Australian Sportstech News

The West Coast Eagles, in partnership with Playbk Sports, have launched Eagles Active, the club’s first Learning Management System. The first program within the online portal, Freestyle Footy, is available to all teachers. This free and innovative eLearning course, delivered by Eagles players and experts, is designed to empower teachers with the knowledge and resources to bring Aussie Rules to school yards across Western Australia in a fun, safe and inclusive way.

Research shows that women and men have differently shaped feet: For example, women tend to have a different heel-to-forefoot ratio and higher arches than men. But across sports, women’s shoes have historically been sized-down versions of shoes engineered and molded to fit a man’s foot. However, companies are springing up to change that. As women’s sports grow—and the market for signature women’s shoes soars—there is a growing push to move away from the traditional unisex model and design for women’s anatomy specifically. 

Basketball Victoria has joined the TreadLightly program as its newest partner, supporting efforts to reduce the millions of sports balls that are discarded into landfill each year. TreadLightly is an industry-led national recycling program established in 2021, powered by the Australian Sporting Goods Association (ASGA). The program is dedicated to empowering Aussie sports enthusiasts to reduce their environmental footprint by recycling their sports footwear and balls. The TreadLightly Sports Ball Program was launched in August 2024 and has since recycled over 25,000 kgs of sports balls.

Techtel, a leading provider of broadcast technology solutions, has successfully delivered and installed a high-performance video production system for the West Coast Eagles at their headquarters, Mineral Resources Park in Perth. This upgrade empowers the club with industry-leading tools for seamless remote interviews, studio call-ins, and live-streaming to multiple social media platforms simultaneously.

In less than 2 years since developing their first tennis system, Bolt6 has shared the results from their first tennis Grand Slam at the Australian Open. Throughout the tournament, they brought the latest in tennis technology to the biggest stage, including Automated Foot Fault Detection (successful offline trials), Limb Tracking, Electronic Line Calling (including the world’s first fully remote match), live Augmented Reality and broadcast enhancements. Bolt6 tracked 480,000+ bounces, 1300+ matches, across 17 courts.

Tennis Australia's AO Adventures on Roblox has now hit 25 million sessions since it was first launched in January 2024. Every 1 Million sessions come from approximately 450,000 new users who are likely engaging with the Australian Open brand for the first time. And less than 1% of these users are from Australia.

Playbk Sports, a leader in innovative eLearning and sports technology solutions, announced its recognition as the recipient of the Sports Technology and Innovation Award at the 56th Gold Coast Sports Awards. This accolade underscores Playbk Sports commitment to personalised sports education through cutting-edge Learning Management System (LMS) technology and digital products for top-tier Australian sporting organisations. 

Australian bookmaker PointsBet Holdings (ASX: PBH) finds itself at the centre of a bidding war between Japanese sports and entertainment giant MIXI and local betting firm BlueBet (ASX: BBT). PointsBet agreed this morning to a $US 353 million takeover by MIXI via a binding scheme implementation deed, under which PointsBet shareholders would receive a cash consideration of $US 1.06 per share. BlueBet merged with Betr in April 2024 and recently bought Queensland operator TopSport as part of a bid to grow its market share.

The Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) launched the VALD Systems Testing Workshop in Nadi, Fiji, aimed at enhancing athlete performance across the Pacific region. The 4-day workshop, coordinated by the Oceania Sports Education Programme (OSEP) is a key step in ONOC's ongoing efforts to support high-performance sports, combining cutting-edge technology with innovative training approaches to prepare athletes for future Olympic and Paralympic success.

Australian smart navigation platform PAM has been selected in the 2025 Comcast Sportstech Program. The highly regarded program allows PAM to collaborate with industry leaders like NBC Sports, NASCAR, The Premier League, PGA TOUR, University of Notre Dame, Comcast Spectacor Golf Channel, Comcast Business and more to push the boundaries of smart navigation and enhance the fan experience. PAM was one of ten companies selected in the 2025 cohort. PAM follows Australia sportstech companies GeoSnapShot and Aircast who were also selected in recent cohorts of the Comcast Program.

