SportsTech Weekly Recap: Safety Innovations and Strategic Sports Investments
From the industry's commitment to athlete safety, AI advancement, and the growing influence of technology in transforming fan experiences across global sports
The sports tech ecosystem continues to evolve with remarkable momentum, delivering groundbreaking developments that span from athlete safety to immersive fan experiences. This week showcases a compelling mix of significant funding rounds, strategic partnerships, and technological innovations that are reshaping the sports landscape. From Players Health's substantial Series C funding to groundbreaking AI implementations by industry giants, we're witnessing a transformation that touches every aspect of sports.
Let's dive into this week's most significant developments that are setting new benchmarks for the future of sports:
Image source: PSG
Pro Football Hall of Famer LeRoy Butler has partnered with August Allen AR, an AI and AR technology development company
French football club Paris Saint-Germain, and Matchain, an AI and decentralised identity blockchain platform, announced the launch of the Joint Innovations Studio (JIS)
Players Health, the athlete safety and sports insurance company, announced the closing of its $60 million Series C funding round led by Bluestone Equity Partners
Brisbane-based startup Anti Ordinary, announced a collaboration with action sports and lifestyle brand Volcom, to take its snow sports helmet technology to market
YouTube and talent agency CAA have announced a new partnership that will centre on testing early-stage AI likeness detection technology for CAA’s clients
Image source: Spiideo
Spiideo, the sports video technology company, announced the acquisition of Signality, an optical tracking and sports data generation company
Football content and media company, Footballco, announced the opening of a new regional headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, serving fans across the MENA region
A22 Sports Management announced that it has “initiated the process” for the official recognition of its newly rebranded Unify League by the football governing bodies
World Curling events announce that FeedConstruct, the Armenia-based sports data provider, has been granted exclusive international betting rights to a host of events
KOJO, a provider in the sport and brand experience industries, announced a strategic partnership with CUE, a US-based leader in fan-first engagement technology
EngageRM, a provider in CRM automation and data analytics for the sport industry, announced a three-year partnership with Southside Racing
Image source: Sportcal
FIBA announced a partnership with the All Women’s Sports Network (AWSN), to broadcast the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series over the next 2 seasons globally
Crypto.com and Formula 1 announced that they’ve renewed their partnership through to 2030, focusing on the creation of exclusive fan experiences and activations at races
Smart ring maker Oura announced the closure of a $200 million Series D funding round, led by Fidelity Management and glucose device maker Dexcom
Nazara Technologies’ subsidiary, NODWIN Gaming, announced the purchasing of another 93% stake in gaming and esports media company AFK Gaming for $900K
Mercury/13, the multi-club ownership group, and Avenue Sports Fund, announced a partnership, with the aim of acquiring women's football franchises in Europe
PlayOn, the all-in-one fan engagement platform for schools, and Pixellot, announced a new partnership to offer Pixellot's VidSwap™ coaching tools platform for free
Image source: PR Newswire
PlayersTV, the first athlete and fan-owned media company, announced the acquisition of Cloud Media Center, an AI-driven sports adtech and media distribution company
TruGolf Holdings announced a collaboration with D3 Sports Tech to enhance golf simulation experiences through skills-based wagering integration
Bio Sensing Technologies announced a new small device that can track head temperature, rotation, and impact velocity, enhancing player safety in sports
DAZN Bet becomes the first UK operator on Pragmatic Play's Sportsbook platform to launch a racing solution powered by Racing and Sports
The Las Vegas Raiders officially implemented PAM's Smart Navigation platform on their mobile app and on the Allegiant Stadium website, aiming to redefine the fan experience
Two startups have been selected for the 2nd edition of Champions Innovate, FC Urban will be partnered by MasterCard and Equip Sport with Adidas
As we reflect on this week's developments, it's clear that the sports tech industry is experiencing a remarkable phase of growth and innovation, even this late on in the year. The convergence of athlete safety solutions, AI technology, and strategic investments demonstrates the industry's commitment to creating a more secure, engaging, and technologically advanced sports ecosystem. From Players Health's $60 million funding round to Oura's impressive $200 million Series D, investors are backing solutions that prioritise both athlete welfare and fan engagement.
Looking ahead, the momentum in sports tech shows no signs of slowing. Whether it's Bio Sensing Technologies' new safety monitoring devices or PlayersTV's strategic acquisition of AI-driven media solutions, we're seeing a clear trend toward more integrated, data-driven, and safety-conscious sports experiences.
Stay tuned for next week's/year’s roundup as we continue to track these exciting developments and uncover new innovations shaping the future of sports. If you've found these insights valuable, share them with your network of sports and technology enthusiasts. Until next week, happy holidays and new year!