Comcast NBCUniversal named 10 startups that will take part in the second class of its SportsTech accelerator program.

The companies are developing social and community platforms, payment systems and ways to analyze athletic performance.

The 10 participating startups were chosen from more than 800 applicants.

Over the 12-week program, founders of the startups will work one-on-one with mentors from Boomtown and outfits including NBC Sports, Sky Sports, the PGA Tour, WWE, NASCAR, and the organizations representing the U.S. ski & snowboard, cycling and swimming teams.

At the conclusion of the program, the companies will participate in a Demo Day on May 26, and present their businesses to leading venture capitalists, startup founders, business executives and media.

“We launched Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech to find, fund, and fast-track the top sports technology startups challenging the status quo and creating new innovations that will impact how we participate in, view, and celebrate sports,” said Jenna Kurath, VP, startup partnerships and head of SportsTech.

“Our first cohort set a high bar and attracted PGA Tour and WWE to join as SportsTech advisors, a direct result of how the accelerator delivers tangible business value, both to founders and to our partners," Kurath said. "This next class is surrounded by a team of leaders who will help these founders build revenue-sustaining businesses and offers us and our network of partners an early-lens into next-gen developments in sports tech. I’m excited to see what partnerships develop during the program and beyond.”

The program will be partly conducted in-person and partly virtual. Topics being discussed include fundraising, sales, marketing and branding, product design, mental health, company culture, go-to-market strategy, and working at enterprise scale.

Alumni of last year’s accelerator participated in 29 pilots and partnerships with SportsTech partners, including five commercial deals.

The participants in the program include:

BookSeats.com from Toronto, which simplifies fan travel by allowing users to book packages that include a combination of flights, hotels and tickets for events all over the world.

HeadVantage of Arlington, Virginia, which visually captures “impossible” moments and insights in sports from the athlete’s vantage point, fused with biometric and performance data.

Ice Cream Social, from Newport Beach, California, which is a social platform designed to help companies turn existing customers into brand advocates by rewarding them when they invite friends.

LetzChat of Westlake Village, California, which translates customers' interactions - subtitles, texts, phone calls, chat support and web visits – into the viewer’s language to enhance sports viewing.

Local Sports Network, Austin, Texas, a digital community that strengthens ties between sports fans, high schools and athletes.

Meetlete from San Diego, which has a fan engagement platform that allows fans to experience a four-minute meet-and-greet with their favorite athletes.

Moneyline of Atlanta, which is a sports and entertainment game that gives fans a chance to win money against the house in a simple and creative way.

Los Angeles-based Movrs, which uses artificial intelligence to analyze human shape and motion data and make it easier for sports and organizations to use.

tiptap of Burlington, Ontario, which brings a touchless payment experience to sports events, letting fans support young athletes.

Uru Sports from Traverse City, Michigan, which is a professional network for elite athletes providing information to connect athletes to opportunities worldwide. ■

Comcast NBCUniversal said it will launch SportsTech, a global accelerator for sports technology startups, in August.

This is the third such accelerator Comcast and NBCU have created in the past three years. Earlier this month, Comcast formed the LIFT Labs Accelerator, which is based out of company headquarters at the Comcast Technology Center in Philadelphia and The Farm, housed in Atlanta, the home of its Central Division operations, in 2017.

The SportsTech accelerator will be a partnership including three Comcast sports brands – NBC Sports, Sky Sports and Golf Channel – as well as NASCAR and two U.S. Olympic sports organizations: U.S. Ski & Snowboard and USA Swimming. Comcast Ventures, the company’s San Francisco-based venture capital arm, will also be included. Each partner will serve on a SportsTech advisory committee, providing startups with direct access to strategic industry relationships, mentorship, and partnership opportunities.

“We are delighted to introduce SportsTech to our suite of accelerators to help founders build sports technology and products, refine their business models, tell their stories, and benefit from the unique assets and talent of Comcast NBCUniversal,” said Comcast Cable chief business development officer Sam Schwartz in a press release. “Comcast NBCUniversal has some of the most prominent sports brands and we are excited to partner with founders through SportsTech.”

SportsTech will be based in The Battery Atlanta/SunTrust Park, home to Comcast Cable’s Central Division headquarters, and will give sports technology startups access to a broad international consortium of advisers, a custom sports tech curriculum and investment capital.

“The demand for sports technology across the globe has never been greater, yet most sports startups don’t have access to the resources they need to succeed nor an ability to develop relationships with the right people inside the industry,” said Comcast Cable VP of startup partner development Jenna Kurath in a press release. “SportsTech will provide the curriculum and platform for founders to develop their ideas while obtaining mentorship from leaders in multiple sports, enabling them to further deploy their technologies to dramatically improve sports experiences for athletes and audiences alike.”

Beginning in August, SportsTech will offer a three-month custom-tailored program for up to 10 startups, focused on technologies and products in media and entertainment; fan and player engagement; athlete and player performance; team and coach success; sports venue and event innovation; fantasy sports and sports wagering; esports; and the business of sports.

The deadline to submit an application for SportsTech is May 15. The selected startups will reside in Atlanta for the duration of the program, operating out of SportsTech’s flagship location at The Battery at SunTrust Park, where Comcast’s The Farm accelerator is also based. It will be directed by Boomtown Accelerators, a leading accelerator program headquartered in Boulder, Colo., Boomtown operates The Farm for Comcast NBCUniversal and has established itself as a preeminent home for early-stage startups.