The Future of Sports is Here Thanks to Young All-Stars Excelling On and Off the Field
By Brett Knight, Justin Birnbaum, and Sofia Chierchio
Amidst the surge of artificial intelligence across various industries, Akshat Prakash, co-founder of Camb.ai, believes he can leverage this technology to redefine live sports. His startup has secured $18.5 million in funding and collaborated with notable names like MLS, Nascar, and the Australian Open, enabling broadcasts to be translated into over 150 languages swiftly and cost-effectively while maintaining the commentator’s nuance.
“The internet was designed with English speakers in mind,” explains the 27-year-old CTO. “I’m reinventing it for a global audience.”
Prakash is not alone in his pursuit of innovation within the sports sector. Co-founders of Trainwell, Gabe Madonna and Matt Spettel, have developed a fitness app that uses wearables to provide real-time pacing and form feedback during exercises. Another startup, OneCourt, founded by Antyush Bollini, Andrew Buckingham, Nick Durand, and Jerred Mace, has introduced a “tactile broadcast” that allows visually impaired fans to experience games through vibrations on a handheld device.
This spirit of innovation has earned these young leaders a spot among athletes and executives in the 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 Sports list, which includes renowned figures like Coco Gauff, the two-time Grand Slam champion at 21; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 27, the NBA finals MVP; and Paige Bueckers, 24, who received the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award following her outstanding college tenure at UConn.
Also featured is NiJaree Canady, a 22-year-old softball star and a prominent figure in the NCAA’s new NIL era, earning over a million dollars annually at Texas Tech. Others have set contractual records, such as Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles, Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Trinity Rodman from Washington Spirit, and Juan Soto of the New York Mets, who recently signed a record $765 million deal.
Some honorees are dedicated to increasing accessibility in sports. Kyle Sulkar, founder of CPX Pickleball, and Zechariah Thomas, founder of Swift Hockey, aim to produce affordable performance gear. Meanwhile, Abigail McCulloch is promoting the sport of padel through a new club and co-founding Padel Au Pair to address the lack of trained coaches in the U.S.
The class of 2026 also demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity, featuring 14 women and 16 individuals of color, highlighting the diverse talent making strides in the sports industry. Eligibility for the list requires candidates to be 29 or younger as of December 31, 2025, without prior selections to a Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Honorees were determined by a distinguished panel, including private equity mogul Justin Ishbia and Kyle Kuzma, a member of the 2024 class.
This year, candidates also shared the worst advice they’ve received, with Bueckers humorously mentioning “to try crab and lobster.” Prakash offered a more universal lesson inspired by Ratatouille, reflecting on the potential of greatness from unexpected places. “I feel like Remy the rat: underestimated and doubted, yet driven to create something exceptional.” This shared ambition is evident among the 30 Under 30 honorees, who are clearly on their path to achieving significant impacts in the sports world.
For the complete 2026 30 Under 30 Sports list, click here, and for full 30 Under 30 coverage, click here.
