SportsTech Weekly: Data, AI, and the Rise of Performance Analytics
Week 7 of 2025 sees major funding for sports data platforms, AI integration across sports, and blockchain innovations reshaping the industry.
Hello sports tech enthusiasts 👋🏼
As we enter week 7 of 2025, the sports technology landscape continues to evolve with a particular focus on data ownership and artificial intelligence. From FIFPRO's player data platform to the Saudi AI League's million-riyal prize pool, we're witnessing a transformation in how sports organisations collect, analyse, and monetise data. This week's developments showcase how technology is not just enhancing sports performance – it's fundamentally reimagining the relationship between athletes, teams, and their data.
Let’s dive in:
PARTNERSHIPS & SPONSORSHIPS 🤝🏼
Image source: FIFPRO
FIFPRO announced a new partnership with Sports Data Labs Inc to launch a portability-focused data platform for footballers to collect and control their own data
Global tech firm Arm signed its first multi-year sports partnership with Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1, becoming the F1 team’s Official AI Compute Platform Partner
Aston Martin recently made history as the first F1 team to have their sponsorship with Coinbase paid entirely in cryptocurrency
Oracle Red Bull Racing and 1Password, announced a multi-year global partnership, with the security firm set to become the F1 team’s exclusive Cybersecurity Partner
Hockey Australia, the national governing body for hockey, partnered with Everclime, an impact and engagement platform, to implement a sustainability programme across its operations
Super league side Warrington Wolves have partnered with 10:10 Games as part of their ongoing fan engagement initiatives for the 2025 season
Major League Baseball (MLB) and Sportradar announced a seven-year extension to their decade-long partnership, set to begin in the upcoming 2025 season
Tradable Bits, a provider of fan marketing technology, has been chosen by 17 AFL clubs to drive fan engagement, data collection, and activation strategies
Image source: Williams F1
Williams Racing announced a multi-year title partnership with software firm Atlassian, set to become Atlassian Williams Racing
DAZN announced a partnership with TelevisaUnivision, the Spanish-language media company, for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in the United States
Why This Matters: FIFPRO's partnership with Sports Data Labs marks a pivotal shift in athlete data ownership. This platform could revolutionise how players monetise their personal performance data and take control of their biometric information, potentially creating new revenue streams for athletes while protecting their privacy.
FUNDING & INVESTMENTS 💰
Sports media management start-up, ScorePlay, has raised $13 million in a Series A funding round, led by 20VC, APEX Capital, Seven Seven Six VC fund, and pro athletes
Hiveclass, a New York-based virtual PE and sports training platform for kids, secured $1.5M in a seed round to further enhance product development
StepOut, an Indian sports performance analysis startup, announced that it raised $500,000 in its seed round, led by Rainmatter
New York-based Lingopal.ai, an AI-powered speech-to-speech translation platform, has raised $14 million in series A funding, led by DCM Ventures
Tournated, a sports management solution, secured a €50,000 investment from the Latvian Business Angels Network
Epicore Biosystems announced the raise of $26M in a series B round, to scale Its sweat-sensing wearables and cloud analytics platform
The Enhanced Games received a multi-million-dollar investment in a series B round, co-led by 1789 Capital, aimed at helping the Games upcoming inaugural event
Tether's venture arm, Tether Investments, acquired a minority stake in Juventus, boosting its JUV fan token and strengthening its Web3 presence in sports
Rosterfy, a software platform used to organise volunteers globally for events, raised an additional $5.5 million from Australian venture capital firm OIF Ventures
Why This Matters: ScorePlay's $13M raise signals growing investor confidence in sports media management solutions. This funding could accelerate the development of AI-powered media distribution platforms, potentially transforming how sports organisations manage and monetise their content (see a common theme here?)
PRODUCT LAUNCHES & INNOVATIONS 🔬
Bevel, the health companion app, launched AI-powered nutrition tracking, allowing its users to integrate data directly from their blood glucose monitors
Image source: Leaders MENA
Saudi Company for AI (SCAI) announced the launch of the AI League, emphasizing AI’s role in revolutionising sports, with a total prize pool of SAR 1 million for the winners
LinksDAO, the blockchain-based golf and leisure club is launching the LINKS token on the Base blockchain to strengthen its golf-focused crypto network via acquisitions
ASB GlassFloor has set up a temporary testing facility in Orlando, with several NBA teams testing out the tech as the league explores future possibilities
AI-based shooting range cameras were implemented at the Biathlon World Championships, designed to drive a higher audience for the sport
The United Soccer League (USL), has been authorised to launch a Division One professional league, rivaling Major League Soccer (MLS)
Streaming giant Disney+ has announced it will add ESPN sports programming to its library for Australian and New Zealand customers
Why This Matters: The implementation of AI-based cameras at the Biathlon World Championships represents a significant step forward in sports broadcasting technology. This innovation could transform how niche sports are captured and presented to audiences, potentially increasing viewership and commercial opportunities for lesser-known sports.
INDUSTRY INITIATIVES 🏗️
Image source: The Indian Express
The Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports have launched the ‘Sports Data Gameathon’, a sports AI competition powered by Dream11, comprising 52 student teams
Thinksport, in collaboration with AquaBloom International Sports Technology Group (ABSG), launched the Sport Innovation Challenge AI & Robotics
Developers App Cats and Membership Zen have partnered up to create The Membership Co., a joint venture to help fund NIL collectives through donations
IMG has secured a multi-year agreement to exclusively manage and license the worldwide video archive rights for the Formula E World Championship
Why This Matters: The Sports Data Gameathon, powered by Dream11, demonstrates the growing intersection of fantasy sports and AI. This initiative could accelerate the development of innovative AI applications in sports analytics while nurturing new talent in the sports technology sector.
This past week underscores the sports industry's increasing focus on data ownership, AI integration, and blockchain technology. From major funding rounds in sports media management to groundbreaking partnerships in athlete data rights, we're seeing technology reshape every aspect of the sports ecosystem. What's particularly noteworthy is the growing emphasis on athlete empowerment through data ownership and the rise of AI-powered solutions across all aspects of sports.
As we look ahead, it's clear that the convergence of sports and technology will continue to create new opportunities for athletes, teams, and fans alike. Stay tuned for next week's roundup as we continue to track these exciting developments in the ever-evolving world of sports technology.
Track the Trends. Spot the plays. Shape the game.
Thanks for reading,
Dean