In an unusual twist, Buffalo Startup Weekend is hosting an event that is focused on attracting entrepreneurs who are interested in the tech side of the sports industry. On the weekend of May 1-3, 2015, innovators looking to launch sports-centric startups are invited to attend the 54-hour event, where they will “share ideas, form teams, and launch a startup.”
May 2 is a day that is considered the “Greatest Day in Sports” (Kentucky Derby, Yankees vs. Red Sox, Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather fight, and also possible NHL and NBA finals games), technologists, designers and marketers interested in the sports industry are invited to attend Buffalo Startup Weekend Sports! The mashup, powered by AT&T, is the first of its kind in the country.
“With four successful Startup Weekend events under our belt, creating a specific themed Startup Weekend event made sense for us to grow beyond Western New York and attract participants from nearby die-hard sports communities, including Toronto, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Columbus and Detroit,” said Startup Weekend Co-organizer and Z80 Labs Managing Director Steve Poland. “The successful growth of Buffalo’s startup community over the past several years makes the timing right to host a themed event. We chose to focus on sports given the area’s history and passion for sports, as well as the fact that Buffalo is home to some of the most well known sports franchises and sports-centric companies around the country. A sports-themed event presents limitless possibilities.”
Buffalo Startup Weekend Sports! is geared towards those who have been looking to learn the ins and outs of sports business, as it pertains to the following: Second screen fan experiences, sports science and big data, fantasy sports and in-game experiences. Buffalo is, and will always be a sports town. The city lives and breathes sports, and the local sports industry is currently growing by leaps and bounds. The tech industry is also in the midst of huge growth surges, with talks of a new Bills stadium Downtown and Pegulaville. There couldn’t be a better time for this sort of tech-driven sports focused event.
“AT&T is proud to partner with Buffalo Startup Weekend Sports! to bring this unique event to Western New York, a region in which we are proud to foster local innovation and support the robust tech and startup community,” said Marissa Shorenstein, New York President, AT&T. “This event is a perfect forum for entrepreneurs to develop business plans revolving around Western New York’s deep rooted passion for sports and we are excited to see the creative ideas that will come out of the weekend.”