🏟️ 2025 Upside US Summit: New Speakers: Simon Sokol (Relay Ventures), Dr Len Zaichkowsky, Gordon Waddington (Prism Neuro)
Dear colleague,
On October 23, 2025, as you know, we will host our annual 2025 Upside US Sports Tech Summit in Sunrise, FL, which will be hosted by a world’s class pro US team. We are excited about catching up with all of you there. We have a packed agenda for you guys with a great lineup of speakers, pro teams, vendors and investors. Speaking slots are filling up quickly. We already have 30 top speakers confirmed for only 50 speaking slots. We are also talking to nearly 40 vendors for only 30 booths so they will go quickly. So if you want to exhibit, sponsor or speak at our summit, please reach out to us ASAP at julien@upsideglobal.co. We would also like to give a big thank you to our 11 sponsors namely Kinmetrix, Quantum Movement, ActivBody, OxiWear, Prism Neuro, Summus Medical Laser, Box Altitude, ThermoHuman, Valor, Precision Sports Technology, and DaVinci Wearables.
If you cannot attend our Upside US Summit in person, no worries. You can now sign up here, email us and we will send you for free the recorded videos of the panels and keynotes by clicking on the link below:
Participating Teams:
Location / Time:
Location: Sunrise, FL (USA) (Hosted by a Top US Pro team).
Date: October 23, 2025
Time: 7.30 am to 8.30 pm EST
Highlights:
300 Sports tech executives
50+ Top Teams & Leagues: NBA, MLB, MLS, NHL, NFL, NCAA, Premier League, etc
50 Top Speakers
15+ VCs (Sports tech VCs, Family offices, Team owners, Sports tech accelerators, angel investors..)
Media (TV, newswires..)
30 exhibitors
10 Speaking Sessions
2 Keynotes
1 after party
1 hour speed dating session with teams
Featured Speakers
This week we are delighted to announced our new speakers at our 2025 Upside US Sports Tech Summit in Sunrise, FL We have a lot more speakers (teams, leagues, vendors, VCs, team owners, athletes) across various leagues (NBA, NFL, MLS, MLB, NCAA, pro tennis..) to be announced.
New speakers:
Simon Sokol is a Vice President at Relay Ventures, where he utilizes his expertise in finance and technology to find high potential investment opportunities and assist in their growth towards a liquidity event. Simon is a Board Director for Train Fitness and a Board Observer for HomeTeam Live, Alt Sports Data, and The Curling Group, among others. Prior to Relay, he was an Investment Banker at Citi where he primarily focused on cross-border M&A with clients, including CPPIB and Brookfield. He received his Honours Business Administration from the Ivey Business School. Simon is a lifelong athlete, playing every sport imaginable, with a particular passion for football and snowboarding.
Dr Len Zaichkowsky, PhD, is a world-class expert in biofeedback, psychophysiology, and cognitive fitness, specializing in the application of neuroscience and psychology to elite sports performance. With decades of experience as a professor, researcher, and consultant, he has worked with top professional teams across the NHL (Penguins, Canucks), NBA (Warriors), European soccer (Real Madrid), NFL, and Olympic levels, the Spanish men national soccer team, integrating cognitive training and psychophysiological techniques to enhance focus, resilience, and decision-making under pressure. A pioneer in sport psychology and human performance, Dr. Zaichkowsky has authored influential books, including The Playmaker’s Advantage, and continues to shape the future of cognitive fitness in sports and beyond.
Gordon Waddington, PhD, is a Professor of Sports Medicine Research at the Australian Institute of Sport and Professor of Physiotherapy at the University of Canberra. Gordon is a neuroscientist and physiotherapist with 30 years of research in elite sport. He is an expert in the fields of proprioception and sensorimotor control, founder of the Research Institute for Sport and Exercise at UC and co-founder and CSO at Prism Neuro.
Agenda:
At our 2025 Upside US Sports Tech Summit, we will have 2 keynotes and various panel discussions on timely topics. Here is the detailed agenda.
7.30 am: Registration
8.30: Opening remarks by Julien Blin, CEO, Upside Global
8.40 am - 9.10 am: Opening Keynote
9.10 am - 10 am: Panel discussion:
Title: NCAA / College Sports:
Summary:
– Why is the NCAA the next big opportunity for tech startups?
– What is the process to adopt new technologies, hot areas of tech interest, opportunities for tech startups in the NCAA?
Participants:
– Andrea Hudy, Director of sports performance, UCONN’s (NCAA) women basketball team
- Dr. Reuben F. Burch V, Ph.D., Associate VP for Research, Mississippi State University (NCAA)
- Eric Renaghan, Executive Director of Sport Performance, University of Miami (NCAA)
- Evan Magnusson, COO, VALOR
Moderator: Julien Blin, CEO, Upside Global
10 am - 11 am: Speed dating session between pro teams and select vendors
11 am - 12 pm: Panel discussion:
Title: The Emergence of next gen biomarkers:
Summary:
– Are biomarkers (lactate, cortisol, glucose, hydration…) the new holy grail for teams?
– What types of new biomarkers are likely to emerge in the future?
Participants:
– Eric Renhaghan, Executive Director of Sport Performance, University of Miami (NCAA)
– Ismael Fernandez, CEO, ThermoHuman
- Dr Bill Burgos, LONU CEO, Former NBA S&C coach
Moderator: Julien Blin, CEO, Upside Global
12 pm - 1.30 pm: Lunch & Networking
1.40 pm - 2.20 pm: Panel discussion:
Title: Rehab for the Future: What Will Return-to-Play Look Like in 2030?
