Startup Competition & Trade Show

Details

The SSAC Startup Competition & Trade Show 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 2026 SSAC Startup Competition & Trade Show can be submitted through this form. Applications are due by January 9, 2026, at 11:59PM EST. Selected candidates will be notified in late January.

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 6-7, 2026 at the Thomas M. Menino 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 6, 2026)
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.