Two Minneapolis-based startups were selected to participate in T-Mobile’s (NASDAQ:TMUS) sports and entertainment accelerator program, as announced Wednesday by the Bellevue, Wash.-based mobile telecom company.
Live streaming platform App Cats LLC and drone technology company PixelFly were among the nine companies chosen for the accelerator, which has run since 2012. Participants this year are expected to “create innovative experiences” utilizing 5G to provide solutions for games, races, concerts or matches , the news release stated. Over 70 global companies applied for the accelerator.
“We created the Accelerator program to give innovators a platform to bring their ideas to life using our technologies,” said John Saw, T-Mobile’s EVP and chief technology officer in a statement. “By leveraging T-Mobile 5G, this year’s group will have all the tools and support they need to expand their solutions and bring spectators at any event brand new immersive experiences.”
App Cats, which is a mobile face-to-face live streaming platform, also won 2023 product of the year on Nab Show. Its CEO, Kristian Geer has been a longtime tech entrepreneur and award-winning television journalist. One of the companies she has founded, sports tech startup Bleachr, was featured in the Business Journal’s Best Places to Work 2020.
Meanwhile, PixelFly develops 5G-equipped drones for video capture, specifically for sports and other events.
