Camden, NJ — Vince Calio reports in NJBIZ that the Sixers Innovation Lab Crafted by Kimball officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 18 at the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers' training facility in Camden.
The 8,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Innovation Lab is located at the base of the 76ers’ business operations facility.
It is opening its doors with four startup companies that will receive coaching and guidance from Seth Berger, the lab's managing director. Berger is also the founder and former CEO of startup sneaker and sports apparel company AND1.
The 8,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Innovation Lab is located at the base of the 76ers’ business operations facility.
It is opening its doors with four startup companies that will receive coaching and guidance from Seth Berger, the lab's managing director. Berger is also the founder and former CEO of startup sneaker and sports apparel company AND1.
“Since the announcement of the Sixers Innovation Lab Crafted by Kimball, we've seen hundreds of applications from ambitious startups around the world interested in joining our lab team here,” Berger said in a written statement.
“The four companies we welcome into our lab today are entrepreneurs who have demonstrated the most innovative thinking, strategic planning, vision and, most importantly, heart,” Berger continued. “Our goal is to improve the noise that drowns so many startups, and give them the resources to focus on what they do best, innovating and thinking consumer first.”
The lab is aimed at companies in the consumer products field, and will provide the firms with office space furnished by Kimball Office.
They will also receive housing in the Camden area from Morgan Properties, legal advice from law firm Pepper Hamilton and creative services from Maven Creative, among other benefits and services.
The 76ers opened the training facility last year.
The first four companies taking space at the lab are:
The startup companies also will be advised by the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, StubHub, DraftKings, Rothman Institute, First Round Capital and NovaCare Rehabilitation, according to a release. In addition, they will have opportunities to pitch venture capital and private equity firms to assist in growth.
“The four companies we welcome into our lab today are entrepreneurs who have demonstrated the most innovative thinking, strategic planning, vision and, most importantly, heart,” Berger continued. “Our goal is to improve the noise that drowns so many startups, and give them the resources to focus on what they do best, innovating and thinking consumer first.”
The lab is aimed at companies in the consumer products field, and will provide the firms with office space furnished by Kimball Office.
They will also receive housing in the Camden area from Morgan Properties, legal advice from law firm Pepper Hamilton and creative services from Maven Creative, among other benefits and services.
The 76ers opened the training facility last year.
The first four companies taking space at the lab are:
- Monster Roster, a daily fantasy sports lineup recommender that uses a proprietary algorithm aimed at helping fantasy sports players build their rosters. The company was founded by Dylan Elder, who postponed a degree from Georgetown University in 2015 to start the business.
- U GIT GUD, an esports training platform designed to help gamers by providing videos, analytics and advice from some of the top esports players in the world. The company was created by Cornell University graduates Shinggo Lu and Alan Liang in 2013.
- Live Life Nice, a digital media company founded in 2014 by Voorhees native Christian Crosby, the former in-arena game day host for the 76ers. The company seeks to inspire people with the phrase, “Be Nice, Do Nice,” and provides video content of stories promoting compassion and niceness in society.
- Doc & Phoebe's Cat Co., an award-winning pet company that sells patented mice-shaped feeders to promote the health of domesticated cats. The company was founded in 2014 by veterinarian Elizabeth Bales.
The startup companies also will be advised by the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, StubHub, DraftKings, Rothman Institute, First Round Capital and NovaCare Rehabilitation, according to a release. In addition, they will have opportunities to pitch venture capital and private equity firms to assist in growth.
