International Sportstech News
EventPipe hits $US 1 billion milestone - transforming youth sports travel technology
EventPipe
Date: 19-Dec-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
In a remarkable achievement that underscores the growing importance of technology in sports travel, EventPipe has crossed a significant milestone by surpassing $US 1 billion in gross hotel bookings. This breakthrough highlights the company’s innovative approach to event housing and sports travel management. EventPipe has rapidly emerged as a game-changer in the event housing technology landscape, simplifying and streamlining accommodation bookings for sports events, tournaments, and travel management.
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Spiideo acquires Signality to advance cloud-based sports production and analytics offer
Spiideo and Signality
Date: 19-Dec-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
Spiideo, a global leader in sports video technology, has announced the acquisition of Signality, an optical tracking and sports data generation company. The integration of Signality’s automated, real-time data and analytics technology into the Spiideo platform will further fuel Spiideo’s data and AI-driven solutions for media companies, leagues, federations, clubs, and schools. With millions of hours of automated sports production annually, Spiideo is used by thousands of team and installed in more than 6,000 venues across 60 countries.
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bsport raises $US 31.5 million, eyes US boutique fitness software market
bsport
Date: 18-Dec-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
Investors continue to embrace fitness software firms as Europe-based bsport becomes the latest brand to receive a cash infusion. Barcelona-based boutique fitness software platform bsport has raised $US31.5 million in a Series B funding round. bsport serves around 2,000 gyms and fitness studios across Europe and North America, predominately small and medium-sized businesses. Its platform include class bookings, payments, staff management, sales and marketing, and member experience tools.
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Endorphins Studios launches as next-gen content house for fitness brands
Endorphins Studios
Date: 18-Dec-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
Endorphins Studios has launched as a next-generation content production company for health and fitness brands. The company will create immersive and personalized content experiences for health and fitness brands and creators, including video and photo production, AI content creation, game design, interactive learning simulations, and experiences in virtual (VR) augmented (AR) and mixed reality (MR). Endorphins Studios comes as ChatGPT developer OpenAI just released Sora, a video-generating AI that can create “realistic videos” from text, photo and video inputs.
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PlayOn to exclusively provide Pixellot’s VidSwap™ coaching analytics platform for USA High Schools
Pixellot and PlayOn
Date: 18-Dec-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
PlayOn, the all-in-one fan engagement platform for schools, and Pixellot, one of the world’s leading provider of AI-automated sports video and data solutions, has announced a new partnership to exclusively offer Pixellot's VidSwap™ coaching tools platform for free to all NFHS Network member schools. PlayOn operates the NFHS Network, the leading broadcast network for high schools. Nearly 10,000 schools partner with the NFHS Network to broadcast over 800,000 events annually. Footage captured on Pixellot cameras is processed and made available for coaches on VidSwap, providing detailed analysis and game breakdowns.
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FC Urban and Equip Sport selected in UEFA 'Champions Innovate' program
UEFA, Mastercard, adidas, FC Urban and Equip Sport
Date: 17-Dec-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
The two startups for the second edition of Champions Innovate, UEFA's groundbreaking programme focusing on the promotion of active and healthy lifestyle around the 2025 UEFA Champions League final, have been announced. Mastercard will partner with FC Urban, while adidas will work with Equip Sport. Originally conceived by the UEFA Innovation Hub, Champions Innovate is a collaborative partnership between UEFA, the host city of the UEFA Champions League final as well as UEFA Champions League commercial partners. FC Urban and Mastercard will aim to explore innovative technological solutions to make access to sports more inclusive and equitable in Munich. Equip Sport and adidas will aim to leverage their technological expertise to make sports experiences, both planned and spontaneous.
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Sony’s Beyond Sports powers ESPN's NFL “Alternate” Presentation –The Simpsons Funday Football!
Beyond Sport, ESPN, Disney and NFL
Date: 17-Dec-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
Sony’s Beyond Sports is collaborating with ESPN, the NFL, Disney, and The Simpsons to produce The Simpsons Funday Football, a real-time animated alternate presentation of the game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys on Monday, December 9, 2024. A combination of data processing and real-time visualization technology from Beyond Sports will insert well-known characters from “The Simpsons” into the game action while the Bengals and Cowboys play in real time.
