Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

NFL teams with Comcast NBCUniversal & Mayo Clinic for 3rd annual '1st and Future' super Bowl start-up competition

Submitted

Fri, Dec 15th 2017 09:25 pm
Up to nine startups will pitch game-changing technologies as they compete for $50,000, two tickets to Super Bowl LII
The National Football League, Comcast NBCUniversal and Mayo Clinic have opened the submission process for "1st and Future," the NFL's annual Super Bowl start-up competition designed to spur novel advancements in athlete safety and performance. "1st and Future" will be held at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis on Feb. 3, 2018, the day before Super Bowl LII.
Beginning today, entrepreneurs and innovators may submit entries in three categories - advancements in protective equipment, technology to improve athletic performance, and new therapies to speed recovery - for the chance to pitch their idea to a panel of judges and an exclusive audience, including NFL team owners and executives, and representatives from the Minneapolis Super Bowl host committee, Comcast NBCUniversal and Mayo Clinic.
"We are thrilled to collaborate with Comcast NBCUniversal as well as Mayo Clinic to support innovators who are committed to advancing sports technology and athlete health and safety," said Jeff Miller, NFL executive vice president of health and safety initiatives.
Up to nine companies will be selected to compete in Minneapolis and one winner from each category will be selected awarded by a panel of judges comprising former NFL players, entrepreneurs and medical experts. In addition to the opportunity to present their innovations, the winning team from each category will receive a $50,000 check from the NFL and two tickets to Super Bowl LII.
Minneapolis-based SportsEngine Inc., a division of Comcast NBCUniversal's NBC Sports Group and the leading youth sports technology provider, will serve as a home base for the competing companies during the week prior to the "1st and Future" competition. Together, NBC Sports Ventures, Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs for entrepreneurs and SportsEngine will administer the "1st and Future" competition.
For more information on the submission process, selection criteria and official rules, visit https://www.sportsengine.com/1st-and-future. The deadline to submit applications is Jan. 5, 2018.
"As the U.S. television home of Super Bowl LII, we're excited to partner with NFL and Mayo Clinic to support entrepreneurial efforts towards breakthroughs in athlete safety and performance," said Rob Simmelkjaer, SVP, NBC Sports Ventures.
"As an organization that has been at the leading edge of medical innovation, we are excited to team with NFL and Comcast NBCUniversal to celebrate creativity and support new ideas that will transform athlete health and safety," said Clark Otley, medical director of the department of business development at Mayo Clinic.
Contestants will compete in the following three categories:
•Advancements in protective equipment: Developments in football helmet technology designed to better protect athletes.
•Technology to improve athletic performance: New innovations that leverage the use of data or immersive technology designed to advance athlete health and performance.
•New therapies to speed recovery: New technologies designed to improve care and accelerate recovery.
About NFL's Health and Safety Initiatives
The NFL is committed to advancing progress in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of sports-related injuries. As part of the NFL's ongoing health and safety efforts, in September 2016, Commissioner Roger Goodell launched "Play Smart. Play Safe." a leaguewide health and safety initiative. At the heart of the initiative is a pledge of $100 million in support for independent medical research and engineering advancements and a commitment to look at anything and everything to protect players and make the game safer, including enhancements to medical protocols and improvements to how the game is taught and played. For more information about the NFL's health and safety efforts, visit www.PlaySmartPlaySafe.com.
About SportsEngine
Helping the world play smarter and live more, SportsEngine Inc., an NBC Sports Group company, is the leading provider of sport life management mobile applications for coaches, parents and athletes, and sports relationship management tools for governing bodies, leagues, clubs, associations and events. SportsEngine powers more than 750,000 teams, leagues and clubs, helping them manage, connect and communicate with a diverse range of stakeholders, including athletes, parents, administrators, coaches, referees, scouts, volunteers, fans, journalists and sponsors. For more information, visit www.sportsengine.com/solutions.
About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to clinical practice, education and research, providing expert, comprehensive care to everyone who needs healing. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org/about-mayo-clinic or newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org.

Hometown News

View All News