The National Basketball Association (NBA) has unveiled the five emerging technology companies chosen for the fifth cohort of NBA Launchpad. This initiative aims to identify and pilot cutting-edge technologies that will advance the game of basketball, expand the league’s business operations, and deepen fan engagement. The selected companies will undergo a six-month pilot program, culminating in a presentation at the 2026 NBA Summer League.
Key Takeaways
- The NBA Launchpad program is entering its fifth year, focusing on innovation in basketball.
- Over 200 companies were evaluated, with five selected for their potential to impact the sport.
- The selected companies will participate in a six-month pilot program.
- The program will conclude with a demo day at the 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
Driving Innovation in Basketball
The NBA Launchpad program is dedicated to sourcing, evaluating, and piloting emerging technologies to enhance the future of basketball. This year’s cohort, the 2026 group, was chosen after a rigorous evaluation of more than 200 companies globally. The selected participants represent a diverse range of technologies designed to engage players, fans, and other stakeholders.
Tom Ryan, NBA Senior Vice President and Head of Basketball Research and Development, expressed enthusiasm for the program’s progress. "As we enter the fifth year of Launchpad by welcoming the 2026 NBA cohort, we’re proud of the meaningful progress the platform has made toward shaping the future of the game," Ryan stated. "We’re thrilled to be collaborating with this diverse group of companies to build on that progress and to further drive innovation to elevate the sport and the experience of our global fanbase."
The 2026 NBA Launchpad Cohort
The five companies selected for the 2026 NBA Launchpad cohort are:
- Atlas (San Francisco, California): This company specializes in multi-modal brain-sensing wearable technology. Their focus is on quantifying and enhancing "cognitive Clarity," a metric indicating mental readiness for demanding tasks.
- CRED (San Francisco, California): CRED offers a predictive intelligence platform designed for sponsorship lead generation. It provides personalized insights and recommendations by integrating internal business systems with real-time market data.
- Diddo (Los Angeles, California): Diddo provides an API that enables rights holders and publishers to seamlessly integrate shoppable moments directly within their media platforms.
- Peripheral Labs (Toronto, Canada): This company is developing a spatial intelligence platform that applies autonomous vehicle technology to reconstruct live sports into photorealistic 3D environments. It also offers high-fidelity player and ball tracking.
- Swish Basket (Tel Aviv, Israel): Swish Basket is an AI-powered platform for basketball training and gaming. It connects real-world courts to a digital ecosystem, using advanced camera and sensor technology to deliver detailed shooting and performance analytics through a gamified application.
Program Details and Future Outlook
Members of the 2026 cohort will participate in a six-month pilot program. During this period, they will receive hands-on collaboration and support from the NBA and WNBA to refine and scale their technologies. The program will culminate in July 2026 at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, where the companies will present their innovative solutions to NBA and WNBA executives, partners, and investors during Launchpad Demo Day.
