SportsTech Week 39: AI Innovations, Blockchain Breakthroughs, and Investment Influx

From AI-powered broadcasting to Web3 fan engagement, this week's roundup showcases the innovation and financial momentum in the sportstech sector.

Welcome back, sports tech enthusiasts! Another exhilarating week in the world of sports innovation has raced by, leaving us with groundbreaking developments to explore. The intersection of sports and technology continues to be a hotbed of creativity, investment, and disruptive ideas that are reshaping how we experience, participate in, and monetise sports.

This week, we've seen AI making significant strides in broadcasting, player development, and even medical applications. Blockchain and Web3 technologies are pushing the boundaries of fan engagement and digital ownership, while major investments are pouring into startups that promise to revolutionise everything from fitness equipment to event management.

The global nature of sports innovation is also on full display, with partnerships and developments spanning from European football pitches to NBA courts and beyond. So, lace up your digital cleats and join us as we sprint through this week's most impactful sportstech stories:

1. DAZN announced a multi-market partnership with Bitpanda, set to span across 5 European markets: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and France

2. Former professional footballer Sol Campbell has taken on the role of Head of Training and Insights at Swiss SportsTech company Talnets since March 2024

3. Fastbreak.ai announced its acquisition of Tourney Pro, a provider of tournament management solutions for youth sports

4. AI sports analytics company Vue Motion has been chosen for the New South Wales Going Global Export Program, aiming to support international expansion efforts

5. Cycliq's cycling safety cam, the Fly6 Pro , won the Good Design Award for Excellence in Design and Innovation at the 2024 Australian Good Design Awards

6. HUDL announced a partnership with Rush Soccer, the largest youth soccer organisation, becoming the exclusive performance technology partner

7. Queensland's ActiveKIT funds $AUD4.3 million in 47 new physical activity innovations and programmes

8. Health tech startup Exakt Health raised €2 million seed funding as the first digital sports physiotherapy certified as a medical device in Germany 

9. Stats Perform unveiled a new range of new AI-powered product upgrades to Bet LiveStreams at the SBC Summit in Lisbon this week

10. Serie A announced the multi-year extension of its partnership with blockchain-based fan engagement platform Socios, giving fans the chance to purchase match-scored balls

    

    Image source: Blockchain Gamer

11. Digital motorsports hub Motorverse, partnered with the DeLorean Motor Company to bring the sports cars to the gaming ecosystem

12. Warner Bros. Discovery announced the use of an AI-powered captioning solution from Google Cloud's Vertex AI platform, for unscripted programming in the US

13. Audigr Group, the majority owner of Sarasota Paradise FC, invested in Swedish soccer data company PlaymakerAI to help with scouting potential talent

14. NAB Show New York 2024 Conference to cover sports media and how leveraging AI and other new tech platforms can drive fan engagement

15. Coro Medical announced as the Preferred Provider by the NFL's Smart Heart Sports Coalition for its "AEDs for Youth" program

16. LIBER8 & Mantis partner up to launch LIBER8 Curate, the UK’s first digital marketplace for women’s sport

17. Springbok Analytics, a graduate of the NBA Launchpad, created its first sport-specific database with more than 100 NBA players

18. Texas-based fitness AI and robotics company OxeFit closed an oversubscribed $17.5M Series A3 round for its smart gym equipment

19. Plug and Play Tech Center is hosting an inaugural SportsTech Innovation Event in LA on October 1st

20. SportsTechX, the global research firm in the sports technology sector announced its role as the Official Research Partner of the International Sports Technology Association

21. GPTBots.ai, a provider of AI bot services for businesses, partnered with sKora Tech, a QSTP incubated startup to advance the integration of AI services in sports

22. Pixellot, the global provider of AI-driven sports video technology, launched its portable sports camera: the Pixellot Air NXT

23. The NBA is partnering with leading technology firms to improve the intelligence of the venues

24. FluidLogic, a high-performance hydration systems company, announced a series A extension financing round of $15 million led by Solyco Capital

25. Vald, Australia-based health technology company for musculoskeletal health professionals, received a growth equity investment from FTV Capital

26. Golfing app Golf GameBook successfully closed a €2.5 million funding round led by Spanish and Nordic investors to further its European expansion

27.  Liveday, a Swedish-based sports event management startup raised € 350.000 in a new funding round, with former NHL star Henrik Zetterberg becoming a new investor

28. Web3 and AI-powered wellness ring company CUDIS raised $5 million in a funding round led by Draper Associates

29. Munich-based EGYM, the connected fitness startup raised $200 million in a series G round led by L Catterton and Meritech Capital

    

    Image source: Genius Sports

30. Genius Sports announced a partnership with Reddit to power the platform’s new live sports scores feature with official NFL data

31. Topgolf is launching an immersive experience on Fortnite's UEFN platform

32. Tix Africa won first place at NBA’s Africa Startup Accelerator Demo Day, the other winning businesses were Salubata (Nigeria), HustleSasa (Kenya), and UBR VR (Egypt)

33. Ballogy Inc. and AquaBloom International Sports Technology Group announced an event to showcase the latest advancements in player development technology

34. Sports retail giant Intersport announced a partnership with EA Sports FC 25 which will see digital ads for Intersport appear across in-game stadiums

35. Chiliz launches new agency, Chiliz Sports, to help facilitate deals between crypto brands and sports properties

36. Blockchain-based fantasy sports company Sorare charged with providing unlicensed gambling facilities in the U.K

37. Australian National Basketball League (NBL) is partnering with NEP and EVS Belgium to upgrade its broadcasting with AI-powered EVS XtraMotion technology

Image source: Chiliz

As we close out another pulsating week in the world of sports technology, it's clear that the industry's momentum shows no signs of slowing. The diversity of innovations we've seen – from AI-enhanced broadcasting to blockchain-based fan engagement platforms, and from smart fitness equipment to virtual sports experiences – underscores the potential for technology to transform every facet of the sports ecosystem.

What's particularly exciting is the global nature of this innovation. From European football clubs embracing crypto partnerships to African startups pitching at NBA-backed accelerators, we're seeing a truly international effort to push the boundaries of what's possible in sports tech.

As we look ahead, it's evident that the convergence of AI, blockchain, and immersive technologies will continue to drive the next wave of sports innovation. The challenge for industry players will be to harness these technologies in ways that enhance the core values of sports – competition, community, and the thrill of the game – while opening up new avenues for engagement and revenue.

Stay tuned for our next edition, where we'll continue to track these exciting developments and uncover the next game-changing innovations in the world of sports technology. Until then, keep pushing the boundaries and reimagining the future of sports!