SiS Masters Sport Innovation Society

Jenna Kurath holds the position of Vice President of Startup Development and serves as the Head of Comcast NBCU SportsTech. She has successfully established a thriving ecosystem accelerator that involves prominent sports organizations, including the SportsTech Partner Consortium. This consortium consists of Comcast NBCUniversal's renowned sports brands such as NBC Sports, SkySports, Comcast Spectacor, Golf, alongside NASCAR, PGA TOUR, WWE, three US Olympic sports organizations, and the recent addition of the English Premier League.

Comcast NBCU SportsTech finds, funds, and fast-tracks the most innovative startups from around the world that match the needs of the partners, investing in and developing the next generation of sports technologies in 8 verticals: fan / player engagement, athlete / player performance, media & entertainment, venue & event innovation, team & coaches success, fantasy sports & betting, eSports, and business of sports.

In this episode, we will delve with Jenna into her journey, the why of this program, what it does, and how it enables concrete collaboration between the startups and Comcast NBCUniversal's diverse partners, generating high value both for partners and startups. Quite a virtuous ecosystem. We will also explore the journey of startups, concrete cases, and the business model surrounding the accelerator program. Prepare yourself for an insightful and captivating discussion on SiS Masters.

Join us on this exciting episode of the podcast "Koen Bosma: From Football Player to VC Investor" as we explore Koen Bosma's incredible journey from a professional football player to becoming a Partner and Head of VC Investments at APEX Capital. Discover the purpose of Apex Capital, a trailblazing investor in sports, media, and entertainment, and how they strive to make a positive impact in the sporting world to make sport better.

In this episode, we uncover Apex Capital's unique "Athlete's first" approach. Learn about the advantages of having athletes as investors and how their expertise and influence propel the growth of sports tech companies. Intrigued by the differences between American and the Rest of the World Athletes? This episode delves into the contrasting dynamics and provides insights into how Apex Capital navigates these distinctions.

Tune in as we dive into Apex Capital's investment strategies and uncover the exciting verticals they focus on. Koen shares some deals already done.

Discover the captivating journey of Martin Jaglin, the co-founder of MonPetitGazon, Europe's leading fantasy games platform with over 2 million users and counting. 🎮✨
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From a loony side project for three friends to an industry powerhouse, MPG's incredible growth story will leave you inspired. 
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Join us this week as we delve into Martin's path to success, the challenges he conquered, and how he propelled MPG to the forefront of the fantasy games industry. 
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Learn firsthand how MPG, recently acquired by LFP (French Professional Football League), has become a force to be reckoned with in the world of fantasy football, captivating millions of fans during the FIFA World Cup. 
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Don't miss out on the opportunity to gain valuable insights from Martin Jaglin, a renowned entrepreneur and tech expert with over 20 years of experience. 
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Tune in and discover the secrets behind MPG's rise to the top in this week's episode.🎙️🔥.
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"Our innovation force is our users."  
Martin Jaglin, MonPetitGazon Co-Founder
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What can you learn from this episode: 
The history of MPG, from a friends projects to a nice exit
What makes MPG different from other fantasy games 
How MPG overcame very challenging moments and which ones
Where their innovation force is coming from 
Why LFP has acquired MPG and what's comming

This episode is bound to leave you with a fresh perspective and a deeper understanding of the powerful interplay between sports and global affairs.
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Professor Simon Chadwick is an international specialist in Sports and Geopolitical Economy. He is a researcher, writer, academic, consultant, policy advisor, and speaker, with more than twenty-five years experience in the global sport industry.
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Currently, he is a Professor of Sport and Geopolitical Economy at Skema Business School in Paris. He is also a member of Skema's think tank, Publika, and serves as the Programme Director of Skema's Global Executive MBA in Sport. Simon has previously co-founded and directed prestigious Sport Business Centres and has authored various articles, books, and research reports.
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Get ready for an eye-opening episode as we explore the dynamic landscape of the global sports industry. Today, we have the privilege of hearing from Professor Simon Chadwick, a true authority on the subject. He will shed light on the ever-changing geopolitical dynamics and the influential emergence of new players in this fascinating realm. Additionally, Simon will delve into how countries and regions strategically leverage sports to advance their broader political and economic objectives.
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You can find his new book entitled “The Geopolitical Economy of Sport. Power, Politics, Money, and the State” here: https://bit.ly/3W3edxV
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WHAT CAN YOU LEAR TODAY:
- How geopolitical factors impact the sports industry, influencing decision-making, actions, and power dynamics within the industry.
- The power shifts between Europe, United Stages, Middle East countries and more with concrete examples
- The importance of nation branding and soft power concepts in global sports
- Learn from the Formula 1 example to express international shifts
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QUOTES:
- “Politics it's part of sports DNA”
- “Many actors are investing in different ways to try to create a new world order in sports tech”
- “The perception of Sportswashing depends if you are in Paris, in Dubai or in Beijing. It depends on the lens through which you see the world”
- "European sport is a battleground for Americans and people from elsewhere in the world"

Robert Alberino is the Vice President of Content and Production of the Kansas City Chiefs, the reigning Super Bowl champions. Robert has a remarkable background in sports content, storytelling and production having worked for prestigious organizations such as NFL Films, where he won awards for his programs, the Philadelphia Eagles, the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. 
In today’s episode, we will deep into topics such as content, storytelling and leadership. Robert will share his wisdom thoughts and unique experiences.
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"Distribution might be the most important part of content."  
Robert Alberino - Kansas City Chiefs, Vice President of Content and Production

WHAT CAN YOU LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE:
- After having some incredible experiences, what led Rob to choose the Kansas City Chiefs as his place of work?
- In the context of internationalization, insights into the content strategy of the Kansas City Chiefs?
- How does Rob go about assembling his production and content team, both from within and outside, to provide value to fans and partners?
- What are some important leadership lessons that can be learned from an experienced NFL executive?

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HOSTED BY: Arnaud Drijard, Sport Innovation Society Founder

Michael Proman is the Managing Director and Partner at Scrum Ventures, with a dedicated focus on the sports and entertainment industries. Prior to Scrum, Michael worked with Coca-Cola and the NBA before starting and then exiting OptionIt, a startup providing consumers enhanced convenience and flexibility when making purchasing decisions.
Michael will share with us his extensive knowledge and insights on the ever-changing world of sports technology, its market, its verticals and its growth opportunities.
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💡 WHAT CAN YOU LEARN TODAY:
- Gain an understanding of the global sports technology industry's landscape
- Familiarize yourself with Scrum Ventures and its relationship to Japan
- How to effectively invest in startups in the sports tech sector
- To gain a comprehensive understanding of the role of an MD in a fund
- Lot's of insights from Michael Proman
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🗣️ QUOTES :
“Sports and entertainment have been net importers of technology and innovation”
“Dealing with cross-border investing and colleagues around the world is a marathon, not a sprint”