The National Football League Players Association has launched the OneTeam Collective, an athlete-driven business accelerator for companies seeking to incorporate sports to drive growth.

April 6, 2018

2 Min Read

Program will allow companies access to NFL players via licensing, marketing and more.

The National Football League Players Association has launched the OneTeam Collective, an athlete-driven business accelerator for companies seeking to incorporate sports to drive growth.

The Collective will offer companies access to the NFLPA’s stars via licensing, marketing and content rights, research and development, funding, and mentorship for product development and marketing support. It will also consider business ventures and product ideas related to fan engagement, data analytics, performance and training, mobile fitness, sports nutrition, consumer products, fantasy sports, gaming, wearable technology, new media and virtual and augmented reality.

"Players, both past and present, have so much to offer–but never in a way like this," says Dhani Jones, former NFL player, and managing partner, Oey Capital. "The OneTeam Collective is going to help develop and promote concepts and products that were previously just left to survive on their own. With this accelerator in place, and with players helping power it, companies can get off the ground and into people's lives. It's a great feeling to be involved in something of this magnitude." 

The NFLPA is joined by six other founding partners including Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Madrona Venture Group for consulting services and potential funding; Harvard Innovation Lab for access to a campus environment focused on entrepreneurship for student-led events and competitions; and Intel for input as well as potential funding. Meanwhile, LeadDog Marketing Group will provide sports marketing and strategic planning resources and the Sports Innovation Lab will provide additional support to the Collective.

“We are thrilled to bring together this remarkable group of world-class partners,” says Ahmad Nassar, president, NFL Players, Inc. and board chairman, OneTeam Collective. “Together we will help companies unlock the value of the world’s greatest unifier–sports and the athletes who play them. With the OneTeam Collective, the goal is to build on that appeal to nurture and grow businesses that will be beneficial to all.”

Additionally, the Collective will also host a number of events and competitions in the coming months, beginning with a presence at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nev. The program will also host its first Pitch Day in February 2017. Additional events will take place at the Harvard Innovation Labs and will be announced later.

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