Dentsu Inc. and U.S.-based Scrum Ventures support startups worldwide focused on sports.

The text of the Dentsu Inc. news release distributed on October 2 is as follows.

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October 2, 2018

"SPORTS TECH TOKYO" to be Held in Japan and the U.S. in 2019

Dentsu Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Toshihiro Yamamoto) will jointly support the growth of sports startups recruited globally and provide open innovation opportunities for companies through the Japan-based acceleration program (※1) "SPORTS TECH TOKYO," in collaboration with U.S. investment firm Scrum Ventures LLC (Headquarters: San Francisco, U.S.; General Partner: Takuya Miyata). General Partner: Takuya Miyata) to launch "SPORTS TECH TOKYO," a Japan-based acceleration program (※1) in 2019 in both Japan and the U.S. This program supports the growth of sports startups recruited globally and provides a platform for open innovation for corporations.

This program will recruit startups worldwide with outstanding technologies or business ideas in the sports field and provide approximately one year of support through a unique program including mentoring. It will also welcome stakeholders from Japanese and U.S. sports organizations, professional leagues, teams, and athletes onto a "Sports Advisory Board," offering participating startups networking and presentation opportunities.

Leading companies interested in sports-related open innovation will also participate as partners. Furthermore, in the latter half of the program, we plan to collaborate with stadiums and related facilities to prepare testing and demonstration grounds.

In the U.S., the sports industry is expanding, estimated to be over ¥50 trillion as of 2016. Investment in startups related to "Sports Tech" (solutions that leverage technology, including IT, to create new added value or business opportunities in sports) has grown approximately threefold over the four years from 2011 to 2015.

Meanwhile, in Japan, the government's "Japan Revitalization Strategy 2016" identifies the growth of sports as an industry as one of its "10 Public-Private Strategic Projects." It outlines a policy to expand the sports industry market size from 5.5 trillion yen in 2015 to 15.2 trillion yen by 2025.

In this environment, our company aims to build a system that promotes "Sports Tech" innovation through this new program and returns the results to the sports world, in addition to our current activities in the sports sector. Through these activities, we will contribute to the further development of the domestic sports world and the revitalization of the sports industry.

※1: Initiatives to accelerate startup growth through expert mentoring and corporate matching.
※2: A method of developing individuals or teams. Rather than relying on instructions or commands, a mentor facilitates the mentee's voluntary and autonomous development through dialogue-based insights and advice.
※3: Products and services selected for this program will be presented to the "Sports Advisory Board" and considered for potential collaboration.
 

＜Scrum Ventures Overview＞
・Company Name: Scrum Ventures LLC
　 https://scrum.vc/ja/
・Representative: General Partner Takuya Miyata (Founder)
・Headquarters: San Francisco, USA
・Date Established: February 2013
・Business Activities: Venture Capital Investment, Studio Operations

＜SPORTS TECH TOKYO Overview＞
・Overview: Japan's first global acceleration program focused on sports
・Features:
① Recruits startups from around the world
② Program held in Japan and the United States
③ Provides networking & presentation opportunities with domestic and international sports stakeholders
④ Provides activation opportunities such as proof-of-concept environments tailored to products/services,
⑤ Offers various business opportunities, including investment
・Organizer: Dentsu Inc.
・Program Partner: Scrum Ventures
・Duration: Approximately one year starting January 2019
・Venue: Japan (Tokyo), United States (San Francisco and others)
・Official Website:
　http://www.sportstech.tokyo
・Schedule:
◇Application Period: October 3, 2018, 00:00 - January 8, 2019, 16:59 (Japan Time)
◇Business Development Round: Approximately six months starting January 2019. Includes kickoff, matching, mentoring, etc.
◇ Activation Round: Approximately six months starting mid-2019. Includes proof-of-concept testing tailored to each product/service.

■ Program Information Sessions
Program information sessions will be held in both Japan and the United States. The outline for the Japan session is as follows.
Overseas (including the U.S.) sessions are scheduled to be held sequentially from October to November 2018.

＜Program Information Session (Japan) Overview＞
・Date & Time: Wednesday, October 31, 2018; Registration begins at 5:30 PM, Session starts at 6:00 PM
・Location: Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, BASE Q Hall
・Content: Program explanation for "SPORTS TECH TOKYO," Q&A, talk session, networking
・Target Audience: Startups and corporate representatives interested in sports-themed business development
・Organizer: Dentsu Inc.
・Participation Fee: Free
・Registration Website:
https://eventregist.com/e/SportsTechTokyo20181031

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Dentsu Inc. News Release
http://www.dentsu.co.jp/news/release/2018/1002-009610.html