NBA Launchpad Reveals 2026 Tech Cohort Focused on Cognitive, Spatial, and Fan Engagement Tools

• Five startups were selected from over 200 global applicants for the NBA's fifth Launchpad program.
• Participants will pilot their solutions with NBA and WNBA support ahead of Demo Day at Summer League in July.

The NBA has announced the latest group in its Launchpad program, which finds and tests new technologies that could shape the future of basketball. For its fifth year, the league picked five companies from a pool of over 200 applicants. The selected startups focus on areas like player performance, spatial tracking, sponsorship tools, and interactive media.

“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,” said Tom Ryan, NBA Senior Vice President and Head of Basketball Research and Development in a news release. “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.”

Three of the companies are working directly with physical environments and performance data. Atlas is developing a brain-sensing wearable to measure and train cognitive readiness during demanding tasks. Peripheral Labs is using autonomous vehicle technology to reconstruct live games into photorealistic 3D spaces, enabling detailed tracking of players and the ball. Swish Basket connects real-world basketball courts to a digital platform, using sensors and cameras to deliver performance analytics through a gamified app. The group also includes CRED, a sponsorship intelligence platform, and Diddo, which builds tools for native shoppable content in media.

Each company will run a six-month pilot with help from the NBA and WNBA. They’ll present their work at Launchpad Demo Day during the 2026 Summer League in Las Vegas to league executives, partners, and investors.

🌀 Tom’s Take:

The NBA is betting that the next wave of value isn’t just digital, it’s spatial. From 3D game reconstructions to AI-powered court training, the league is turning the physical world into a data platform.

Source: NBA.com