OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), October 20, 2016 – The Sprint Accelerator today announced plans and new corporate sponsors for the 2017 Accelerator program, which will begin on April 3. The 90-day program will feature mentors from the lead sponsor organizations and from the investor, business development and entrepreneurial communities, as well as business building informational sessions. Applications are open now at sprintaccelerator.com.

As Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure announced at the 2016 Sprint Mobile Accelerator Demo Day last spring, the Sprint Accelerator will join with other businesses for the next evolution of its program to offer increased collaboration among established companies and startups. The Spring 2017 program will be focused on industry clusters that are strengths of the Kansas City region – Digital and Ag Tech. Allowing organizations to select startups that align with their strategic goals gives them increased access to innovative products and services. And, each startup selected for the program, will receive unprecedented resources from these sponsors.

”Joining with other organizations allows us to expand the Accelerator program and offer even more access and opportunities to startup companies,” said Kevin McGinnis, CEO, Pinsight Media+, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sprint and founder of the Sprint Accelerator. “These partnerships are a win-win for all participants. They give entrepreneurs the chance to learn from an established, successful business, and give sponsor companies access to new technologies and innovative products.”

The Corporate Sponsors for the 2017 program are:

Sprint – Sprint is a communications services company that creates more and better ways to connect its customers to the things they care about most.

Pinsight Media+ – Pinsight Media+, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sprint, is combining first-party data with mobile web and app data to uncover users’ actual habits and brand affinities to provide targeted ad campaigns.

Both Sprint and Pinsight Media+ are looking for startups focused on data analytics, advertising technology and omni-channel services.

Dairy Farmers of America – Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) is a national dairy marketing cooperative that serves and is owned by more than 14,000 members on more than 8,000 farms in 48 states. DFA is committed to providing value to its farmer-owners through marketing members’ milk, providing services and resources on the farm and investing in plants and brands such as Borden® Cheese, Plugrá® Butter, and Kemps® that connect family farms to family tables.



DFA is looking for startups in AgTech with applications related to any portion of the dairy value chain including, but not limited to, product testing, data management, herd health and management, supply chain optimization, sustainability and traceability.

“New developments in agriculture and food production are key to ensure we continue delivering nutritious dairy to consumers around the world in a safe, sustainable and efficient manner,” said Monica Massey, senior vice president and chief of staff for DFA. “This partnership with the Sprint Accelerator offers us a unique opportunity to connect with Ag Tech entrepreneurs who have ideas on how technology can bring greater value to our dairy farmer-owners — whether it’s on the dairy farm, in the transportation network, in our plants, even connecting with consumers in grocery stores, farmer’s markets or at the dinner table.”

New highlights of the 2017 Accelerator program include:

Targeted, strategic meetings with the corporate partner teams to discuss business development, pilots and potential sponsorships;

Mentors from the Corporate Sponsors and their networks, as well as from the investor, business development and entrepreneurial communities;

Business building sessions around product, brand, marketing and entrepreneurship;

State-of-the-art workspace facilities provided at Sprint Accelerator in Kansas City’s Crossroads Arts District.

More details are available at sprintaccelerator.com.

“Continuing the magic which happens at the Sprint Accelerator is important for the KC community,” said Darcy Howe of the KC Rise Fund. “Seeds of innovation needed by a region and by corporations which want to grow start in hubs of collaboration and connectivity. Put another 'W' in the column for KC!”

About Sprint and its Support for Entrepreneurship:

Sprint has a strong history of working with startups in Silicon Valley, Kansas City and around the globe, helping young companies navigate the corporate world and build momentum behind their new businesses. Sprint is committed to supporting the entrepreneurial movement across the country, delivering new business opportunities, and spurring the startup spirit within the company. In 2014, Sprint opened the award-winning Sprint Accelerator in Kansas City. The accelerator space also is used to deliver year-round programming, including The Kansas City Mentor Network, STEM programs, entrepreneurial community collaboration and co-working space for startup organizations.

About Sprint:

Sprint (NYSE:S) is a communications services company that creates more and better ways to connect its customers to the things they care about most. Sprint served more than 59.4 million connections as of June 30, 2016 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; leading no-contract brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Sprint has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America for the past five years. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

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