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AI in the Outfield: How Sports Tech will Change Professional Sports with Nate Thompson

Nate Thompson, Managing Partner of HTX Sports Tech, joins the show to talk about his impact as a key player in the sports technology industry. Sports tech is an industry experiencing massive growth and incredible innovations in recent years, and Nate has been at the forefront, providing strategic guidance to sports organizations, innovation ecosystems, and startups. Talking points include Nate’s journey into the sports industry, cutting technology being worked on at HTX Sports Tech, and the much-anticipated HTX Sports Summit happening in July 2024.

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Produced by Speakerbox Media. Visit softeq.com/forging-the-future-podcast for more episodes, detailed show notes, and access to additional resources.

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Click to read the Transcript

Key Insights & Timestamps:

[00:00]: Podcast begins
[02:05]: Sports tech basics, from athlete health to fan experience, & Houston’s role
[08:58]: Nate’s journey into sports tech, from university internships to ticketing with the pros
[15:27]: Helping MLB teams like the Astros with tech innovation & ticketing transfers
[18:53]: Starting HTX Sports Tech to take advantage of Texas sports & tech resources collectively
[23:54]: A preview of July’s HTX Sports Summit Event in Detroit
[28:17]: Getting league executives involved in sports tech investments at The Collectiv

Guest Spotlight:
Nate Thompson, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at HTX Sports Tech
Born and raised in Cleveland, Nate Thompson started his sports and technology focused career in the area of ticketing. Working with prominent MLB teams like the Cleveland Guardians and, later, the Houston Astros, Nate helped these organizations innovate their ticketing systems and optimize fan experiences with mobile tickets. Currently, as Co-Founder and Managing Partner at HTX Sports Tech, Nate collaborates with DivInc to run a cohort of 10 sports tech startups through an annual 12-week accelerator program. Alongside his role at HTX Sports Tech, Nate also lends his expertise to VC fund The Collectiv and nonprofit organization Future of Sport.

Key Takeaways:

The draw and demand for sports tech comes from a variety of areas and stakeholders, including athletes, coaches, venues, and fans. From improving the health, wellness, and performance of athletes to increasing engagement opportunities for fans in the stadium and watching at home, the innovations in sports tech and the applications across industries are limitless.
In partnership with DivInc, HTX Sports Tech runs a 10-startup, 12-week accelerator that focuses on mentorship and development for women-led or diversely-founded startups in the sports tech industry. Throughout the accelerator, cohort participants meet with mentors and experts across all areas of the sports industry to hone their technology and develop relationships.
Nate is the Head of Platform at The Collectiv, a VCl fund investing in sports tech startups. Unlike other sports tech funds, The Collectiv is less focused on athletes and is instead focused on getting team and league executives involved to bring in financial and social capital. Nate believes having these individuals and organizations involved will help startups integrate their technology better with different sports leagues, such as the WNBA.