cricexec has unveiled the final lineup of companies set to compete in the cricexec Innovation Challenge, taking place on Friday, October 24, 2025, during the cricexec Forum at the Cricket Impact Summit and Expo in Santa Clara, California.
The Challenge, debuting this year as part of cricexec’s first-ever live event, will bring together entrepreneurs and innovators working to advance cricket through new technologies, products, and ideas — both on and off the field.
The finalists
The following companies have been selected to take the stage, representing a mix of cutting-edge technology platforms and forward-thinking startups reshaping cricket’s future:
CRICBABY
CRICBABY is the world’s first cricket-inspired lifestyle brand that connects generations through safe, innovative, and design-patented products. Every CRICBABY creation embodies the three emotions cricket represents — learning, bonding, and fun.
Founded by Sid and Vaishali Joshi and inspired by their two young “co-founders,” Shivaay (4) and Vajra (1), CRICBABY brings the joy of cricket into family life from the very beginning.
Loved by parents, kids, international cricketers, and cricket fans worldwide, CRICBABY has been covered by the Wisden Podcast, partnered with esteemed franchises like Durham Cricket, earned 4.5★+ ratings across Amazon and Shopify (DTC), and sold thousands of units in its early phase.
We’re not just building products — we’re building the first family movement in cricket, where passion becomes play and every generation grows up with the game they love. ❤️🏏
CricFlex
CricFlex is a next-gen wearable sleeve designed for bowlers to analyze and improve performance. It measures arm angles, force, speed, spin, action time, run-up speed, distance, and delivery time — providing real-time insights to help players refine their technique.
Powered by patented technology, CricFlex has been featured by ESPN Cricinfo and is now used in over 10 countries, including by three-time PSL champions Islamabad United. It’s trusted by elite athletes such as Hasan Ali, Shadab Khan, Saeed Ajmal, Rumman Raees and endorsed by legends like Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar.
“From instinct to insight,” CricFlex is helping every cricketer bowl smarter, faster, and safer.
CricHeroes
CricHeroes is a mobile-first platform organising the vast sector of grassroots Cricket, a sport with estimated 2.5b fans. It empowers millions of grassroots cricketers to showcase their talent, get recognition and become better with data. It builds an ecosystem around grassroots cricket and enables e-commerce on top of it.
Crickbuster
Crickbuster is the first company in the United States to be an ICC-approved, AI-powered leader in sports travel and fan experiences, redefining how fans connect with cricket through cutting-edge technology. Our platform provides official match tickets, smart travel packages, VIP access, real-time match experiences, and predictive fan engagement, all within one seamless digital ecosystem. Blending passion, comfort, and innovation, Crickbuster transforms cricket tourism into unforgettable adventures. Live the Sport. Love the Experience.
HITZ Cricket
HiTZ Cricket is the hassle-free way to reach the next level in your game. Digitally enabled from start to finish – this is training on your terms. Our easy-access, autonomous indoor nets use BatFast tech to personalise training sessions and showcase post-net analysis to help improve anyone’s game. Elevate your game with data-driven, personalised batting experiences designed to help you improve every hit.
JusPredict Inc.
JusPredict is redefining how fans engage with cricket and beyond, transforming their instinct into intelligence. The platform empowers fans and their communities to make live predictions, compete, and celebrate foresight, bridging the excitement of fandom today with the global prediction exchanges of tomorrow.
Ludimos
Ludimos empowers cricket boards, leagues, and franchises with AI-powered analytics and athlete management tools that unify coaching, performance, and talent identification. Trusted by IPL & WPL Champions and several national teams worldwide, Ludimos bridges the gap between player development and data intelligence — helping decision-makers modernize the game for the AI era.
Playar
Train like it’s game day.
Playar bridges the gap between cricket nets and the game. Using smartphone cameras, it shows players where their shots would land on a real field — how far they went, what they’d score, and how they compare across sessions. Built to make nets training feel like game day, Playar makes every session more productive and gives players real, instant, game-ready feedback to help them improve with every session.
ProVelocity Cricket
https://provelocitycricket.com
The ProVelocity Cricket Bat transforms how players train for power hitting by turning every swing into instant feedback and improvement. Instead of guessing whether your technique is producing real bat speed, this bat shows you — the sliding barrel and resistance system give a clear “double click” only when your mechanics and acceleration are right. That feedback helps players build explosive power, better timing, and true confidence at the crease. Whether you’re working on hitting deeper sixes or sharpening your hand speed, the ProVelocity Cricket Bat makes every swing count — it’s the most effective way to train for real, game-changing power.
Sportsnection
Sportsnection is making cricket trading cards as collectible as those for MLB, NBA, and the NFL! We are partnering with legendary cricketers from across the globe as part of our “All-Stars of Cricket Series” sets of trading cards. Sportsnection works with national and/or local cricket leagues and team card sets to grow the game. Let’s build something together!
The format
Each company will pitch live in front of a panel of industry judges in a preliminary round, with the top two from each preliminary group advancing to the finals.
The ultimate winner will receive a $10,000 multi-channel advertising campaign on cricexec, spanning the publication’s website, newsletters, and social platforms and reaching its global audience of top cricket industry leaders.
Innovation across every corner of cricket
From data and analytics to fan engagement, coaching tools, performance tech, and community-focused initiatives, this year’s lineup reflects the diversity of innovation emerging within cricket’s business and playing ecosystems.
“cricexec has always been about covering the business of cricket and the people driving it forward,” said Zee Zaidi, Owner of cricexec. “The Innovation Challenge is our way of giving those innovators a platform — whether they’re building technology, designing better products, or creating new ways for fans and players to connect.”
Many of the participating companies are also exhibitors at the Cricket Impact Summit, showcasing their products and technologies throughout the two-day event.
Liam Plunkett, Co-Founder and Director of the Cricket Impact Group (which is hosting the Summit) and former England international – and himself a cricket entrepreneur – added: “What we love about this competition is that it celebrates the entrepreneurial energy that’s starting to define cricket.” Adam Hall, Co-Founder and CEO of the Cricket Impact Group, added: “It’s a great opportunity for Summit exhibitors to connect directly with investors, partners, and franchise leaders — and to show how innovation is driving the sport forward.”
Judging panel to be revealed soon
Senior executives and investors from the cricket industry will serve as judges. The judging lineup will be announced in the coming days.
A new platform for cricket entrepreneurship
The cricexec Innovation Challenge is designed to spotlight creativity and ambition in the global cricket industry — celebrating those using innovation, technology, and new thinking to bring the sport into its next phase.
The Challenge will take place as part of the cricexec Forum, the business-focused capstone of the Cricket Impact Summit, which gathers cricket’s global decision-makers for panels, networking, and new ideas shaping the future of the game.
By spotlighting innovators, entrepreneurs, and creative thinkers from across the ecosystem, cricexec aims to spark dialogue, collaboration, and investment in the ideas that will define the next decade of cricket growth.
