Love repping your favorite NFL players and teams, but can’t afford the authentic jerseys? Don’t worry, sports fans — a new Seattle startup is here to help with a unique rental service, and I’ve been testing it out. Rep the Squad debuted its e-commerce sports jersey rental service two months ago, charging customers $19.95 per month to receive selected jerseys in the mail, one at a time. When you’re done wearing one, you can return it and receive a different jersey as long as you maintain your subscription. I gave the service a try before heading to the Seattle Seahawks game… Read More
Sensoria is getting into healthcare in a big way. The Seattle smart apparel startup today announced a new spinoff company, Sensoria Health, formed in partnership with Genesis Healthcare, the largest post-acute care provider in the U.S. Sensoria Health will focus on bringing Sensoria’s wearable technology to post-acute care providers and their patients at approximately 450 skilled nursing centers and senior living communities owned by Genesis Healthcare. The technology will used to help patients receive care for rehab, activity monitoring, and fall detection. Genesis Healthcare is funding the new company, Sensoria Health, while Sensoria is providing its IP license and distribution rights… Read More
Playing with a ball can be a lot of fun when you throw sensors and computer chips into the mix. That’s the thought behind Play Impossible, a Seattle startup that sells a smart, connected inflatable ball which links to a smartphone app and lets people play different physical games. The company launched last year and raised $1 million from Two Sigma Ventures, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, and WestRiver Group, the firm led by TopGolf Entertainment Group Co-Chairman Erik Anderson. Its first product is a small rubber ball that looks completely normal from the outside but has a bevy of electronics inside —… Read More
Esports is a $700 million global industry, and growing rapidly. And while traditional sports fans may scoff at professional video gamers dueling in heated on-screen matchups of League of Legends or Overwatch, these competitions draw millions of dedicated and passionate online viewers. Now a Seattle startup wants to capitalize on this digital craze, offering esports fans a way to compete against each other while they watch live broadcasts of pro esports competitions. The idea of wagering on the outcomes of esports may seem bizarre to some — and quite meta. After all, it’s essentially a game going on inside of a game. But… Read More
A new Seattle startup backed by top venture capital investors and NFL stars is looking to change the way sports fans pay for jerseys with an e-commerce rental model that proved successful for tech companies like Netflix and Gamefly. Rep The Squad came out of stealth mode today, announcing $1.5 million in funding from Madrona Venture Group, Maveron, Aspect Ventures, and Curious Capital. Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin; Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate; Los Angeles Chargers lineman Russell Okung; and Seattle Mariners legend Edgar Martinez are also investors. Seahawks star cornerback Richard Sherman is a brand ambassador. Led… Read More
