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Key people at Pokatok.
Pokatok was founded in 2022 by Alex Gras (Co-Founder).
Pokatok operates "The Sports World's Fair," a festival and conference focused on global sports and their technological transformation. This event combines a fan festival with Pokatok X, an expo featuring speakers, product demonstrations, and investor pitches. It aims to connect stakeholders and showcase innovations across the sports technology ecosystem.
Founded by sports industry veterans Lawson Gow and Chris Buckner, Pokatok was unveiled in June 2023. Their insight recognized a need for a singular, comprehensive event to unite the evolving intersection of sports and technology. Gow and Buckner's experience informed their vision for this global sports gathering.
Pokatok engages a broad audience, from competitors and spectators to professionals and investors in sports technology. Its mission is to be the ultimate global platform, bridging traditional sports with technology and culture. The company envisions fostering a community where innovation within the sports industry can thrive, shaping its future.
Key people at Pokatok.
Pokatok is a Houston-based sports innovation company that organizes expos, labs, and community events to connect startups, founders, investors, and fans in the sports technology sector.[1][2][4] It operates under the Gow Companies family and focuses on building Houston as a sports tech hub through initiatives like Pokatok X, a major expo showcasing sports innovation and technologies transforming the industry.[1][2][8] Pokatok Labs supports Seed and Series A sports tech startups with programming, investor introductions, and expert resources, while events like happy hours aim to grow Texas's sports economy via networking across the industry.[2][3][5]
The company serves sports tech entrepreneurs, investors, and enthusiasts by fostering collaboration and accelerating innovation, addressing fragmentation in the sports ecosystem.[1][6][7]
Pokatok emerged from the Gow Companies, a Houston-based sports holding company, with founders Lawson Gow and Chris Buckner at the helm.[4][8] It was publicly unveiled around 2022 to celebrate global sports and highlight transformative technologies, building on Houston's growing startup scene.[1][6] Key figure Kate Evinger contributed by leading the development and launch of Pokatok Labs' scale-up program for early-stage sports tech startups, drawing from her background in entrepreneurship support, tech startups, and institutions like the Smithsonian.[3]
Early traction included positioning Houston as a sports tech hub, with missions to partner in local entrepreneurship and host events like the 2024 Pokatok X expo.[2][4][6]
Pokatok rides the sports tech boom, capitalizing on trends like digital fan engagement, data analytics, and wearable tech amid global sports growth.[1] Timing aligns with Houston's emergence as an innovation hub, leveraging its sports assets (e.g., MLB, NFL teams) and startup ecosystem to attract talent and capital.[2][6] Market forces favoring it include rising venture interest in sports tech and Texas's business-friendly environment for community-building events.[3][5] It influences the ecosystem by bridging startups with investors and creating pivotal connections, much like Kate Evinger's programs that remove barriers for founders.[3][7]
Pokatok is poised to scale its expo model post-2024 launch, potentially hosting annual events that solidify Houston as North America's sports tech capital.[4][8] Trends like AI-driven athlete performance tools and immersive fan experiences will shape its trajectory, with Labs accelerating more startups to exit velocity.[2][3] Its influence may evolve from regional connector to national platform, amplifying Texas sports economy growth through deeper investor networks. This positions Pokatok as a vital spark for sports innovation, much like its founding mission to showcase and transform the industry.[1][5]
Pokatok was founded in 2022 by Alex Gras (Co-Founder).
