The NFLPA’s athlete-driven accelerator, the OneTeam Collective, will host its third-annual pitch competition today in Atlanta. A group of 10 startups have been invited by the NFLPA to participate in the event and two winning companies will be chosen to join the OneTeam Collective’s portfolio.
The event will take place at the Switchyards club in downtown Atlanta, and will be moderated by ESPN anchor Michele Steele. Each company will have six minutes to pitch their products and ideas to a judging panel consisting of Malaika Underwood, VP of licensing for Brandr Group, Eric Winston, former NFL player and NFLPA president, Teri Smith, NFLPA Deputy Managing Director, fantasy sports writer Matthew Berry, Rouz Jazayeri, the co-founder and managing director of Catapult Ventures, and Marques Colston, former NFL player and CEO of Dynasty Innovation.
The two winning pitches will claim various prize packages including cash, player marketing investment, and consulting services from CSM LeadDog. There is also the potential for the winning startups to eventually gain access to funding, mentorship and the NFLPA’s exclusive group licensing rights.
Collectable
Collectable is an app that aggregates sports auction data gives historical price guides for memorabilia. Founded by Dave Yoken, it is developing a peer-to-peer marketplace that aims to make the buying and selling of sports collectables both safe and trustworthy.
Fresh Bellies
Fresh Bellies is a line of organic baby food. Founded by Saskia Sorrosa, it uses herbs and spices to create flavors instead of masking the taste of vegetables in its products with fruit.
Genies
Genies creates digital clones designed to look and act like its users. Founded by Evan Rosenbaum, Akash Nigam, and Matt Geiger, its avatars are 3D motion picture quality and incorporate artificial intelligence.
GivingSquad
GivingSquad is a crowdfunding platform for professional athletes. Founded by Nicholas Kartos and Joe Shuchat, it allows athletes to engage fans with their campaigns through fantasy sports, gaming, and online retail.
ReadyUp
ReadyUp is an app designed to better connect the pro esports world with the amateur gaming community. Founded by Roderick Alemania and Johnathan Wendel, ReadyUp incorporates team management, skill development, and engagement tools.
Strive Tech
Strive Tech makes smart clothing and analytics software. Founded by Nikola Mrvaljevic and Carsten Winsnes, Strive Tech’s shorts are designed to be both washable and comfortable, and to help coaches correlate muscle, heart, and motion metrics.
The Crown League
The Crown League is a fantasy sports league owned by fans. Founded by Mathew Sposta, Dan Nissanoff, and Derek Siskin, shares in Crown League team ownership will be tradable stocks, while the teams themselves will be managed by experts.
theCut
theCut is a platform that aims to connect barbers and clients. Founded by Obi Omile and Kush Patel, the mobile marketplace is similar to others based around transportation or accommodation, but focused on men’s grooming.
Tonal
Tonal is a smart home fitness machine that incorporates video training classes. Founded by Aly Orady, its all-in-one equipment features a video screen, and it aims to do for the home gym what Peloton has done for cycling.
Unruly Studios
Unruly Studios aims to empower children to learn science, technology, engineering, and math skills through social play and sports. Founded by Bryanne Leeming, the company’s first product, Unruly Splats, is a set of floor buttons that can be coded to light up, make sound, and sense steps.