ASTN Member News

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.

Alignment Growth Management (Alignment Growth), an investment firm focused on growth-stage, privately-held media and entertainment companies, announced an investment in PMY Group (PMY), a premier international venue, events, and infrastructure technology solutions firm. PMY is a full-service technology solutions company that supports venues and major events to enhance their infrastructure, experience, and intelligence. Founded in 2009 with a focus on stadiums, the company has diversified to service more than 1,000 clients across 15 countries. The investment in PMY marks Alignment Growth’s eighth investment out of its inaugural fund. 

etrainu has announced a new partnership with Sir Graham Lowe, marking the launch of "Kick for the Seagulls - Community Coaching", a comprehensive library of 12 online courses aimed at inspiring and developing the next generation of community coaches. The course series focuses on fostering essential skills, promoting teamwork and empowering volunteer community coaches to create a positive impact. The Kick for the Seagulls program is set to roll out later this year through Auckland Rugby League, providing accessible training resources for coaches.

TwinLabs.ai a leader in sports digital twin applications has launched a digital twin for the gym and fitness centre management industry. TwinLabs.ai has been working with the Tour De France to assist them manage the event through TwinLabs event management solution. TwinLabs has now expanded its market application to include gyms and fitness centres. The Gym Twin provides gym owners and managers with 'spacial intelligence'. Gym Twin uses all the tech that gyms already have including CCVT cameras and membership systems, and turn it into a 3D digital version of the gym complete with real-time data. Pilots are already running and have helped identify when the gym is busiest, spotted patterns in member usage, equipment configuration and help fine-tune everything from marketing and staff rosters to the playlist.

The winners of the 2024 Australia & New Zealand Sports Technology Awards were announced during the Australian Sports Tech Week in Melbourne on 23rd November. The awards were presented in partnership with the Australian Sports Technologies Network and the Sports Tech World Series, organisers of the STWS Conference. Winners included Olly Timing, Nobody's Princess, Areto Labs, VADR, Rookie Me, Bar TV, Gravity Fit and SportsBlock. Founder of Sponserve (now part of KORE Software), Mark Thompson and Co-Founder of Australian Sports Technologies Network, James Demetriou were awarded Lifetime Achievement Awards.

As part of Sportstech Week in Melbourne, the Australian Sports Technologies Network (ASTN) facilitated a Women-Led Sportstech Design Masterclass. Leading female founders shared their journey and passion in building their sport-related startups. Founders included Kirsty Richardson - GravityFit, Saara Jamieson - Cool Beans Underwear, Michelle Walshe - CoachMate, Victoria Zorin - Nola, Maria Baker - Nobody’s Princess, Suzie Betts – Boob Armour, Marie Penny – Project Flock and Natalie Moore – Own Your Health Collective / MenoVest.

East Asia Super League (EASL), East Asia’s premier basketball league and entertainment experience has announced that global leader in fan tech Tradable Bits will be the league’s official fan engagement partner. As part of the long-term and exclusive agreement, Tradable Bits will expand the league’s growing base of new fans while deepening engagement with existing fans.

The Australian Sports Commission has welcomed the release of the Australian Government's National Sport Strategy, Sport Horizon. 
Bringing together the work of the sport sector, Sport Horizon provides a framework to focus our efforts and resources to drive improvement and better outcomes for sport over the next decade. The priorities will align with Australia’s National Sport Participation Strategy – Play Well, and Australia’s 2032+ High Performance Sport Strategy – Win Well. Sport Horizon sets a shared vision for the 'green and gold decade' highlighting six priority areas: Inclusion, Participation, Safety, High Performance, International Engagement, and Economy and Environment.

Golf Australia has announced that they are partnering with CoachMate to help deliver the ‘MyGolf’, ‘Get Into Golf’ and ‘MyGolf Schools’ programs digitally to ensure that new golfers have the best experience possible. CoachMate is an app designed to save time and help deliver great coaching sessions on or off the course. This is done through easy-to-follow game based video content, group management and micro learning tips and tricks. Golf in Australia has enjoyed huge growth in participation numbers over the last few years highlighted by the 2022/2023 Golf Participation Report showing 3.5 million Australians played golf, representing 17.6% of adult Australians. In the same period, ‘MyGolf’ participation rose 22% year-on-year and ‘Get Into Golf’ increased 39% year-on-year.

Own Your Health Collective have launched their innovative MenoVest on mainstream television in Australia this week. Launched on Nine's Today Show in partnership with Over The Bloody Moon the MenoVest simulates symptoms of menopause. The product complements Own Your Health Collective's menopause workplace training that offers men in particular a glimpse into the often-unseen realities of menopause.

Launched in 2020, MyVenue provides a cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) solution to venue food and beverage operators in the sport, entertainment, and hospitality industries. The business services more than 140 venues across North America, the UK, and Asia Pacific. MyVenue uses Google Cloud and BigQuery to process and analyze data from thousands of POS terminals across North America, the UK, and Asia Pacific and additionally improved its scalability and flexibility. MyVenue processes up to 5,000 records per hour during peaks and supports 20,000 dashboard requests over a 12 hour period.

Outdoor swimming competition meets without timekeepers or touchpads can now be delivered with Olly Timing. Swimming Australia 2024 Club of the Year, Lane Cove Swim Club, based on Sydney’s north shore ran their entire Spring Carnival using Olly Timing on Saturday 13th October. Despite 30-40km hour winds and highly variable light conditions, Olly Timing’s world first computer vision powered swimming competition timing successfully recorded 991 times in over 5 hours of racing.

