Sprint Accelerator
Sprint Accelerator is a corporate-backed, Techstars-powered three-month startup accelerator for ten mobile health companies per cohort, based in Kansas City and funded by Sprint through seed capital, an optional $100K convertible note, and access to Sprint's carrier network and testing facilities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersKansas City, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Sprint Accelerator does
Sprint Accelerator, powered by Techstars, is a corporate-backed startup accelerator program focused exclusively on mobile health innovation. Founded in September 2013 as a partnership between Sprint (NYSE:S) and Techstars, the program was based in Kansas City's Crossroads Arts District with supplementary use of Sprint's 4 million square foot Overland Park campus. Its core offering is a three-month, immersive, mentor-driven program for ten selected startups per cohort, providing up to $120,000 in combined seed funding ($20K Techstars seed for 6% equity plus an optional $100K Sprint convertible debt note), workspace, and access to Sprint's carrier technology, exclusive APIs, testing labs, and approximately 7,500 Sprint employees with domain expertise. The program culminated in a Demo Day where startups pitched to investors, venture capitalists, and Sprint executives.
The accelerator's portfolio spans wearable devices, sensor-driven health tools, mobile diagnostic applications, big-data health platforms, and adjacent consumer health products. Representative inaugural-cohort companies include AkibaH (BLE-enabled smartphone case glucometer), FitBark (dog activity tracker), LifeLine Response (personal safety app), Medicast (on-demand house-call doctors), ollo mobile (senior wearable), Prime (health records aggregation), Sickweather (social-media sickness forecasting), Symptom.ly (clinically validated symptom tracking), Tenacity (MIT-developed workplace peer coaching), and Yosko (hospital care coordination platform). Technical differentiation for participating startups derived from Sprint's network APIs, the Sprint Campus testing infrastructure (Executive Briefing Center, Innovation Zone, Usability Lab, Product/Network testing facility), and a mentor network exceeding 50 advisors drawn from healthcare, venture capital, and corporate leadership.
The business model is not a traditional revenue-generating operation. Sprint Accelerator is funded by Sprint as a corporate innovation initiative and operated by Techstars under a partnership in which Techstars manages the program and retains 6% equity in each participating company. The program provides capital to startups rather than charging them; economic return is generated through equity stakes and convertible debt rather than fees or subscriptions. Only one full cohort (inaugural 2014 class) is documented in the available data, and the program's current operating status is not clearly indicated, suggesting it functioned as a time-bound strategic initiative rather than a continuously operating commercial venture.
Sprint Accelerator firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sprint Accelerator
- Legal name
- Sprint Accelerator
- Website
- https://sprintaccelerator.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Closed
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sprint Accelerator is a corporate-backed, Techstars-powered three-month startup accelerator for ten mobile health companies per cohort, based in Kansas City and funded by Sprint through seed capital, an optional $100K convertible note, and access to Sprint's carrier network and testing facilities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sprint Accelerator industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Accelerator
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)
Keywords
Where Sprint Accelerator is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kansas City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Sprint Accelerator business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Accelerator Program Operations: Sprint Accelerator is a corporate-backed accelerator program funded by Sprint. It provides funding to startups in exchange for equity. Techstars retains 6% equity per company. Sprint provides convertible debt note funding.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | One-time | Base Program Support - $20K seed funding per company |
| Subscription | One-time | Optional Convertible Debt Note - $100,000 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Sprint Accelerator product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sprint Accelerator is a three-month, mentor-driven startup accelerator for ten mobile health companies based in Kansas City. Selected startups receive up to $120,000 in combined seed funding ($20,000 plus an optional $100,000 convertible debt note), access to Sprint's carrier technology and exclusive APIs, technical support from Sprint's development team, testing lab and network engineering resources at the Sprint Campus, dedicated workspace, ongoing mentorship from entrepreneurs, healthcare experts, and venture capitalists, and a culminating Demo Day pitch event. The program is powered by Techstars, which invests the $20,000 seed in exchange for 6% equity in each participating company.
