Sportstech & Member News

Athletes training at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) will use the best in fitness equipment and flooring thanks to a new partnership with AlphaFit. Established in 2012, the 100% Australian-owned family business manufactures gymnasium gear specifically made for the strength and conditioning and high-performance community.

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.

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.

Catapult delivered a strong H1 2025 performance from its core SaaS verticals, with annualised contract value (ACV) growth of 20% year-on-year. ACV, Catapult’s leading indicator of future revenue, reached $US 96.8 million ($AUD 143 million). H1 2025 revenue increased to $US 57.8 million ($AUD 85 million), a 19% increase year-on-year. The result was driven by market segment expansion, new geography expansion and increased adoption of Catapult's New Video Solutions.

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.

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.

The Australian Sports Technologies Network (ASTN) today announces its collaboration with the City of Perth to shine the spotlight on local sportstech leaders and highlight global trends in the industry during West Tech Fest 2024. With the support of a City of Perth , ASTN will host several industry events on 3rd December in Perth, focused on advancing the sportstech ecosystem. Activities will include an industry roundtable to explore growth strategies for Perth's sportstech sector, an investment pitching masterclass connecting startups with investors, and a networking event showcasing local sportstech companies while offering insights into global trends.

After winning the Inclusive Tech Challenge during the NRL Magic Round Tech Showcase Cérge's commitment to the Queensland Government, Advance Queensland and the Department of Sport, Racing and Olympic and Paralympic Games was to onboard 50 Sports Venues in 50 days. Cérge timed the start of the '50in50' with the introduction of new AI powered tools to support Site Consultants efficiently and consistently capture content. The solution aims to support confidence and participation for people with disability. 

The Victorian Government is currently hosting its first in-person Sports Economy Trade Mission to the Gulf - Saudi Arabia and UAE. Comprising 22 Victorian organisations, the delegation includes state sport bodies and leading providers in; sports technology, stadium & venue design, event & facilities management, broadcast, high performance, data analytics & research, and esports & mobile gaming. Victorian organisations on the Mission include CloudMix / 5stream, Australian Sports Technologies Network, Basketball Victoria, Belgravia Leisure, Catapult, Cox Architecture, Deakin University, ECAL, Fortress, Hospitality Solution Group, Incognitus, The Kinetica Group, Kronos, MX3 Diagnostics, Netball Victoria, PMY Group, Rosterfy, Savy Soda, smartform architecture SportNXT Sport and Recreation Victoria.

Thule Group has signed an agreement to acquire Quad Lock, the global market leader in performance phone mount solutions, giving cyclists, motorcyclists and other adventurers access to their mobile phones while being active. Quad Lock has a turnover of nearly $AUD 200 million per annum, with sales to approximately 100 countries of which 75 percent is via e-commerce direct-to-consumer. The purchase price amounts to $AUD 500 million, or approximately SEK 3.6 billion, which corresponds to a multiple of 10x EBITDA.

MYLAPS Sports Technology and tripleSdata have announced a long-term partnership to offer real-time data insights in horse racing. tripleSdata, headquartered in Australia, is a leader in racing data innovation who provide fully automated, real-time technology solutions for animal racing. Their systems are deployed at premier venues such as Randwick and Flemington, as well as major events such as The Melbourne Cup and The Everest. The MYLAPS ProChip System offers a cutting-edge timing solution tailored for professional equestrian sports and high-speed racing.

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. 

Australians are choosing to exercise alone or with friends or family instead of through an organisation according to new data from the Australian Sports Commission (ASC). The results, from the ASC’s national AusPlay survey, also show that volunteers contribute more than 145 million hours to sport each year. The latest results show 84 per cent of Australian adults are active and two thirds choose to do some of their activity alone. Walking, fitness/gym and running/jogging remain the most popular activities. Introduced in October 2015, the national AusPlay survey now collects data on over 600 different participation sports and activities and is the largest and most comprehensive survey of its kind in Australia.

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.

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.

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. 

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

Catapult’s MatchTracker is now being used to support UEFA's analysis workflow for this season’s club competitions, especially the UEFA Champions League. MatchTracker has been key in enhancing the analysis process by delivering live event and tracking data alongside video insights. This data serves as a foundation for UEFA’s technical analysts and observer group, helping them objectively frame and identify trends within each match while complementing their expert analysis.

According to the latest Global Wellness Institute figures, the wellness industry is now worth $US 6.3 trillion. Not slowing down, the sector is expected to top $US 9 trillion by 2028. Established markets like beauty, healthy eating, weight loss, and physical activity are worth $US 1 trillion each. Consumers now view well-being through a broad lens, with health, fitness, nutrition, appearance, sleep, and mindfulness being the focus. People are investing in longevity, wearables, recovery, community, alternative medicine, experiences, and more.

