Getty Images
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced five startups will form its fifth cohort to its sports technology incubator.
Key details:
- Brain-sensing wearable technology specialist Atlas and predictive intelligence platform for sponsorships Cred are among group of five companies
- LA-based Diddo, which develops software to integrate e-commerce moments into media platforms, is also included
- Canada’s Peripheral Labs, a spatial intelligence platform, and Swish Basket, an AI-powered basketball performance platform, round off the cohort
Context:
The NBA first launched the Launchpad incubator in 2021, with the aim of offering support, resources and investor connections for early-stage companies that it believes can impact basketball’s future.
The five companies were chosen from more than 200 firms worldwide. They will now participate in a six-month pilot which will feature access to hands-on collaboration and support from the NBA and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) to further scale and refine their technologies.
The program will culminate with all five firms making presentations to NBA and WNBA executives, partners and investors at NBA Summer League in July.
Comment:
“As we enter the fifth year of Launchpad by welcoming the 2026 NBA cohort, we’re proud of the meaningful progress the platform has made toward shaping the future of the game,” said Tom Ryan, NBA senior vice president and head of basketball research and development.
“We’re thrilled to be collaborating with this diverse group of companies to build on that progress and to further drive innovation to elevate the sport and the experience of our global fanbase.”
Combining richer content, in-depth data and exclusive community benefits, SportsPro+ is your VIP pass into the global sports industry. Discover more here.