i3 - September/October 2018 - 9

achieve that goal, and plays their specific
roles, anything is possible. Sports is a platform
to highlight the best in us, and the ultimate
way to see what is possible in people and
society. Whether I was fighting for more equal
rights on the ice for my women's team, inspiring businesses through the message of the
Olympic Movement or letting a young person
know she could do anything with her life, I
now take that same approach to business. It is
all about defining a vision and mission, creating specific goals to achieve that end, inspiring individuals on your team and ultimately
working with others to work together.
I also managed to play more hockey
games than any other man or women in a
USA Jersey - something I am very proud of.
That required constant innovation, reinvention, attention to detail in my training and a
belief that I could get better every day. Any
good CEO would say that you're constantly
competing against yourself to become
a better version of yourself every day. In
doing so, hopefully you are also setting the
example for others in your company.

Q What is your business model?
A Sports Innovation Lab's purpose is to bring

an objective voice, trusted insights and
unfettered access to the sports world. Rather
than rely on people alone, we provide a
software-as-a-service (SaaS) market research
and data platform to make this intelligence
accessible to decision makers 24/7 around
the globe. We use the data in this platform to
produce market trend reports on a regular
basis. Our team of expert industry analysts
also provide custom consulting services for
clients that require hands-on support with
strategic business planning, vendor analysis
and other advisory services. Finally, we work
to curate custom events and conferences on
the fusion of sports and technology.

Q Can you talk about the cross section

of sports and technology?
A On a global scale, technology can innovate
how sports is played, consumed, created
and shared. For example, we can make
cities safer with smart venue technology
and show how sports can be the ultimate
testing ground for other verticals. Through
technology, we can increase accessibility to
sports for everyone on the planet, not just
those who can pay for a ticket to be there
physically. We can inspire the next generation of female and minority sports fans by
giving them opportunities to see versions
C TA . t e c h / i 3

Tech

Can you talk about your
participation at CES?

A At CES, Sports

Innovation Lab co-produces the CES Sports Zone, a four-day
experience focused squarely on sports
technologies. The most innovative companies developing novel technologies in
the sports industry are onsite to demonstrate their products, paired with a lively
discussion about the future of sports.
A sports technology and innovation
conference is produced live on-stage
on the CES Sports Zone show floor.
The conference programming in 2018
included discussions about the future
of over-the-top (OTT) sports broadcast,
about the intersection of esports and
traditional sports, and about the emergent field of Precision Nutrition.
Companies also exhibit at the CES
Sports Zone Marketplace. There's an
exclusive lounge within the Sports
Zone where business leaders, athletes
and technologists converge to casually
connect and network with one another.
The CES Sports Zone is a destination
for attendees who want to see firsthand the future of the sports industry.
Come say hi this year!

of themselves in sports teams and leagues.
On a tactical level, the Sports Innovation Lab
sees five major trends in sports technology:
First, esports are defining - and will
continue to define - how future sports fans
consume all sports. On a basic level, esports
(the first truly digital first sport) are video
game competitions drawing massive online
audiences that are using technology in ways
traditional sports cannot provide.
Second, Immersive Media companies
are developing digital sports content that
provides consumers with greater choice and
control. The future of sports media is accessible, social and interactive. Leading brands
will deliver this experience.
Third, Next-Gen Sponsorship technologies
are helping brands, athletes and teams create and measure the effectiveness of digital
experiences that integrate seamlessly with
sporting events and engage fans before, during and after the events take place.
Fourth, the popular "quantified self" movement is extending to athletes. Quantified athlete technology companies monitor, measure
and predict athlete training and performance.

And finally, smart venues prioritize
speed, security and sustainability. The
goal of the smart venue is to deliver an
experience that is unforgettable, safe and
incentivizes fans to come back again.

Q What tech areas will most significantly
impact athletes?

A We have identified more than 700 com-

panies in the quantified athlete sector. This
technology landscape includes baseline
diagnostics (such as genetic testing or
blood analysis), wearables that track
biometrics or motion tracking, and athlete
performance platforms that consume
an athlete's data to interpret it for more
personalized training recommendations.
These companies are creating more data
streams for the athlete to understand their
bodies and more accurately monitor their
training and performance. The trend of personalization is one that we see acutely in
elite athlete adoption, which will eventually
make its way to healthcare and personal
health. Sports is the proving ground for
many of these technologies.

Q What are your global goals for
the company?

A We view sports and technology as global,

universal languages that anyone can
speak and understand. That's why Sports
Innovation Lab is an inherently global company. Our mission is to be the world's most
comprehensive, trusted source of information and insight on the intersection of
sports and technology. On a much deeper
level, we hope to use our own technology
(SaaS platform) to extend the accessibility and adoption of sports to underrepresented populations around the globe, so
sports can continue to inspire people for
decades to come.

Q What advice would you give to startups?
A I do everything in four's, as that was my

number on the ice:
1. Strive to be better every single day.
There are inches all around you.
2. Look forward to getting knocked down.
This is when you truly learn and grow - if
you take the time to reflect and change.
3. You can accomplish more as a team than
on your own. Remember, business is
a team sport.
4. And my favorite quote: "Whether you
think you can or you can't, you're probably
right." - Henry Ford.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018

https://www.ces.tech/Show-Floor/Marketplaces.aspx http://www.CTA.tech

i3 - September/October 2018

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