ASICS has announced the launch of a new sneaker designed from recycled materials. The ASICS SportStyle NEOCURVE™ is crafted from a blend of discarded, unused, and newly reclaimed materials: grinded-up footwear, deadstock, and defective shoes. It’s a shoe designed to encourage future recycling and promote the process of product circularity, with every step from collection and disassembly to design and manufacturing, taking place within Europe.

Komo Technologies, a leading customer engagement platform, has partnered with Flowcode, one of the world's leading enterprise QR platforms. Flowcode’s cutting-edge QR tech and Komo’s suite of gamification, incentivization, and personalized content instantly connects the physical and digital worlds, keeping customers engaged well beyond the first scan. The solution can enhance event experiences, drive in-store engagement, or elevate digital marketing campaigns, with no coding required.

TMRW Sports and Fastbreak.ai, a leader in AI-driven scheduling solutions for the sports industry, have announced a partnership, which will see Fastbreak.ai manage the scheduling needs of  'TGL presented by SoFi' and future league properties. As part of this partnership, TMRW Sports also will make a strategic investment in Fastbreak.ai, further strengthening the strategic collaboration between the two innovative companies. Other investors in Fastbreak.ai include the NBA, NHL, Larry Fitzgerald, and Greycroft. Currently, leagues across the sports landscape use Fastbreak.ai for their scheduling needs, including the NBA, WNBA, NHL, and MLS.

Healthify, an AI-driven health and fitness platform, has raised $US 45 million in its latest financing round, leveraging advanced AI to personalize health guidance. With a firm foundation in India, where it boasts a user base of 40 million, Healthify is set to launch its offerings in the US market. The emphasis on low-cost yet high-impact health solutions through tailored nutrition and fitness recommendations. The investment round included participation from notable backers, including Khosla Ventures and LeapFrog Investments, alongside new supporter Claypond Capital.

Refbook has signed an agreement with Touch Football Australia (TFA) to collaborate on modernising and steamlining tournament match officials administration. The project will deliver specialist functionality for TFA’s complex requirements when managing referees and coaching educators across all stages of large-scale national carnivals. A non-contact alternative to rugby league played in every continent, touch football is Australia’s largest social sport with 550,000 participants.

One of the world's leading sports data companies, Sportradar, has announced the launch of their Futures Hub, a new program designed to identify, assess, and support the work being done by cutting-edge start-ups. The piloting scheme opens high-potential startups to some of the biggest names in the sports ecosystem - such as UEFA, NBA, ATP, Fan Duel, Bet365 and Entain. The program will help startups validate and selling solutions with Sportradar's clients and partners, scale solutions with market leaders and positions for potential acquisition.

World Rowing, the international governing body of the Olympic sport of Rowing, and Concept2, renowned pioneers in Rowing equipment and creators of the modern Indoor Rowing machine, have announced a significant extension of their longstanding partnership to support the growth of Indoor, ‘Connected’ Rowing globally. It will see the forming of a year-round calendar of different types of Indoor Rowing events, the development and establishment of new competition formats, and the evolution of data generation and display. The spotlight will also be on the introduction of community-building tools and platforms, and the delivery of a cutting-edge gamified offering to the Esports realm.

Australian software vendor Linius Technologies has partnered with Fujitsu to combine AI video analysis with the software vendor’s patented video technology. The partnership is focused on providing a suite of solutions to search, analyse and assemble video streams from multiple sources. The suite revolves around Fujitsu’s expertise in systems integration and “advanced AI-powered video analysis” via its Fujitsu Kozuchi for Vision product with Linius’s virtualised video and data-driven video assembly tech. Key verticals for the suite include security and surveillance, site and asset inspections and maintenance and consumer behaviour.

Morgan Stanley is introducing a new portfolio for investors tied to the most prominent sports leagues. The investment bank’s wealth management division on Thursday announced the launch of what it is calling Parametric Custom Core Sports League strategy. The portfolio, aimed at high net worth sports fans, will allow them to invest in a curated index of companies with strong sponsorship, media and advertisement ties to the most prominent sports leagues. It will target high net worth sports fans and will carry a minimum investment of $US 250,000. Sports have proven to be an attractive and growing asset class as valuations have skyrocketed over the past decade.

Sydney tech firm VueMotion has been voted the People’s Choice winner at the InnovationAus 2024 Awards for Excellence for its platform that brings the tech used by elite athletes to a smartphone. The People’s Choice award was sponsored by the Australian Computer Society. VueMotion has created an artificial intelligence-driven movement analysis tool that can aid coaches, athletes and staff to optimise movement and improve injury outcomes from anywhere, not just from a specialist lab.