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Sports Illustrated Tickets and New York Red Bulls announce blockchain ticketing first
New York Red Bulls and Sports Illustrated Tickets
Date: 17-Dec-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
New York Red Bulls is set to become the first major sports team to offer blockchain-based ticketing for all events through a wide-ranging partnership with Sports Illustrated Tickets. Starting with the 2026 season, Sports Illustrated Tickets’ primary blockchain event ticketing platform Box Office will power all events at the 25,500-capacity venue. Beyond seamless access, the Avalanche blockchain will improve fan engagement by transforming event tickets into dynamic digital assets, offering exclusive perks, personalized content, creating a next-generation event experience
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Merchandise digital engagement solution ZATAP wins 2024 Euroleague Basketball FanXP Edition
ZATAP and Euroleague Basketball
Date: 13-Dec-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
The 2024 Euroleague Basketball FanXP competition unveiled its winner at the SPORTBIZ EUROPE event in Barcelona, Spain, this week. The winning start-up, ZATAP, a Switzerland-based company, has redefined the connection between physical merchandise products and the digital world. By facilitating direct-to-consumer interactions, ZATAP helps brands and sports teams better monetize their customer base. The winning start-up, ZATAP, a Switzerland-based company, has redefined the connection between physical merchandise products and the digital world. By facilitating direct-to-consumer interactions, ZATAP helps brands and sports teams better monetize their customer base.
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Athlete insurance and risk management provider Players Heath closes $US 60 million funding round
Players Health
Date: 12-Dec-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
Athlete insurance and risk management provider Players Heath has closed on a $US 60 million funding round led by Bluestone Equity Partners. The Series C venture capital round will be used to expand the Players Health workforce to broaden its market reach, evolve its AI-based product personalization tools and provide funding for strategic mergers and acquisitions. The business supports over 40,000 sports organizations, insuring well over 5 million athletes. The youth and amateur sports insurance market is a sizable one, with about $US 3 billion in insurance premiums generated annually in the USA.
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Premier League launches official VR game in partnership with Rezzill
Premier League and Rezzill
Date: 12-Dec-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
Premier League Player, the first officially licensed Premier League VR game, is now available on Meta Quest. Developed by Rezzil, the Manchester-based VR developer, in partnership with the Premier League, the game officially launched on 3rd December. The game is built on real-life player mechanics drawn from the data collected by the iPhone cameras positioned on the sidelines during games. The movements of the footballers are captured so precisely, users playing the VR game can virtually set foot on the pitch and reenact plays from actual EPL games.
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Former NBA All-Star Metta Sandiford-Artest joins $US 100 m fund to advance sports technology
Tru Skye Ventures
Date: 11-Dec-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
Sportico is reporting that former NBA player Metta Sandiford-Artest is starting a venture capital fund alongside Boost Mobile CEO Stephen Stokols, to be called Tru Skye Ventures. The duo is seeking to fundraise to the tune of $US 100 million by the end of the fiscal first quarter of 2025, targeting sports technology, the health and wellness industry, and digital media platforms.
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PUMA and Manchester City launch AI kit design platform
PUMA and Manchester City
Date: 11-Dec-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
Global sports brand PUMA, in collaboration with Manchester City, has launched an innovative AI kit design platform, giving City fans the unique opportunity to design the club’s official Third kit for the 2026/27 season. In a first-of-its-kind, the new PUMA AI Creator tool is powered by DEEPOBJECTS, a leading co-creation platform that leverages generative AI to allow fans to design their dream PUMA Manchester City kits using text prompting, customization tools and intuitive sliders. The winning AI design will be worn by City stars on-pitch and sold to fans, in a groundbreaking first for a professional football club.
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360Player secure $US 25 million to accelerate global expansion of sports management software
360Player
Date: 9-Dec-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
360Player, a leading all-in-one digital platform for sports clubs, announced a $US 25 million investment from Five Elms Capital, a leading software investment firm. The funding will support 360Player's ambitious plans to expand its platform for clubs, coaches, players, and parents across new international markets. The company's suite of digital tools spans video analytics, player development, team management, and seamless financial services for clubs. 360Player currently serves over 420,000 users across 50+ countries, with recent rapid growth in key markets like the United States.
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Connected fitness platform MAGIC AI raises $US 5 million
MAGIC AI
Date: 9-Dec-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
London-based fitness and wellness platform MAGIC AI, specializing in home fitness technology with computer vision and connected equipment for real-time exercise tracking, has raised $US 5 million in a funding round. MAGIC AI is a fitness platform that transforms home workouts with AI, holographic mirrors, and smart weights. The system uses computer vision and 3D cameras to provide real-time feedback on form, reps, and performance, offering a personalized training experience with guidance from athletes. MAGIC AI reports that it has surpassed 5,000 customers across 38 countries in its first year
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DAZN to broadcast FIFA Club World Cup 2025
DAZN and FIFA
Date: 5-Dec-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
DAZN, one of the world’s leading sports entertainment platform, has been confirmed as the exclusive global broadcaster of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. The landmark agreement will see all 63 matches at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, which involves 32 of the best clubs worldwide, live-streamed, free to view on DAZN worldwide, with the possibility of sublicensing to local free-to-air linear broadcast networks.