Summary:
A forward-looking discussion on how AI, biomechanics, genetics, and wearable tech will transform the rehabilitation process.
Participants:
- Dr Marco Nunez, Former Head Athletic Trainer, LA Lakers (NBA)
- Rico Rogers, CEO, Box Altitude
- Richard Albright, CEO, Summus Medical Laser
- Emma Meehan, Founder, CEO & CTO, Precision Sports Technology
Moderator: Julien Blin, CEO, Upside Global
2.20 pm - 3 pm: Panel discussion:
Title: The Future of Fan Engagement with AI and Personalization.
Summary:
– Tailoring content and experiences for individual fans.
– AI-powered fan feedback and interaction.
Participants:
–Stevland Wilson, VP, Postproduction, Design & Animation, Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE)
- Evan Davis, Gaming & Sports practice leader, Royer Cooper Cohen Braunfeld LLC
- Pete DeNagy, President, Acommence Advisors LLC
– Moderator: Chris Pfaff, CEO, Chris Pfaff Tech/Media LLC
3 pm - 3.40 pm: Panel discussion:
Title: Rehab panel: Key metrics, The Science of Comebacks
Summary:
Highlighting new technologies like AI-driven rehab programs, regenerative medicine, and advanced wearables for tracking recovery.
Are we measuring the right things (Cognitive, motor skills)?
Challenging traditional return-to-play benchmarks and exploring new data-driven approaches to assessing readiness.
Participants:
– Eric Renhaghan, Executive Director of Sport Performance, University of Miami (NCAA)
- Kim Brouzes, CEO, Kinmetrix
– Ismael Fernandez, CEO, ThermoHuman
– Dr Andy Barr, Founder, Quantum Movement
- Joe Rogowski, Athletic Heart CEO, Former NBPA Chief Medical Officer
- Gordon Waddington, Australian Institute of Sport/University of Canberra Professor of Sports Medicine Research, Co-founder, Prism Neuro
Moderator: Len Zaichkowsky, PhD, Retired Professor, World-class’ sports biofeedback expert, Boston University
3.40 pm - 4.20 pm: Panel discussion:
Title: Sports tech investments: Is AI the next gold rush?
Summary:
– Is AI the next gold rush in the sports tech investment world?
– What does the ideal exit strategy look like for a sports tech startup: IPO, acquisition by a larger tech company, or merger with a sports organization?
– How has the post-pandemic landscape shaped investment opportunities in sports technology?
Participants:
– Konrad von Moltke, Principal, WISE Ventures
– Andrew Hippert, Investment Principal, NY Techstars Sports Accelerator
- Myles Grote, Partner, Elevate Partners
- Hampus Frisen, Head of Investments, Sport Republic
Moderator: Jimmy Ku, Partner, 10X Capital
4.20 pm - 5 pm: Panel discussion:
Title: Winning Plays: Unlocking ROI in Sports Tech Investments
Summary:
- Beyond the hype, what are the real opportunities for return on investment in sports tech? This panel of experienced VCs will dissect the key metrics that drive successful sports tech investments. They'll discuss due diligence, valuation, exit strategies, and the long-term potential of various sports tech sectors, offering valuable insights for both seasoned investors and those looking to break into the market.
Participants:
- Wayne Kimmel, Managing Partner, SeventySix Capital
- Meredith McPherron, CEO & Managing Partner, Drive by DraftKings
- Matt Howard, Principal, KB Partners
- Joshua A. Bonhotal, Director, Sequence Equity
- Simon Sokol, VP, Relay Ventures
Moderator: Julien Blin, CEO, Upside Global
5 pm - 5.40 pm: Panel discussion:
Title: Women in sports:
Summary:
– What types of emerging technologies for women teams and athletes will be see in the future? What are the main challenges faced by women teams today?
– What can we do to increate the number of research towards women teams?
Participants:
– Andrea Hudy, Director of sports performance, UCONN’s (NCAA) women basketball team.
– Dr. Christy Fernandez-Cull , PhD / CEO, DaVinci Wearables
- Shavini Fernando, CEO, OxiWear
Moderator: Julien Blin, CEO, Upside Global
5.40 pm - 6.20 pm: Closing keynote
6.20 pm - 8.30 pm: After Party
So why should you attend our Upside US Summit?
Our exclusive 2025 Upside US Summit will give you the opportunity to:
Meet practitioners (Athletic trainers, strengths coaches, sports scientists, head of performance, team doctors..) of top teams to present your product.
Meet innovative companies in areas (rehab tech, thermography, wearables, AI based injury reduction tools, hydration assessment tools, AMS, OTT/Web 3.0, etc.)
Meet top VCs, team owners, family offices, athletes and investors as part of your fund raising effort.
Speak on our panels and keynotes about the latest trends in sports and tech (Load management, injury reduction, OTT/Web 3.0, etc.)
If you are interested in sponsoring our event, exhibiting or speaking at our event, please reach out to us ASAP and click on the button below or email us at julien@upsideglobal.co
You want to know what it was like to attend our NY Summit at Citi Field, and hear what attendees loved about it?
Here are some video testimonials of some of the attendees (Vendors, sports organizations, VCs..) at our NY Summit:
At our 2025 Upside US Sport Tech Summit, we will have 50 top speakers. You can check our first speakers below. We will soon announce many more new speakers for our 2025 US Sports Tech Summit.
Our sponsors:
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me.
Best,
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