TechCrunch, the NFL and Stanford Graduate School of Business today announced the judges for 1st and Future, a startup competition focused on the future of sport for fans and athletes. Winning startups are awarded $50,000 from the NFL’s Strategic Investment Fund, tickets to Super Bowl 50, and an invitation to visit league headquarters where they will have the opportunity to meet with top NFL executives. The lineup of experts set to evaluate startups includes top technological investors and executives, politicians, medical professionals and NFL team executives.

1st and Future will feature three separate categories including Stadium of the Future, Bringing Home the Game and Tomorrow’s Athlete. Hosted by TechCrunch in collaboration with Stanford Graduate School of Business, judges for each category are as follows:

Stadium of the Future:

  • Kevin Compton— Co-Founder of Radar Partners
  • Mary Meeker—Investor, Kleiner Perkins Caulfield Byers
  • Andrew Wilson—CEO of Electronic Arts (EA)

Bringing Home the Game:

  • Beth Comstock—Vice Chair, GE
  • Bill Gurley—General Partner, Benchmark Capital
  • Lowell McAdam—Chairman and CEO, Verizon Communications
  • Jed York—CEO of 49ers

Tomorrow’s Athlete:

  • Mitchel Berger, MD—Professor and Chairman, Department of Neurological Surgery, UCSF; member of NFL’s Head, Neck and Spine Committee
  • Jim Breyer—Founder and CEO, Breyer Capital
  • Mark Parker—CEO, Nike
  • Condoleezza Rice—American political scientist and diplomat

“We’re fortunate to have such high-caliber judges to evaluate emerging technology to help the League shape the game and the fan experience for years to come,” said Perkins Miller NFL’s Chief Digital Officer and leader of the event. “1st and Future is another innovation tool to help us better connect with the next generation of fans.”

“TechCrunch is really pleased to work with the NFL and Stanford Graduate School of Business to produce the 1st and Future pitchoff focused on startups addressing the future of the stadium, home entertainment and the athlete,” said Ned Desmond, COO of TechCrunch. “We have a strong history of picking winning startups, and we’re eager to bring the twelve 1st and Future finalists on stage to face the judges, the NFL, and sports fans everywhere.”

Details for 1st and Future:

  • What: A competition where startups will pitch their ideas in 5 minutes or less to an esteemed panel of judges
  • When: Saturday, Feb. 6 from 8:30am – 12:00pm
  • Where: Stanford Graduate School of Business CEMEX auditorium, 655 Knight Way, Stanford, Calif.
  • Why: 1st and Future will feature an exciting group of 12 startups that are vying to win the competition across three categories: Stadium of the Future, Bringing Home the Game and Tomorrow’s Athlete. Attending 1st and Future provides a unique opportunity to see the future of sport as early-stage companies pitch their innovative product.

1st and Future will also be livestreamed on TechCrunch.com. Finalists for the competition will be announced on February 5, 2016. For more information about 1st and Future please see here.

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