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Strava releases Annual 'Year in Sport: Trend Report'
Strava
Date: 5-Dec-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
Strava, the app for active people, today announced the release of its annual Year In Sport: Trend Report, which identifies the trends that shaped the global active landscape in 2024. Strava combined the billions of unique activity data of its global community of more than 135 million people across over 190 countries, alongside insights generated from a randomized global survey of more than 5,000 active people both on and off the Strava platform. New global data highlights a shift toward more balanced workouts, run clubs replacing nightclubs as social hotspots, plus the year’s top workout gear.
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Global sports media rights tops $US 62 billion per annum
SportBusiness
Date: 29-Nov-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
The global value of sports media rights has broken the $US 60 billion barrier for the first time, boosted by the Summer Olympic Games and UEFA Euro 2024, according to the new SportBusiness Global Media Report. The total value stands at $US 62.6 billion for 2024, a 12 percent increase on last year’s figure of $US 55.9 billion, with the year-on-year growth propelled by the presence this year of several marquee global events. Soccer and American football dominate, together bringing in 54.5 per cent of the overall value.
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Strava updates data policy, affecting third-party Apps
Strava
Date: 29-Nov-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
Leading activity tracking platform Strava has updated its API agreement, restricting user data on third-party platforms. Users can no longer publicly share metrics with connected apps, while developers are prohibited from utilizing the data for visualizations, coaching, or training AI. Strava counts 125 million users across 190 countries logging 40 million activities per week. For Strava, criticisms over privacy and experimental features like AI analysis warrant a tighter grip on the reins, shielding its wealth of data while keeping users engaged in its ecosystem.
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Sportradar inks deal to enhance MLB scouting with data
SportRadar and MLB
Date: 28-Nov-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
Sportradar, a global sports data and technology company, has entered into a multiyear agreement with Major League Baseball (MLB) to augment the league's scouting of amateur baseball talent through its Synergy Coaching and Scouting solution. The partnership aims to transform the evaluation of player potential using Sportradar's advanced technological platform. The deal grants MLB and its 30 clubs access to an extensive range of player analysis and insights, with event coverage expanding from 3,300 to over 20,000 games (including college, international, and leading amateur leagues, including the MLB Draft League and high school events).
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VANAD Group acquires soccer analytics company SciSports to accelerate growth in sports technology
SciSports and VANAD
Date: 27-Nov-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
VANAD Group, a global family-owned enterprise with over 1,500 employees, has acquired SciSports, a market leader in sports technology, data analytics, and artificial intelligence. SciSports, headquartered in Europe with operations in North America, empowers football organizations with actionable insights to enhance performance and strategic decision-making. The company collaborates with players, clubs, and federations to support strategic decision-making and team development. SciSports will leverage VANAD Group’s financial strength and strategic guidance to enhance its technology offering, scale operations, and expand its footprint in both Europe and North America.
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Sony takes Asian Cricket Council media rights for $US 170m
Sony and Asian Cricket Council
Date: 26-Nov-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
Sony has won the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) media rights for the 2024-31 cycle at a base price of $US 170 million via an e-auction process. It was an increase of 70% from the previous cycle where Disney-Star had the Asia Cup rights at $US 100 million between 2016-2023. Sony was the only participant as Jio-Disney did not turn up to the e-auction.
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Premier League establishing new in-house media operations business
Premier League
Date: 25-Nov-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
Premier League clubs have unanimously agreed that the Premier League will establish a new in-house media operations business. Launching for the start of Season 2026/27, the Premier League will bring all international media content production and distribution in-house. For 20 years, this service has been provided in partnership with IMG, operating as Premier League Productions (PLP). The two organisations will continue to deliver the next two Premier League seasons to broadcasters.
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NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo launches sports venture capital fund
BYL Ventures
Date: 24-Nov-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks NBA superstar has announced the launch of Build Your Legacy (BYL) Ventures, a venture capital fund that will focus on investments in sports, entertainment and technology. Antetokounmpo, the two-time NBA MVP from Greece, is hoping to help connect entrepreneurs with investors who will be able to grow their businesses. The fund has already invested in Unrivaled, the new women's 3-on-3 basketball league.