Product overview
Sprint Accelerator is a mobile health startup accelerator program powered by Techstars, not a traditional product company. The accelerator provides a three-month intensive mentorship program for ten selected startups, offering up to $120,000 in combined seed funding, access to Sprint's carrier technology and exclusive APIs, technical support, testing labs, and mentorship from healthcare experts, venture capitalists, and corporate executives. The program is based in Kansas City's Crossroads Arts District. The accelerator's portfolio includes ten mobile health companies: AkibaH (diabetes smartphone glucometer), FitBark (pet activity tracking), LifeLine Response (personal safety app), Medicast (doctor-on-demand), ollo mobile (senior wearables), Prime (health records aggregation), Sickweather (sickness forecasting), Symptom.ly (symptom tracking), Tenacity (workplace wellness coaching), and Yosko (hospital care coordination).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sprint Accelerator Program A three-month, immersive, mentor-driven startup accelerator for ten companies based in Kansas City, focused on mobile health innovation. Selected participants receive up to $120,000 in combined seed funding ($20,000 base plus an optional $100,000 convertible debt note), ongoing mentor support from the entrepreneurial community, corporate executives, health experts and venture capitalists, access to Sprint carrier technology and exclusive APIs, technical support from Sprint's development team, use of testing labs and network engineering resources at the Sprint Campus, dedicated workspace in Kansas City, and a Demo Day pitch event to investors at program conclusion.
Quantifiable outcome
- 10 companies per cohort receive funding and mentorship
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Sprint Accelerator
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Sprint Accelerator technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Sprint Accelerator partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- TechstarscoreTechstars is the accelerator partner powering the Sprint Accelerator. They manage the accelerator program, provide mentorship network, and invest $20K in each company (retaining 6% equity). Techstars brings their proven accelerator model and operating experience to the partnership. Three of four Techstars co-founders attended the first Demo Day.
- Truman Medical CenterminorDr. David Voran, Informatics Director at Truman Medical Center, serves as a mentor providing healthcare domain expertise and physician perspective on mobile health applications.
- Kansas City Area Life Sciences InstituteminorWayne O. Carter, President and CEO of KC Area Life Sciences Institute, serves as mentor. The institute reports 240 life sciences companies in greater KC area providing ecosystem support for mobile health startups.
- Kauffman FoundationminorThe Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation hosts events like Get in the Ring startup competition and supports the Kansas City entrepreneurial ecosystem.
- Google FiberminorGoogle Fiber's 1Gbps network deployment in Kansas City provides infrastructure advantage for tech startups in the accelerator.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Sprint Accelerator competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sprint Accelerator social profiles
Digital presenceSprint Accelerator financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sprint Accelerator leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Sprint Accelerator funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sprint Accelerator M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments32 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sprint Accelerator
What does Sprint Accelerator do?
Sprint Accelerator is a three-month, mentor-driven startup accelerator for ten mobile health companies based in Kansas City. Selected startups receive up to $120,000 in combined seed funding ($20,000 plus an optional $100,000 convertible debt note), access to Sprint's carrier technology and exclusive APIs, technical support from Sprint's development team, testing lab and network engineering resources at the Sprint Campus, dedicated workspace, ongoing mentorship from entrepreneurs, healthcare experts, and venture capitalists, and a culminating Demo Day pitch event. The program is powered by Techstars, which invests the $20,000 seed in exchange for 6% equity in each participating company.
Is Sprint Accelerator a public or private company?
Sprint Accelerator is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently closed.
When was Sprint Accelerator founded?
Sprint Accelerator was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sprint Accelerator based?
Sprint Accelerator is headquartered in Kansas City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sprint Accelerator make money?
One revenue line is on record: accelerator Program Operations.
Does Sprint Accelerator have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sprint Accelerator.
What industry is Sprint Accelerator in?
Sprint Accelerator's product category is Startup Accelerator. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAHAD, Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs, with a secondary code of FSANAAAM, Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated). Its NAICS code is 61171 and its SIC code is 8742.