Ekkobar Wins $1M at RALLY Pitch Competition

The energy around sports innovation reached a new level at RALLY 2025, where Ekkobar emerged as the winner of the $1M prize in the sports tech category of the RALLY Pitch Competition. 

This recognition is validation that bold ideas are shaping the future of sport. By mining the vast and chaotic world of social media and transforming conversations into actionable intelligence, Ekkobar is redefining how athletes, brands, and fans connect. Their breakthrough was recognized by a panel of investors and industry leaders seeking the next game-changing opportunity.

This win comes on the heels of another milestone for Ekkobar: the launch of MIRA (Match Intelligence & Relationship Assessment), a sponsorship-matching product developed in collaboration with NBC Sports through the Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech accelerator. Co-founder and CEO Rhys Ryan formally unveiled MIRA at TEDSports in Indianapolis, showcasing how the tool is helping brands, athletes, and organizations—from NBC’s Athlete Direct to the Horizon League—unlock more targeted, authentic, and efficient partnerships through Social Decision Intelligence.

The RALLY Pitch Competition, fueled by up to $5M in investment across Ag & Food, Healthcare, Sportstech, Software, and Hardtech, continues to be a launchpad for startups poised to transform their industries. In sports tech, the competition highlights innovations at the intersection of data, performance, safety, engagement, and fan experience. We’re also proud to celebrate Motion, a fellow Sports Tech HQ Collective member, who was recognized as a finalist. Both companies showcase the strength of Indiana’s growing sports tech ecosystem and the talent shaping what’s next.