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Fanstake launches fan-driven NIL platform, enabling fans to recruit and retain college athletes
Fanstake
Date: 21-Nov-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
A passionate group of entrepreneurial fans, former players, and investors have teamed up to launch Fanstake, the first open and competitive fan-driven Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) platform. Fanstake enables college sports fans to directly influence athlete recruitment and retention by pledging money toward their favorite athletes' NIL endorsement deals. Fans can stake financial support to promising recruits, transfer players, or current athletes, with funds going directly to the athlete’s endorsement deal with Fanstake if they choose the fan's school. Fanstake has raised $US 3 million in a pre-seed round led by Susa Ventures and Will Ventures,.
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Ladder secures over $US 100 million in new funding to scale No. 1 strength training app
Ladder
Date: 21-Nov-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
Ladder, the number one iOS app for strength training, announced it has raised $US 15 million in Series B funding led by Point72 Ventures and ADvantage VC. Ladder has also secured a $US 90 million growth investment from General Catalyst’s Customer Value strategy, to provide financing for customer acquisition costs. Following last year’s $US 12 million Series A raise, Ladder is on track to achieve 200% growth and reach 150,000 paid members by the end of 2024.
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Michael Jordan invests in Courtside Ventures next $US 100m Sports Fund
Courtside Ventures
Date: 20-Nov-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
Michael Jordan is putting money into Courtside Ventures, a VC fund focused on sports, lifestyle and gaming. The billionaire has invested in Courtside’s current round. In June, Courtside filed its plans to raise $100 million for its fourth fund. Courtside was founded in 2016, back when sports-focused funds, particularly in early-stage investing, were rare. The group currently has three funds, more than 100 investments and $200-plus million in assets under management.
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Populous planning ‘iconic’ King Salman Stadium
Populous and King Salman Stadium
Date: 20-Nov-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
More details have emerged regarding King Salman Stadium, a planned 92,000-capacity stadium in the Saudi capital of Riyadh that has been designed by Populous. Plans for the project were first announced in July, and fresh images have now been released. The stadium is scheduled to open by the end of 2029 and would be used during the 2034 FIFA World Cup, which Saudi Arabia is set to be awarded hosting rights to. Populous is also working on other stadium projects in Saudi Arabia, including Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, King Fahad International Stadium and Aramco Stadium.
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Smart ring maker Oura raises $US 75 million, hits $US 5 billion valuation
Oura and Dexcom
Date: 20-Nov-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
Smart ring maker Oura has hit a $US 5 billion valuation after raising a $US 75 million Series D from US continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) giant Dexcom. The two companies also announced a strategic partnership that will integrate products including Dexcom’s CGMs and Oura’s ring — which track users' sleep, physical activities and health data — and app. In June, Oura announced that it has sold 2.5m rings, and said it expects to see annual sales double in 2024 to roughly $US 500 million.
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Endeavor to sell OpenBet, IMG Arena for $US 450m to management-led group
Endeavor, OpenBet and IMG Arena
Date: 19-Nov-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
Endeavor Group will sell its sports data businesses, OpenBet and IMG Arena, to management-led group OB Global backed by Hollywood power broker Ari Emanuel for about $US 450 million. Both IMG Arena and OpenBet were put up for sale in August.
IMG Arena delivers live streaming and data feeds for more than 65,000 events across multiple sports. Selling off non-core businesses like IMG Arena and OpenBet is a necessary move ahead of Silver Lake’s deal to take Endeavor private. Last month, as part of that larger deal, Endeavor agreed to sell its On Location, IMG and Professional Bull Riders businesses to its TKO Group Holdings in a $US3.25 billion deal.
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Whoopi Goldberg and JungoTV launch All Women’s Sports Network (AWSN)
All Women’s Sports Network and JungoTV
Date: 19-Nov-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
Whoopi Goldberg, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award winner and international streaming media company JungoTV, have announced the launch of All Women’s Sports Network (AWSN). It is the first global media channel dedicated exclusively to showcasing women’s sports. The international network is available on VIZIO WatchFree+ (United States), Jio TV and Jio TV+ (India), Evision (UAE/Saudi Arabia), and Jungo Pinoy (Philippines). AWSN's goal is to have the largest distributed female sports network in the world, digital or broadcast. The channel launches with live WNBL basketball and Hockey One League women's games on 13 November. AWSN already has content deals with UEFA, FIBA and a number of international women's soccer leagues.
