USTA Connect launches Innovation Challenge to find tennis' next high-impact tech solution

On Wednesday, the USTA launched the inaugural USTA Connect Innovation Challenge, a nationwide open-call for startups and engineers to submit applications, products or other tech solutions that have a direct and positive impact on the game of tennis for a $10,000 winner’s prize and potential further integration into the USTA and tennis technology ecosystem.

USTA Connect is the USTA’s strategic technology partnership and data-sharing program designed to integrate the digital tennis landscape. The goal of its first-ever Challenge is to invite open-ended innovation that can help drive the USTA mission by optimizing or enhancing an existing USTA platform or building a new, standalone tech solution. Key focus areas of the Challenge include: pro performance analytics and live-match storytelling; elite player scouting, evaluation and pipeline progression; personalizing player experiences; and open-category support of the USTA’s mission of making America the No. 1 tennis playing nation in the world, with 35 million players by 2035.

Applications to participate in the Challenge are open now through July 3. Applicants are expected to submit a usable prototype or proof of concept for either a standalone product or an application, which can be a new build, an existing product or an enhancement.

An initial 10-12 submissions will then be selected to receive USTA datasets—including facility and court databases, anonymized player history, US Open ball-tracking and player positioning data, and more—to leverage for presentation and judging. The judging panel will consist of USTA leadership, sports industry venture capitalists and representation from US Open partner IBM.

Those selected submissions will present virtually to a judging panel in late August, after which the top three finalists will be selected. The three finalists will then pitch live at the USTA Connect event at the US Open on September 3, which is when the winner will be announced.