SportsTech Weekly: AI Revolution Accelerates as Investment Momentum Builds
Week 21 of 2025 highlights major funding rounds, strategic partnerships, and technological breakthroughs reshaping the sports landscape
Hello sports tech enthusiasts 👋🏼 Welcome to Regen Sports, your twice-weekly deep dive into the intersection of sports and technology. Every Monday, catch up on the week's most important developments in sports innovation, and every Thursday, explore in-depth analysis of trends, companies, and technological breakthroughs reshaping the future of sports.
Before we get into it, if you missed last week’s developments, you can find the recap of week 20's sports tech highlights.
This past week demonstrates the sports technology sector's continued maturation, with significant funding rounds totaling over $58 million across multiple segments and partnerships that signal deeper AI integration throughout the industry. From TOCA Football's funding to VUZ's pre-Series C raise, investment confidence remains robust as companies scale their technological capabilities globally.
The week showcases the convergence of traditional sports with cutting-edge technology, exemplified by Major League Baseball's experimental bat-tracking technology and the announcement of the world's first humanoid robot combat tournament.
Strategic partnerships between established sports properties and technology providers continue to reshape fan experiences, while acquisition activity like Strava's purchase shows the ongoing consolidation within specialised sports tech segments.
Without further ado;
FUNDING & INVESTMENTS 💰
Image source: Tech Crunch
Dubai-based VUZ, the immersive video platform, announced that it has raised $12 million in a pre-Series C funding round, to expand into emerging markets and the US
Sydney-based Liveheats, a digital scoring platform, announced that it secured a $1.3 million seed funding raise, expanding its platform into a sports media hub
Pressplay Capital, has started its plans to raise $10 million for its maiden fund to back startups in sectors such as gaming, adtech, media tech, and sports tech
TOCA Football announced that it has secured $35 million in new funding, to expand Social's international growth and their soccer training technology
Antoine Dupont, has invested in Rugby Football Club Los Angeles, a Major League Rugby team, ahead of the LA Olympics, seen as a strategic move to boost rugby's popularity in the United States
Why This Matters: TOCA Football's funding round represents a massive validation of tech-driven sports training platforms and their global scalability potential. This substantial investment signals investor confidence in the convergence of traditional sports training with data analytics and tech-enhanced coaching methods. As TOCA expands globally, this funding could establish new standards for how soccer training is delivered and measured, potentially influencing youth development programmes worldwide and creating new revenue models for sports training facilities.
PARTNERSHIPS & COLLABORATIONS 🤝🏼
Image source: Aston Martin F1
Aston Martin F1 announced a new multi-year partnership with cloud computing company CoreWeave, becoming the F1 team’s Official AI Cloud Computing Partner
ShotTracker, the data-driven startup, announced a collaboration with ASB GlassFloor, with their Helix system being installed in the ASB Glassfloor Athlete’s Lab in Orlando
WNBA team Seattle Storm announced a new multi-year agreement with Kraft Analytics Group, to accelerate data analytics capabilities and enhance the fan experience
Infobip, an omnichannel communications firm, announced a partnership with Clerk Chat to deliver enhanced RCS messaging experiences for a Los Angeles based football team
Ryder Cup Europe and the PGA of America announced that SAP had signed on to become a new Worldwide Partner for the Ryder Cup, enhancing fan experiences
KT Skylife, in collaboration with the AI sports platform ‘Ho-Gak’, will provide real-time coverage via AI-driven broadcasting during the 54th National Boys’ Sports Competition in South Korea
Aston Martin F1 announced a multi-year agreement with Realme, a smartphone brand, to create the team's first co-branded smartphone, the realme GT 7 Dream Edition
Why This Matters: The Seattle Storm's partnership with Kraft Analytics Group highlights the growing sophistication of data analytics adoption in women's professional sports. This collaboration could establish new benchmarks for how WNBA teams leverage advanced analytics for both performance optimisation and fan engagement, potentially creating competitive advantages that extend beyond the court. As women's sports continue to attract increased investment and attention, data-driven insights could play a crucial role in maximising both athletic performance and commercial opportunities.