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Garmin steps onto the high street with first UK store
Garmin
Date: 15-Nov-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
Garmin announced its first UK-based retail store located in Southampton’s prestigious Westquay Shopping Centre. The new retail store, which opened to the public on 6th November. The retail location showcases the company’s broad range of consumer electronics from smartwatches, cycling computers and golf devices as well as its products for cars and the marine industry.
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IBM becomes first-ever AI partner for UFC
UFC and IBM
Date: 15-Nov-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
Thee Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion has struck a deal around artificial intelligence (AI) with global technology giant IBM. Through a tie-up unveiled today, IBM becomes UFC's global AI partner. The deal involves the creation of an insights engine built by IBM’s data and AI platform, watsonx. The insights, graphics, and statistics – which will be IBM-branded – will be integrated into platforms such as pre-event programming, pay-per-view broadcasts, social media channels, and also in-venue video screens.
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Fastbreak.ai acquires SEQL to drive tech solutions to service US youth sports market
Faskbreak.ai and SEQL
Date: 14-Nov-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
Fastbreak.ai, a leader in AI-driven scheduling solutions for the sports industry, is excited to announce its acquisition of SEQL, an innovative sports impact company dedicated to connecting youth athletes with life-changing resources from leading consumer brands, leagues, and cities. SEQL partners with top brands and organizations to provide student-athletes with free, high-quality media content, educational resources, and community-driven programs.
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Sports league platform Volo Sports to grow via M&A with Bluestone Equity Partners
Volo Sports
Date: 14-Nov-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
Sports league organization platform Volo Sports has attracted a $US 21 million investment from Bluestone Equity Partners to further its expansion, including through acquisitions. Volo Sports is the largest provider of social and recreational sports events in the US, organizing corporate and adult leagues as well as youth teams. The deal is the sixth investment for Bluestone from its inaugural $US 300 million fund launched last year.
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PushPress secures $US 20m for one-stop solution for Gym Owners
PushPress
Date: 12-Nov-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
Software platform PushPress has raised $US 20 million in a Series B funding round that will set the stage for the software company to become the go-to platform for gym owners. The funding will drive several key initiatives, including elevating member and mobile app experiences, as well as developing new products to help gym owners streamline every aspect of their business. Altos Ventures led the round, which included participation from StepStone and Mucker Capital.
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Shikenso Analytics partners with Belgian Pro League to measure commercial value of sponsorships using AI
Shikenso Analytics and Beligan Pro League
Date: 11-Nov-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
The Beligan Pro League and its 29 clubs will use Shikenso's propietary AI-solution to assess sponsorship impact across broadcasts, print, online and social media. Shikenso’s analytics will track all channels—TV, online platforms, print, digital and social media. Sponsorship exposure will be identified not just visually, but also audibly, and textually. Shikenso has been developing its AI tracking solutions for seven years. The company has worked with partners like Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL), Fuse and Sportfive on multiple projects, and collaborated with global brands such as Aldi, Red Bull, and Mercedes-Benz.
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SportsTechX launches 2024 Global Sportstech Venture Capital Report
SportsTechX
Date: 11-Nov-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
Sportstech research and investment advisory firm, SportsTechX, have launched the 2024 edition of their Global Sports Tech Venture Capital Report. The report provides a deep dive into the investment activity in the Global Sports Tech Ecosystem. Some important 2024 highlights include, i. nearly $US 10 billion in projected dealflow (investment + M&A), 9 New sportstech unicorns and 65% of all investment focused on solutions for fans.
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Bioniq hits $US 82 m valuation with Cristiano Ronaldo’s backing in its AI-driven supplements
Bioniq
Date: 7-Nov-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
London-based Bioniq, which provides personalised nutritional support based on blood biomarker data, has announced that the global soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo has financed an undisclosed investment amount in the company. With this investment, the total valuation of the company has reached $US 82 million. The company uses an AI-powered algorithm to assess an individual’s needs and creates a unique formula with vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to address deficiencies.
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FIFA and Hawk-Eye Innovations establish joint venture to further develop football technologies
Hawk-Eye Innovations and FIFA
Date: 7-Nov-2024 | Category: International Sportstech News
FIFA and Hawk-Eye Innovations have joined forces to establish the 'Football Technology Centre', a joint venture that will explore and develop emerging technologies in football with a focus on the generation of algorithms to automate the detection of on-pitch events for optimal decision-making. Besides the automated collection of event data, the link-up will involve the development of automated offside technology that instantly provides match officials with consistent and accurate information
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