Centr, the brand founded by Chris Hemsworth that brings together state-of-the-art fitness equipment with expert-led programs in fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness, has announced its entry into the cardio category with the launch of nine premium treadmills. Each treadmill purchase includes a free membership to the Centr app, offering personalized training from Hemsworth’s team of expert coaches. The Centr Runr and Runr-S, tailored for urban runners, are the first treadmills available for purchase. As part of a continuation of Centr’s pivotal partnership with HYROX, they will introduce the new motorless Centr x HYROX Perform Treadmill.

Wellness and member retention platform Coach Welly has announced its newest customer, Aspen Medical Technology, part of the Aspen Medical Group, a global leader in healthcare solutions and services. The strategic partnership between Aspen Medical Technology and Coach Welly, a leading innovator in health and wellness technology, join forces to enhance employee wellbeing through Coach Welly’s innovative rewards software platform and Aspen Medical Technology’s new occupational health and wellbeing platform, Vitaport.

Michele Kang’s organization, Kynisca, is leading a $US 2 million investment in footwear brand IDA Sports. IDA Sports is the lone company in the soccer cleat space that designs and manufactures footwear exclusively for female athletes. The investment in IDA Sports further solidifies Kang and Kynisca’s hold in women’s soccer and their commitment to elevating female athletes. Elysian Park Ventures, Firebird Ventures Ltd and Tipt Ventures also participated in the round of funding.

Oura, the smart ring maker is buying Sparta Science, a performance analytics company, to enhance its enterprise data platform. Sparta’s Trinsic software translates movement data into population-level health insights, including strength, injury risk, and recovery status. Integrating the tech, Oura will level up its B2B Teams dashboard for corporate wellness, healthcare, and government clients, including the US Department of Defense. Oura has sold more than 2.5 million devices.

Catapult has announced a new multi-year partnership with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) that will provide England’s national rugby teams, Premiership Rugby, and Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) with advanced performance-tracking technology. These include the Catapult Vector System, MatchTracker, and Focus.

According to the 2025 American College for Sports Medicine survey in Health and Fitness trends, 'technology' takes three of the top seven spots. With wearable technology (no. 1), mobile exercise apps (no. 2), and data-driven training technology (no. 7) peaking in the top 10 trends, this year's survey results point to digital technologies making a significant impact on the fitness industry.

The modern pro sports business has historically hinged on one revenue source: TV deals. The NFL and NBA respectively drive 67% and 54% of revenue from selling rights to broadcast live games. However, sports fans are increasingly watching highlights on YouTube instead of watching live games on ESPN. Younger sports fans in particular are increasingly watching new types of sports content that look nothing like live games or highlights (eg trick shots, skills challenges). There are a number of key trends: i.YouTubers are redefining who is a sports star, and what sports content looks like, ii. New sports leagues are emerging around these YouTube creators and iii. New business models are emerging from YouTube sports content.

Alignment Growth Management (Alignment Growth), an investment firm focused on growth-stage, privately-held media and entertainment companies, announced an investment in PMY Group (PMY), a premier international venue, events, and infrastructure technology solutions firm. PMY is a full-service technology solutions company that supports venues and major events to enhance their infrastructure, experience, and intelligence. Founded in 2009 with a focus on stadiums, the company has diversified to service more than 1,000 clients across 15 countries. The investment in PMY marks Alignment Growth’s eighth investment out of its inaugural fund. 

AQUAME has announced a partnership with Hess Cycling Team, a UCI Women's Continental Cycling Team. Commencing 2025 AQUAME will provide their innovative, data-driven hydration solution to support the Hess Cycling Team athletes. This partnership will allow the Hess team to prepare personalized hydration plans for training, racing and optimize post-ride recovery through AQUAME's detailed fluid intake tracking and hydration insights. With AQUAME, the Hess Cycling Team will gain a deeper understanding of hydration patterns and the impacts on their athlete’s performance and recovery.

etrainu has announced a new partnership with Sir Graham Lowe, marking the launch of "Kick for the Seagulls - Community Coaching", a comprehensive library of 12 online courses aimed at inspiring and developing the next generation of community coaches. The course series focuses on fostering essential skills, promoting teamwork and empowering volunteer community coaches to create a positive impact. The Kick for the Seagulls program is set to roll out later this year through Auckland Rugby League, providing accessible training resources for coaches.

TwinLabs.ai a leader in sports digital twin applications has launched a digital twin for the gym and fitness centre management industry. TwinLabs.ai has been working with the Tour De France to assist them manage the event through TwinLabs event management solution. TwinLabs has now expanded its market application to include gyms and fitness centres. The Gym Twin provides gym owners and managers with 'spacial intelligence'. Gym Twin uses all the tech that gyms already have including CCVT cameras and membership systems, and turn it into a 3D digital version of the gym complete with real-time data. Pilots are already running and have helped identify when the gym is busiest, spotted patterns in member usage, equipment configuration and help fine-tune everything from marketing and staff rosters to the playlist.