Techtel has announced the completion of a cutting-edge broadcast-quality green screen installation for the Fremantle Football Club, WA. Designed to elevate the club’s media capabilities, the new creative space features a full-wall green screen that enables dynamic and immersive visuals for interviews, promotional content, and sponsor branding.

Leading volunteer workforce management software company Rosterfy has announce that they have featured in G2's 2025 list of "Best Australian & New Zealand Software Companies". Rosterfy was ranked #18 overall in Australia & New Zealand,  recognised as the top ranked "Volunteer Management" product in Australia and NZ, and in the Top 50 "Best Non-Profit Software Products 2025" globally.

Motorsport Australia has announced that Next Level Racing is renewing its Esports partnership for another season. The leading Simulator brand has been a key supporter since Motorsport Australia Esports launched in 2023. Under the renewed agreement, Next Level Racing will be the Official Esports Racing Cockpit Partner. As part of this continued partnership, Motorsport Australia and Next Level Racing will activate an Esports experience at the 2025 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, giving fans the opportunity to get behind the wheel of high-quality racing simulators and test their skills against the clock.

Leading volunteer workforce platform Rosterfy has announced a partnership with St John Ambulance. Rosterfy will support St John Ambulance in enhancing the way they engage and empower young people, youth leaders, volunteers, and parents. Through Rosterfy’s automation and scheduling capabilities, volunteers will have greater visibility of opportunities in real time, making it easier contribute to the incredible work that St John Ambulance delivers across communities. St John Ambulance are using Rosterfy to help them empower their Youth Leaders to run weekly first aid training sessions, interact with the public, and most importantly have fun and enjoy being part of the community.

Golf.ai has announced the launch of three groundbreaking AI experiences - Ai Caddie™, Ai Scorecard™, and What’s in My Bag™. Ai Caddie™ provides real time recommendations based on playing history, course conditions, and advanced Ai analytics, including personalised club suggestions and dynamic shot analysis. Ai Scorecard™ offers live player performance tracking, Ai generated insights, and trend spotting, initially launching with PGA Tour and LIV Golf events. What’s in My Bag™ provides personalised equipment insights, recommending optimal club configurations based on swing data and gear specs, and comparing with professional golfers' gear.

SureVision have released its new LED, crossbar technology. The release of the new technology introduces a new and innovative digital asset, and a desirable advertising platform for sponsors.  The first-ever high-resolution crossbar was used last weekend at the NRL's Māori v Indigenous game at Commbank Stadium. 

The NBL1 has welcomed INTIX on board as the league’s Preferred Ticketing Partner. INTIX has signed a five-year deal with the NBL1, that includes all five conferences, of NBL1 North, East, South, West, and Central. INTIX has been NBL1's ticketing partner for the National Finals for three years, and already work with more than 35 NBL1 clubs. For clubs looking to boost attendance, data insights, and revenue, INTIX offers a powerful, integrated solution to simplify administration, enhance operations, and elevate the fan experience.

BetMakers Technology has announce the long-term extension of its agreement with leading Australian wagering operator Sportsbet for the provision of its pricing and data services across three-codes of racing. Under this extended agreement, BetMakers will continue supplying Sportsbet with a comprehensive suite of pricing and data solutions to drive their global racing book.

Williams have secured what the British Formula 1 team describes as the “biggest partnership deal” in their 48-year history, with software firm Atlassian becoming their title partner. Williams have agreed a multi-year commitment with the team collaboration provider and productivity software company. Atlassian’s branding will feature prominently on their 2025 challenger as well as the race suits of Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, teamwear and the squad’s own branding.

Streaming giant Disney+ has announced it will add ESPN sports programming to its library for Australian and New Zealand customers at no extra cost. The launch follows the same rollout in Latin America in June last year, and the US in December last year. It will feature US shows such as SportsCenter, The Pat McAfee Show, NBA Today, and First Take, along with live NBA and NFL matches, replays, and original programming. ESPN programming has to date been available via Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV, and Sky NZ.

A Melbourne-based software platform used to organise volunteers globally for non-profits, governments, sporting federations and events - including this year’s Superbowl in New Orleans - has raised an additional $AUD 5.5 million from Australian venture capital firm OIF Ventures. The funding boost for Rosterfy got over the line in December as an extension to Bailador Technology Investments' $AUD 3 million investment in October, which had followed a $US 9.8 million injection in April 2023. Rosterfy's Software as a Service (SaaS) platform allows organisations to automate their end-to-end volunteer management from recruitment, screening and training through to scheduling, rewarding and reporting.

