sports leagues," said Rogers’ chief brand officer Dale Hooper, in the news release. "The world of sport has become so competitive that every advantage matters, and that's why so many teams are turning to technological and analytical innovations to gain that competitive edge. Hopefully some of that can be revolutionized by the ideas generated in this contest."
"We are in the midst of a performance revolution in sports that is being driven by technology, big data and analytics," added Sheldon Levy, president and vice chancellor of Ryerson University. "Thanks to Rogers, this competition will give young startups an outstanding opportunity to work with emerging and innovative technologies to generate creative solutions for the sports industry."