TGL presented by SoFi, the new tech-infused, team golf league founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TMRW Sports in partnership with the PGA TOUR, has announced its inaugural season schedule. SoFi Center features 1,500 fans wrapped tightly around TGL’s field of play and creates a “greenside” fan experience similar to sitting courtside at an NBA game or on the glass at an NHL game.

Two Circles, a data-driven sports and entertainment business, has announced the agreement to acquire Spring Media Group. Spring Media’s media rights, live production and streaming capabilities will bolster Two Circles’ existing fan engagement services. The combined business will provide Two Circles with market-leading remote live production capabilities, a popular streaming platform and relationships with over 500 broadcasters globally, to provide over 950 rights holders and rights owners with global scale in managing fan relationships. This is Two Circles’ second significant acquisition agreement in recent weeks after the acquisition of KORE. 

The winners of the 2024 Australia & New Zealand Sports Technology Awards were announced during the Australian Sports Tech Week in Melbourne on 23rd November. The awards were presented in partnership with the Australian Sports Technologies Network and the Sports Tech World Series, organisers of the STWS Conference. Winners included Olly Timing, Nobody's Princess, Areto Labs, VADR, Rookie Me, Bar TV, Gravity Fit and SportsBlock. Founder of Sponserve (now part of KORE Software), Mark Thompson and Co-Founder of Australian Sports Technologies Network, James Demetriou were awarded Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Cerebro Sports, a leader in basketball analytics and performance metrics, announced an innovative collaboration with Google Cloud to launch a new basketball AI chatbot available on 15th November. Combining Cerebro’s proprietary player statistics database with Google Cloud’s AI technology, the new chatbot will deliver real-time, stats-driven insights to basketball players, fans, and decision-makers at all levels of the sport across youth, college, and pro alike. The chatbot is designed to improve the way players, coaches, and fans interact with basketball data, offering unprecedented access to performance insights that can shape in-game strategies, training, scouting, and fan engagement. 

The LA Clippers’ $US 2 billion Intuit Dome is reshaping the NBA fan experience with advanced AI technology and sustainability initiatives. AI-powered biometric concessions streamline purchases, allowing fans to skip long waits, while the arena’s 270-degree Halo board provides an immersive viewing experience from every seat. In addition to AI, the venue is designed to be the first climate-positive arena in the U.S., featuring solar power and other eco-friendly initiatives.

Noom, a leading digital healthcare company committed to chronic disease prevention announced that it is expanding its in-app capabilities to include a revolutionary body scan feature. In partnership with Prism Labs, a cutting-edge AI and machine learning company, the body scan technology will provide Noom users with a new level of personalized health insights. Members can now complete a body scan by simply recording a 10-second video of themselves using the Noom app. The AI technology will analyze the footage to determine precise body composition measurements of the user’s body and provide a personalized 3D body avatar. 

As part of Sportstech Week in Melbourne, the Australian Sports Technologies Network (ASTN) facilitated a Women-Led Sportstech Design Masterclass. Leading female founders shared their journey and passion in building their sport-related startups. Founders included Kirsty Richardson - GravityFit, Saara Jamieson - Cool Beans Underwear, Michelle Walshe - CoachMate, Victoria Zorin - Nola, Maria Baker - Nobody’s Princess, Suzie Betts – Boob Armour, Marie Penny – Project Flock and Natalie Moore – Own Your Health Collective / MenoVest.

AO Startups accelerates elite founders through priority access to the AO and professional and community sport. It provides a unique opportunity for startups solving large problems in sport, health and entertainment to build, test or pilot on the world stage with Tennis Australia and the Australian Open. Applications for the 5th AO Startup close on 8 Nov 2024.

Russell Brands has announced a new partnership between SPALDING®, one of the leading basketball equipment brand in the world, and SportIQ (SIQ) Basketball, creator of the world's first official size and weight smart basketball. The partnership will combine SIQ's patented technology and mobile application with both the existing and upcoming lineup of SPALDING® basketballs, for an immersive, data-driven, and gamified experience for basketball players of all ages and skill levels.

Sportlight, a leading LiDAR and AI sports technology company, has announced a multi-year agreement with the Saudi Pro League (SPL) to become the league’s exclusive provider of player tracking and performance insights. The partnership will focus on early injury risk prediction, player development, and next-generation performance data analytics. Sportlight is already a leading performance insights provider for the majority of English Premier League clubs and is engaged in pilot projects with major teams across the NBA, the NHL and MLB.