PRODUCT LAUNCHES & TECH INNOVATIONS 🔬
Image source: Sports Business Journal
Gracenote, Nielsen’s entertainment data aggregation subsidiary, is launching Nexus Auto, a new sports service providing drivers custom sports content on their displays
Fubo has launched Women’s Sports Zone, a dedicated women’s hub featuring live games, documentaries and, upcoming live events, and other content
Major League Baseball will begin experimenting with bat-tracking technology for check swings calls, set to begin in the Single-A Florida State league
WNBA team Phoenix Mercury announced the launch of PHX ID, a new feature within their app to help streamline the game day experience for fans
Eight Sleep, introduced its latest offerings, namely Pod 5 and a new hydro-powered Blanket, powered by AI and real-time biometric sensing to improve sleep
ViewLift announced the launch of two AI-powered solutions, FanAssist AITM and Data Insights ProTM meant to transform business intelligence and customer support operations for sports organisations
Why This Matters: MLB's experimentation with bat-tracking technology for check swing calls represents a step toward more precise officiating through technological assistance. This pilot programme in the Florida State league could fundamentally change how one of baseball's most subjective calls is made, potentially leading to more consistent and accurate officiating throughout professional baseball. The implications extend beyond MLB, as successful implementation could influence how other sports integrate technology to enhance officiating accuracy and reduce controversial calls that impact game outcomes.
MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS 🪜
US cable firm Charter Communications is creating a merger by acquiring Charter Cox in a deal worth $34.5 billion, potentially transforming sports broadcasting
Strava announced the acquisition of cycling training app The Breakaway, adding to its’ ecosystem for the platform’s global community
Why This Matters: Charter Communications' acquisition of Charter Cox represents one of the largest media consolidation moves in recent years, with significant implications for sports broadcasting distribution and pricing. This merger could reshape how sports content is packaged and delivered to consumers, potentially affecting everything from regional sports network availability to streaming service bundling strategies. For sports properties and fans alike, this consolidation may influence both content accessibility and subscription costs across multiple platforms.
INNOVATION & EXPANSION 🏗️
Image source: TGL
TGL, tech-infused golf competition announced that its expanding to seven teams with the addition of Detroit-based Motor City Golf Club (MCGC) joining in 2027
EngineAI Robot Free Combat Tournament: "Mecha King", the world's first combat tournament featuring humanoid robots is to be held in South China in December
If you missed it, Sports Business Journal held their 18th annual Sports Business Awards ceremony so you can find the list of winners for their respective categories here
Why This Matters: The announcement of "Mecha King," the world's first humanoid robot combat tournament, signals the emergence of an entirely new category of sports entertainment that blends advanced robotics with competitive formats. This inaugural event could establish the foundation for a new global sport that showcases technological innovation while creating unique entertainment experiences. Beyond the spectacle, such tournaments could accelerate development in robotics, artificial intelligence, and engineering, potentially spawning practical applications that extend far beyond entertainment into industrial and military applications.
FINAL THOUGHTS 💭
The sports tech landscape continues its rapid evolution with substantial investments, innovative partnerships, and technological breakthroughs that are reshaping both competitive and commercial aspects of sports. The convergence of AI, data analytics, and immersive technologies is creating new opportunities for fan engagement, athlete performance optimisation, and business model innovation.
The week's developments underscore a maturing industry where technology is no longer supplementary but fundamental to sports operations. From MLB's bat-tracking experiments to humanoid robot tournaments, we're witnessing the birth of entirely new categories within sports and technology. Organisations that successfully integrate these emerging technologies while maintaining authentic connections with their audiences will likely define the next phase of sports industry evolution. Stay tuned for next week's roundup as we continue tracking the transformative developments reshaping the global sports technology landscape.
Track the Trends. Spot the plays. Shape the game.
Thanks for reading,
Dean
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