Kayo Sports has just launched an campaign using Komo Technologies marketing technologies, giving fans the chance to win a Las Vegas experience coinciding with NRL games in late February. The prize includes flights, game tickets, VIP perks, and more. By leveraging Komo’s Memory Match and Leaderboard, Kayo is driving deeper fan engagement while expanding its customer base.

NSW-based media and production company BarTV Sports has announced a strategic alliance with the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL). The partnership will provide the NSWRL’s 117,000 members and supporters with extensive coverage from grassroots all the way up to major competitions across NSW for up to $AUD 19.95 a month. The move follows the introduction of a dedicated subscription-based app for NSWRL TV in 2024. Approximately 900 games will be covered per annum for NSWRL, with BarTV streaming over 8,000 games across multiple sports per annum.

Tennis Australia has taken a page directly from the NFL, NBA, and MLB playbook by launching its own venture capital fund. Their unique advantage? Immediate access to those 1.2 million attendees, 10 million broadcast viewers in Australia alone, and a direct line to 1.5 million active tennis players nationwide. At the heart of their strategy is AO STARTUPS, a unique program redefining how sports organisations invest. Startups can test their products during the Australian Open, gaining invaluable exposure and immediate feedback. Tennis Australia just announced they’ve had their first fund close. This fund is called AO Ventures. The $US 30 million fund has cash commitments from the family office of Tesla chair and Blackbird partner Robyn Denholm (Wollemi Capital Group) and the Gnanalingam family, who own the London football club Queens Park Rangers.

Since 2018, Swimming Australia has worked with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to develop technology that is the envy of other global swimming powerhouses. Swimming Australia is using computer vision, machine learning and generative AI to track swimmers and analyse their results.  The technology has changed how coaches and athletes approach competition and training. It provides valuable information for coaches to make better informed decisions about their athletes and tailor training programs for individuals to be the best they can be. In the past, Swimming Australia has only used the technology at high-level race meets, however, in its push to continue to innovate and stay ahead of the rest of the world, the technology will now also be used in the training pool – another world first.

In October 2024, the Lao Football Federation (LFF) was named the AFC Member Association of the Year. This prestigious recognition was awarded for their commitment to innovation and football development, especially in the realm of youth football. LFF is using cutting-edge technology like DRIBL to fuel their ambitions and overcome the limitations they face as a small football nation. By embracing DRIBL, the LFF has streamlined league management, eliminated the need for time-consuming paper records, and introduced a new level of transparency and efficiency to their operations. The ability to manage leagues online has made it possible for youth players from even the most remote provinces to compete, with results accessible to coaches, scouts, and even potential sponsors.

Fast-growing, Australian-born fitness franchise STRONG Pilates has launched world-first strength training equipment - bridging the gap between strength conditioning and traditional Pilates. STRONG Pilates has introduced a Reverse Spring System built into their exclusive Rowformer and Bikeformer beds - a reformer bed with a rower or bike attached. The new Reverse Spring System allows users to lift over 40kg through a series of exercises that replicate the power of traditional strength training movements like squats and deadlifts while remaining low-impact.

Leading fitness & wellness new source Athletech has announced the 50 most innovative companies that will define the fitness and wellness industry’s future. The list includes three Australian companies including Centr (the fitness app and equipment brand founded by Christ Hemsworth), Evolt (body scanning technology) and F45 Training (high-intensity gym and functional centres).  

FrogBox has announced a partnership with Prime Video to help grow female cricket at the grassroots level. Through this initiative, 50 community cricket clubs with female teams across Australia are receiving a free FrogBox Streaming Kit, empowering them to capture and share their matches, celebrate moments, create visible role models and inspire the next generation of female cricketers.

Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) and BMO Stadium have teamed up with PAM’s Smart Navigation Platform to redefine the fan experience, offering real-time traffic and parking updates while streamlining the journey for every attendee. Using PAM’s cutting-edge 3D interactive mapping technology, fans will enjoy state-of-the-art digital wayfinding that guides them from parking, to food and beverage options, and ultimately to their seats. Fans can access the new LAFC eXplorer maps through the Venuetize Mobile App, the LAFC website, QR codes, and other communications channels, ensuring accessibility across multiple touchpoints.

