Sportstech & Member News

SLOCOACH has announced an official partnership with USA Flag to revolutionise the way Flag Football is coached, learned, and played. Together, they are building an educational and accreditation platform designed to empower coaches, officials, and players as they prepare for the 2028 Olympics. The online platform will provide world-class training resources to nurturing grassroots programs, making Flag Football more accessible, inclusive, and impactful on a global scale.

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,.

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.

Hockey Australia has extended its partnership with SportsLink Travel, continuing its commitment as the non-exclusive Travel and Tour partner of Hockey Australia. SportsLink Travel’s all-inclusive, world-class travel package experiences saw hockey fans enjoy a stellar, action-packed 2024, with the opportunity to witness the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras at the peak of their game at international tournaments, including the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. 

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. 

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.

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.

Traits Insights is barely two years old, but already the analytics startup is helping world-class sporting clubs gain a competitive edge and has attracted the attention of elite athletes globally. The company’s software platform helps professional sports teams translate complex performance data so they can identify players’ strengths, develop talent and make informed strategic decisions. Traits’ momentum has earned it backing from well-known investors, including venture capital fund Artesian and APEX Capital, a group comprised of professional athletes who invest in sports ventures. The APEX fund is backed by a group of 100 elite athletes from across the UK and Europe.

The Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club, powered by Checkmate Live, has launched the E-chess Championship a global, multi-stage chess tournament with a $US 60,000 prize pool and a Grand Final in Al Ain, UAE, on December 22, 2024. Players can register for free, and compete across four regions of the world. Online Qualifiers start November 23-24 & November 30 - December 1.

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.

TOD, the sports and entertainment streaming platform in the MENA region and a beIN Media Group company, has appointed LiveLike to enhance the TOD streaming platform. TOD and LiveLike will be implementing interactive and immersive experiences that aim to transform how fans connect with sports and entertainment. Launching early in 2025, this collaboration leverages gamification, loyalty, rewards, and live interaction to deliver a new streaming experience.

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.

Zhik, the high-performance sailing apparel brand, today announced the extension of their role as the Official Technical Partner to the United States SailGP Team. Through an extended partnership, the U.S. SailGP Team will wear Zhik-branded technical gear, including wetsuits and drysuits. SailGP, one of the world’s fastest-growing sports properties, launches its 2025 season in Dubai on November 23-24.    

The Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) is poised for an exciting new chapter, with the Wollemi Capital Group Syndicate (WCGS) and the National Basketball League (NBL) consortium finalising the agreement to acquire a majority interest in the League. The consortium will assume control of the WNBL on April 2, 2025, with Basketball Australia retaining a minority shareholding. This landmark agreement marks a transformative moment for women’s sports in Australia, setting the stage for unprecedented growth, investment, and opportunities in women’s basketball.

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.