101 Top Illinois Sports Companies and Startups of 2021

Vishnu Priya

5 years ago

This article showcases our top picks for the best Illinois based Sports companies. These startups and companies are taking a variety of approaches to innovating the Sports industry, but are all exceptional companies well worth a follow.

We tried to pick companies across the size spectrum from cutting edge startups to established brands.

We selected these startups and companies for exceptional performance in one of these categories:

Innovation
- Innovative ideas
- Innovative route to market
- Innovative product
Growth
- Exceptional growth
- Exceptional growth strategy
Management
Societal impact

Top Illinois Sports Startups

Data sourced from Crunchbase and SemRush.

Puttshack

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Puttshack offers indoor mini-golf ball-tracking technology.

chiliZ

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A global sports and entertainment organisation.

Betsperts

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Betsperts provides crowdsourced sports content, social media, advice, and user analytics on a centralized platform.

FanFood

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FanFood is a mobile ordering and concession management platform for sports and live events.

Mystery Tackle Box

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Mystery Tackle Box is a retail company that deals with fishing products at affordable prices.

Blinkfire Analytics

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Blinkfire Analytics uses artificial intelligence and computer vision to analyze multimedia resources and generate reports.

Varsity Views

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Varsity Views is a high school sports media outlet capturing the story of high school athletes’ games.

Oath Gaming

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Oath Gaming is a professional esports organization building the next generation of future professional esports for gamers.

Mediarex Sports & Entertainment

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Mediarex Sports & Entertainment is a sports marketing agency that develops sports formatted Poker competition for its clients.

Block Six Analytics

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Maximizing Revenue For Buyers And Sellers Of Sports Sponsorship Using Technology And Analytics

Big Blue Swim School

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Big Blue Swim School is a company that creates a fun and safe environment for swimmers in a relaxed and comfortable setting for parents.

SportsLock

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First of its kind, real-time, short duration fantasy sports experience. Draft against friends, compete in brackets, survive and win cash!

Digital Golf Technologies

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Digital Golf Technologies enhances the traditions of golf by adding excitement to every round.

Prozone

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World’s leading sports clubs and leagues to deliver innovative performance analysis services.

COCO5

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COCO5 offers a sports drink brand with hydration benefits, naturally occurring electrolytes, and no artificial ingredients.

NextUpRecruitment

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NextUpRecruitment helps student-athletes connect with coaches offering scholarship opportunities at the collegiate level.

Socios.com

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Socios.com utilizes the blockchain technology monetize football club fan bases.

Betway

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The Betway Group is a leading provider of first-class entertainment across sports betting, casino, bingo and poker.

Fandium

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Fandium enables users to follow their favorite games with geo-specific photos, up-to-date scores, commentary, and betting odds via an app.

Stats Perform

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Stats Perform is the market sports technology company across media and tech, betting, and team performance.

STATS

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800+ global organizations trust STATS to power their sports data and technology platforms due to our unrivaled speed, accuracy and depth.

Qualia Health

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Qualia Health have built the first software platform that can measure anyone’s complete physical, mental, and social health.

JumpForward

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JumpForward is currently used by over 200 collegiate athletic departments.

Bo Jackson’s Elite Sports

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Bo Jackson’s Elite Sports provides training opportunities for turf sport teams as well as to individual athletes, of any sport.

TicketsNow

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TicketsNow is an event ticket resale marketplace where fans of live entertainment buy and sell tickets.

Golfmiles Inc.

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Golfmiles is an app that allows users to book golf tee times and receive rewards.

Gatorade

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Sports performance innovations designed to meet the needs of athletes at all competitive levels and across a broad range of sports.

Spikeball

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Spikeball’s mission is to be the next great American sport.

Leagueswype

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Leagueswype offers a quick, easy, and secure solution for transferring funds.

LineHop

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LineHop provides mobile ordering and payment solutions for the hospitality industry.

Next College Student Athlete

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Next College Student Athlete helps student-athletes and families connect with college coaches.

FanSided Inc

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FanSided is one of the fastest growing network of fandom-focused sports, entertainment and lifestyle sites on the Internet.

Bellator MMA

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Bellator MMA is a Mixed Martial Arts promotional company headquartered in Chicago.

Stadium

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Stadium is a multi-platform sports network that brings together exclusive live game and event coverage and daily live studio programming.

ScoreMore

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ScoreMore is a mobile technology that enables users to increase their fan engagement and drives team revenues at large venues.

Vigtory

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Vigtory is comprised of sports marketing and legacy gaming executives.

Fanisko

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Fanisko provides sports and entertainment brands with a one-stop fan engagement analytics platform.

FastModel Sports

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We create software, mobile apps & educational content for #NBA #NCAA and amateur coaches and players. #NBAXsOs #NCAAXsOs #FastDrawTop100

Mania Media Network

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Mania Media Network is a website dedicated to sports journalism.

EZLinks Golf

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EZLinks is the leader in golf shop technology providing operational software and revenue management tools for the top golfers in industry.

SRAM Corporation

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SRAM, LLC has grown to be the world’s second largest bicycle component manufacturer.