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and VALD have announced a collaboration to advance musculoskeletal health technology solutions for physical therapy providers and their patients. Through this collaboration, APTA and VALD aim to expand access to advanced tools that improve assessment, treatment and outcomes across physical therapy. As part of this data and technology collaboration, VALD will leverage its innovative technology to elevate clinical outcomes and reinforce the value of physical therapy care.

The Liberty Hockey One League will remain live and free on 7plus Sport, with Hockey Australia and the Seven Network today announcing a long-term partnership extension. The three-year commitment will see Seven remain the home of hockey until the end of 2027. It follows a record-breaking 2024, during which thousands of Australians witnessed HC Melbourne and the Perth Thundersticks make history by winning the men’s and women’s crowns for the first time.

The India Sports Launchpad Program offers Queensland companies with an opportunity to expand networks, showcase capabilities, and drive exports in India’s sports market. Supported by KPMG India, this program combines virtual and in-market components to deliver essential market insights and connect participants with key Indian stakeholders, including professional sports clubs, organizations, and investors. The TIQ India Sports Launchpad Program will take place from March 2 to 8, 2025, incorporating the Australia-Gujarat Sports Forum and the Indian International Sports Summit.

Optus, Australia's No. 2 telecom carrier, is in talks to sell its sports streaming platform Optus Sport to media house Nine Entertainment, the Australian Financial Review (AFR) reported on Monday. A deal would let Nine's local streaming service Stan stream matches from the Premier League. Optus Sport has exclusive streaming rights to the Premier League, which AFR estimated to be worth A$100 million ($62.2 million) per year, and the FA Cup, another English football tournament, until 2028. Stan already broadcasts the UEFA Champions League football and the Wimbledon tennis tournaments.

Big Bash League team Melbourne Stars have partnered with marketing tech company Komo Technologies to launch an exciting predictor game in under 4 hours! The game gives fans the chance to test their cricket knowledge and get involved in the action. The solution provides valuable fan insights for the Stars' membership team to build on next season.

Tennis Australia has announced the startups that have been selected for their next edition of AO Startups. The new cohort - Volta, Oho, INTIX, Foodini, Scala Sports, Lumi and exar.live - bring the 2025 AO StartUps portfolio to twelve companies, making it the largest intake since the program’s inception. Companies participating in AO StartUps are provided the opportunity to prove their business models in real time and directly access proprietary intel and exposure at one of the world’s largest sport and entertainment events. 

Deakin University and VicHealth are joining forces to launch a world-leading research centre to explore interactions between our economy, commercial entities and health outcomes. Deakin and VicHealth will each invest $AUD 4 million over the next 5 years in the "VicHealth Commercial and Economic Determinants of Health Research Translation Centre". The centre's research will be used to create better health policies, healthier communities and a higher quality of life for Victorians.

ROUVY, the indoor cycling app that brings the world's most iconic rides to life using real video routes filmed on location, empowering users to ride, train, and explore anywhere from home, has announced that it has completed acquisition of fellow platform FulGaz from The IRONMAN Group. Athletes can now access the top 20 most popular FulGaz routes on ROUVY in addition to numerous courses from IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 races around the world.

International gaming marketing company, Livewire, is officially partnering with American video game publisher and developer, Zynga, to help brands reach gamers. Covering markets in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, the partnership melds Zynga’s reach (a web made up of players based in more than 170 countries and more than 6 billion downloads) with Livewire’s next-generation attention platform. The move is expected to assist brands in engaging with audiences in the gaming space, via “rewarded video, playable ads, and custom integrations.

Garmin Health and WeGuide have announced the winners of the Australian and New Zealand Research Grant 2024. The research grant recognises pioneering medical and wellbeing researchers and innovative digital health startups. Three research projects from Edith Cowan University, Queensland University of Technology and the Murdoch Children's Research Institute were recipients. The winners will receive ten Garmin wearables for seamless data collection and the opportunity to use the WeGuide platform to facilitate participant engagement and data collection.