Startup Competition & Trade Show

Details

The SSAC Startup Competition & Trade Show, presented by Ticketmaster, showcases innovation in sports-related technologies, products, and services. Selected companies will pitch to esteemed industry experts, potential customers, business partners, and investors.

Successful prior participants include: Noah Basketball, Perch, Proteus Motion, and ShotTracker. Their exposure at SSAC led to credibility and supported raising larger funding rounds.

Applications for the 2025 SSAC Startup Competition & Trade Show have now closed.

Rules

Competition Rules

Startups of all sizes in the fields of sports-related technologies, products, and services are invited to apply. For all startups selected to continue into the final round of the competition (taking place March 7-8, 2025 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in Boston, MA), the following rules apply:

Entry fees: Companies will pay the entry fee to participate ($1,500)
Presenters: You may have up to two presenters on stage, but they must be your two ticket holders from your package.
Timing: Pitches will take place during the conference. Presenting order will be communicated closer to the competition date. You will have 15 minutes to pitch to our judging panel. This also includes time for Q&A. The winners will be announced at the end of the Conference during closing remarks
Judging: Judges are still actively being confirmed; please keep an eye on our website for this information. While there is no official criteria that judges will be scoring against, they will be encouraged to consider things such as Innovation/Creativeness, Business Sense/Scalability, and Impact on the Industry, on top of overall presentation quality. We recommend you present in the way you believe best showcases your story

Competition Eligibility

In order to participate in the Startup Competition & Trade Show, companies must meet the following criteria:

Have not raised over $15 million, as of date of conference (March 7, 2025)
Have never won the SSAC Startup Competition & Trade Show before
Founders of the applying company retain some portion of ownership in the company

Questions

Answers to frequently asked questions about the Startup Competition & Trade Show can be found in the FAQs Tab. If you have any additional questions about the Startup Competition & Trade Show, please reach out to tradeshow@sloansportsconference.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where will the SSAC Startup Competition & Trade Show be?

The 2025 SSAC Startup Competition & Trade Show will take place on March 7-8, 2025 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, MA.

What does participation in the Startup Competition & Trade Show look like?

Trade Show Booth: Each participating startup will have a booth to showcase its product or service to conference attendees.
Startup Competition: Each startup will have 15 minutes to pitch to our judging panel of industry experts and investors. The 15 minutes will also include time for Q&A. Startups should explain how their companies are revolutionizing the sports industry.

What is the eligibility criteria for the Startup Competition & Trade Show?

In order to participate in the Startup Competition & Trade Show, companies must meet the following general criteria:
(1) Have not raised over $15 million, as of date of conference (March 7, 2025)
(2) Have never won the SSAC Startup Competition & Trade Show before
(3) Founders of the applying company retain some portion of ownership in the company

What is required of startups that are selected to participate in the Startup Competition & Trade Show?

Startups will pay the entry fee to participate ($1,500). Your company will receive two (2) presenter tickets, and a booth along a main corridor of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center as part of the entry fee.

What are the benefits of participating in the Startup Competition & Trade Show?

The Trade Show is a valuable networking and business development opportunity for all startup participants. Stakeholders from across the sports industry such as investors, corporate sponsors, media companies, professional athletes, general managers, customers, and more will be among conference attendees. Winners of the Startup Competition, as determined by our panel of judges, will be awarded a prize to be announced.

Do you have additional information about the Trade Show Booth?

The SSAC committee will distribute additional Trade Show Booth guidelines to participants.

Does SSAC have a social media presence? If so, how can our company interact with SSAC?

Yes, SSAC is on X, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Once payment is confirmed, SSAC will be able to engage with your startup (e.g., follow, retweet) on social media. Therefore, we recommend any public disclosure of your organization’s attendance to be announced after the payment confirmation.