NBA Launchpad opens 2027 applications, first with Asia-specific track

NBA Launchpad has opened applications for its sixth cohort of startups and the first with a dedicated track soliciting ideas on the Future of the Asia Sports Experience. Applications for the startup program are due by Oct. 16, with participants to be selected in December and pilots to start in January, culminating in a Demo Day pitch at Summer League in July.

The league first shared its intention to focus on innovations from Asia at June’s NBA x Citi Investor Summit 2026 in Singapore. All prior Launchpad participants have been headquartered in North America or Europe, but this new priority area will seek ideas on improving basketball experiences and content there. It’ll likely draw two startups, with a goal of accepting one from China and one from another Asian country.

The NBA has long had a presence in Asia — with offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Manila, Singapore and Mumbai — with estimates reportedly pegging its business in China north of $5B.

“We’re trying to bridge that gap, similar to what we’ve done in the past of getting entrepreneurs and tech companies to think about us and to think about basketball as an on-ramp and building their product or service specifically for our needs,” NBA SVP and Head of Basketball R&D Tom Ryan said, explaining the ultimate goal remains the same to “to help them with product-market fit, help them validate that there is something there and it’s a worthwhile investment.”

The focus on Asia is driven not only by the league’s business objectives but also the recognition of how many interesting technologies are emerging from that geography. Launchpad is an appropriate avenue to explore them, with the new track a result of wanting to be proactive and implement a process for evaluation and pilot creation.

“The focus there is building that startup ecosystem around sports, around basketball in Asia on the continent that doesn’t just get us a couple companies this year but pays dividends long term,” Ryan said.

Last year’s Summer League featured displays of Launchpad technologies beyond the Demo Day stage. The Thomas & Mack Center concourse featured a Swish Basket, a consumer-friendly shot-tracking product that was also showcased on stage by Basketball HOFer Mitch Richmond at the event in Singapore. Also, an installation from Peripheral Labs produced an immersive highlight from a Summer League game that drew millions of social views.