Chicago Fire

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Chicago Fire is a Major League Soccer level team based in Chicago, Illinois.

4FRONT

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4FRONT solves problems and generates revenue through deep analytics, digital media, strategic sponsorships, and innovative ideas.

TGI Sport

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TGI Worldwide is a digital agency that renders visual branding, strategic decor, live event management and LED solutions for sports events.

InStadium

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InStadium offers live sports marketing network, dedicated to connecting brands with fans at live events.

Meridix

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Making it easy for any sports team to broadcast like the pros.

Club Champion

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Club Champion is a provider of custom fitting services and golf equipment in the US.

FanHome

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FanHome is a platform for e-sport fanatics who want to watch tournaments and streams elbow-to-elbow with other people who care.

PEAK6 Sports

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Venture Capital Firm – Sports and Technology Businesses

Phoenix Sports Partners

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Phoenix Sports Partners is more than an investment fund or venture capital firm.

Catch

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Catch is a Mobile-Ordering concessions platform for pickup or delivery right to your seat

LeagueSpot

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The ultimate platform partner for esports programs

VAULT Innovation

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We’re a venture studio designed for companies wanting to build high-impact software.

PowerDecal

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PowerDecal is a manufacturer and retailer of LED-backlit automotive decals and other promotional materials.

Silver Chalice Ventures

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Silver Chalice Ventures builds and operates digital-based businesses that focus on sports, media, and entertainment.

MLB Trade Rumors

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MLB Trade Rumors is a clearinghouse for relevant, legitimate baseball rumors.

myBet

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myBet is the provider of of sports betting in Germany.

Prep Baseball Report

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Prep Baseball Report is a sports company that offers baseball player’s promotion solutions.

Schutt Sports

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Schutt Sports is a sporting goods company offering sports protective gear.

Midtown Athletic Clubs

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Midtown Athletic Clubs provides Tennis, Fitness, Sports, Recreation, Spa Services, and Group Exercise.

Inter Sport

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Intersport builds custom marketing platforms to leverage.

Glo Bags

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The Glo Bag LLC was started by Jennifer Koutouras and Kendra Cunningham, two avid gym goers who were tired of their traditional gym.

Gatorade Sports Science Institute

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GSSI committed to helping athletes optimize their health and performance through research in hydration and nutrition science.

Champro Sports

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Champro Sports is a sporting goods company that manufactures sports equipment and apparel.

VideObserver

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Advanced real time and video Sports Performance Analysis tools

The Big Ten Network

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Big Ten Network is a company which has developed an app BTN2Go to delivers live and on-demand programming to existing BTN subscribers via

rEvolution Marketing

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rEvolution is a global integrated sports marketing agency.

OptionIt

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OptionIt allows fans to reserve access to the biggest sporting events in the world without obligation.

M&K Truck Centers

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M&K Truck Centers is a transportation company that provides trucks, trailers, and luxury sports coaches.

SportsBusiness Journal

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SportsBusiness Journal and Daily, leading publications in the sports business world.

Nevco Inc.

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Nevco is an electronic manufacturing company that offers sports scoreboards and video displays.

United Center

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United Center is a sports company that offers sports and entertainment services.

Fantasy Sports Trade Association

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The Fantasy Sports Trade Association is a trade group that represents the fantasy sports industry with over 200 member companies.

Boombah

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Boombah is an online marketplace that provides footwear, athletic equipment, sports uniforms and accessories.

Priority Sports & Entertainment

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Priority Sports & Entertainment is a sports company specializing in sports management services

Zero Friction

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Zero Friction was founded in 2001, originally under the name of Excel Golf Products, Inc.

LineLibrary

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LineLibrary is building the next innovative sports betting platform to serve customers around the world.

Bugle Newspapers

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Bugle Newspapers is a publishing company that provides news, sports and lifestyle articles through newspapers and online platforms.

Navigate Research

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Navigate is the industry leader in evaluating and measuring marketing investments, primarily in sports and entertainment.

WalkJogRun

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WalkJogRun helps runners find or create running routes around the world and provides the tools to help them train effectively.

InGame Action

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Platform positioned to be one of the initial providers of predictive analytics within the growing sports gambling industry.

Foss Swim School

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Foss Swim School is a health & wellness company that offers swimming instruction and child development services.

Elysian

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Elysian is a hospitality company that provides foot spa and health club services.

RateYourSeats.com

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The best way to search, compare and buy tickets. See your view before you buy, compare seats with SeatScore™ and discover great deals!

Trajektory

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Trajektory aggregates and analyzes sponsorship data from dozens of sources, providing access to accurate and integrity-driven sponsorship data across digital and non-digital assets. By evaluating sponsorships holistically and in real-time, our customers can retire over $100K on legacy vendor spend, save over 1,200 hours a year on data preparation, and report on nearly 100% of their sponsorship portfolio.

Built by industry professionals who have sat in your seats, our commitment to integrity and innovation ensures that you stay ahead in the game, transforming your sponsorship strategies into success stories that resonate. With better insights, Trajektory customers optimize their sponsorship decision-making and maximize revenue.