Ryerson to host finale of Next Big Idea in Sport competition in partnership with Rogers

Eight startups will face off in a sports competition showcasing innovative sports technologies at the grand finale of the inaugural Next Big Idea in Sport Competition (NBIS) on Thursday, Dec. 10. The event will serve to launch a new entrepreneurial hub at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University (TRSM) as well.

The NBIS competition, a partnership between Ryerson University and Rogers, was launched (opens in new window)  in February, giving up to 10 selected startups four months to incubate their venture in Ryerson’s DMZ (opens in new window)  in the lead-up to the final event. Startups were encouraged to explore innovation opportunities within the sport industry, from enhancing athletic performance to fan engagement.

Eight teams will deliver a short pitch for a chance to win one of three cash prizes totaling $100,000. Sportsnet Central host Brendan Dunlop will introduce the teams and provide introductory remarks. 

Judging panel:

• Pary Bell, Vice President, Rogers Media & NHL Digital Properties
• Professor Cheri Bradish, Loretta Rogers Research Chair in Sport Marketing, TRSM
• Dale Hooper, Chief Brand Officer, Rogers
• Alan Lysne, Managing Director, Ryerson Futures Inc.
• Scott Moore, President, Sportsnet & NHL Properties, Rogers
• Dean Steven Murphy, TRSM
• Abdullah Snobar, Executive Director, DMZ
   

Teams:

• Brizi (external link, opens in new window) : creating world’s first “social drone” that puts the sports experience in the hands of fans
• Logit (external link, opens in new window) : (RightBlueLabs): app that forecasts injury, burnout in performance athletes
• OnyxMotion (external link, opens in new window) : developing a “digital coach” to help athletes perform better using wearable tech
• OpenSports (external link, opens in new window) : mobile app to help people connect with sports activities, players and organizations
• PUSH (external link, opens in new window) : wearable band  that tracks and analyses athletes’ performance while reducing risk of injury
• Scorena (external link, opens in new window) : Fantasy-style game where sports fans worldwide connect to make predictions at live events
• Stathletes (external link, opens in new window) : comprehensive online database that analyses hockey players’ performance, providing valuable insights into their game
• VIDEOGAMI (external link, opens in new window) : cloud-based platform enabling broadcasters to capture live content and share on social media