Tennis Australia partners to encourage sports technology innovation

Looking to unite the worlds of startups, tennis and sport in Australia, Tennis Australia has announced an innovative new partnership between with US-based platform Techstars, LaunchVic and Victoria University.

The Techstars SportsTech Melbourne Accelerator aims to revolutionise Australian sport by asking startup companies from around the world to submit what they see as being the ‘next big idea’.

Introducing the partnership, Tennis Australia Chief Executive Craig Tiley (pictured) stated “strategically for some years, Tennis Australia has placed great emphasis on internal capability and the ability to pivot quickly to ensure we continue to grow the sport and our events.

“This is an obvious next step as we look to drive more innovation and interest in the game for the benefit of those watching and playing it at every level.”

10 companies will be selected and brought to Melbourne in June 2020 as part of a 13-week program featuring mentors from both the tennis industry and Victoria University.

The program will conclude in September 2020, culminating in a demonstration day where the startups will pitch their accelerated business models to investors and industry leaders.

The SportsTech business models could be anything to do with the sporting industry, all in the aim of building and advancing sport across the board.

Tennis Australia Head of Innovation Dr Machar Reid advised “we are extremely excited to be partnering with Techstars for this ground breaking sports technology accelerator, a first for Tennis Australia and sport in Australia.

“It’s going to be an incredibly exciting couple of years for Tennis Australia as we get set to welcome startups from around the world, all with the aim to better the world of sport and how we do things at Tennis Australia and the Australian Open.

Techstars, LaunchVic and Victoria University are equally excited about the new program, with Techstars Vice President - Asia Pacific, Will Robinson adding “partnering with LaunchVic, Tennis Australia and Victoria University, we are poised to deliver an invaluable program to entrepreneurs transforming the world of SportsTech.”

Victoria University Associate Professor of Sports Analytics, Sam Roberston concluded “this initiative has the potential to transform the sports startup and technology industry in Australia.

“It connects VU, a leading sport university, with future-minded, progressive organisations such as Tennis Australia and Techstars - all in one of the world's great sporting cities, Melbourne."

Applications for the 2020 Techstars SportsTech Melbourne Accelerator will open in September.

For more information go to techstars.com/programs/sportstech-melbourne-program