MyVenue is the first sports & entertainment point-of-sale solution certified by FreedomPay on Castles Technology's Portable Android Series POS devices. The all-in-one handheld POS device with MyVenue’s cloud-based solution is now live at multiple North American major league and college venues. The compact devices are the first fully integrated handheld POS with EMV (Europay, Mastercard, Vis) reader, printer, 4G, and Wi-Fi connectivity certified on FreedomPay’s P2PE-compliant (point-to-point encryption) payment gateway. FreedomPay is one of the world's leading independent payment gateways.

Australian Oztag is excited to announce a partnership with etrainu, an innovator in online learning solutions, to launch The Hub, a new digital platform designed to streamline referee accreditation and training. This partnership will standardise accreditation for referees within Oztag. With over 5,000 referees set to use the platform, Oztag will seamlessly combine on-field assessments with online learning to streamline the referee accreditation process. This will support their growing membership base of 150,000+ players. 

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Katy Perry’s AFL Grand Final performance is another signal that the use of mixed reality in Australian sports presentation is on the rise. A consortium including Champion Data, Mushroom Events, Silent Partners Studio, Vizrt, NEP Group, Inc., and Seven Network, joined forces with Katy Perry to help deliver a groundbreaking transformation to the Telstra pre-match entertainment at the 2024 AFL Grand Final in front of more than 100,000 fans. Daylight often presents significant limitations to the in-stadium entertainment spectacle, but by using cutting-edge “Virtual Camera” and Augmented Reality technology to deliver dynamic, automated graphic scenes, Katy Perry’s electrifying performance was elevated to new heights. 

Broadcasting tech company Layercake has been shortlisted for the SportsPro 2024 OTT Awards in the Best Startup Category. The OTT Awards is a celebration of the trailblazers in the world of sports broadcasting and streaming, spotlighting the platforms, content creators and innovations that are redefining the way sports is consumed worldwide. Layercake provides two broadcasting and content asset solutions which include Streamcake and Mediacake.

VueMotion has been nominated as a finalist in the 2024 InnovationAus Awards for Excellence. Since their inception in 2021, these awards continue to spotlight pioneering companies that are driving innovation - including within this all-important Health-tech category.VueMotion powers better quality movement in sport and health with world-leading Computer Vision & AI. Other finalists in this category include Navbit, Artrya Ltd and nuroflux.The winner will be announced on 30th October 2024.

Sportstech companies Vue Motion and 1080 Motion have collaborated to improve athletic movement analysis. This combines both kinematic and kinetic outputs to test a range of athletic-based movements. 1010 Motion are leaders in robotic technologies for neuromuscular testing and training in sports and rehabilitation. Vue Motion specialises in development of video and data analytics for athletic movement using computer visioning, AI machine learning and augmented reality. The technologies are crucial for decision making when it comes to interventions for improving performance, injury prevention and rehabilitation. 

A total of $AUD 8.5 million in grants have been awarded to 12 quantum technology projects led by 5 Queensland-based universities as part of the Department of Environment, Science, and Innovation's Queensland Quantum and Advanced Technologies Strategy. The Quantum 2032 Challenge aims to accelerate the development of quantum and advanced technologies products and applications, attract investment and foster collaboration, build a skilled quantum workforce, accelerate decarbonisation efforts, and promote quantum-based innovations to support the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Projects focused on athlete performance theme including concussion diagnosis, wearables technologies, hydration and anti-doping as well as large-scale event-based themes including transport, communications and security.

After doubling customer deployments in the past 12 months, MyVenue has been named the 2024 Telstra Best of Business Awards (SA) winner for Outstanding Growth. MyVenue supports more than 140 venues across Australia, the US, Canada, and the UK using our next-gen POS solution. Their growth has been underpinned by proactive product development, ongoing investment in cybersecurity, and building support capacity.

ActiveKIT (Knowledge | Innovation | Technology) is a call to action to ‘shift the dial’ on investment in the Active Industry to drive physical activity participation in Queensland. The initiative aims to encourage better utilisation of knowledge, harnessing innovation and leveraging technology to enable more Queenslanders to be physically active more often,. A total of 47 innovation solutions totaling $AUD 4.3 million in grants were awards in the Super Round of funding. There were a number of sports-tech related projects awarded grants which included GravityFit, Champion Life, Chicks Who Ride Bikes and Cinema on the Fly

Global sports broadcast platform, DAZN, has recently announced a partnership with Tradable Bits, a leading provider of fan engagement, data, and marketing solutions, to enhance sports telecasts in Taiwan. The companies will pilot a series of activations designed to increase viewers’ engagement with content before, during, and after sports events. Fans who interact with DAZN’s content by scanning QR codes that appear in telecasts will have a chance to be rewarded with prizes, merchandise, game tickets, and more.

Tradable Bits has partnered with AFL team, Fremantle Football Club, in a 'Best Seat in the House' campaign to undercover new fans and potential members. Over forty thousand fans entered the campaign, ten thousand of which were newly discovered (i.e. not captured anywhere else in their database). At every home game, fans in the stadium were given an opportunity to scan a QR code (displayed on stadium screens) to “Scratch” for the chance to win an upgrade to 2 VIP seats in the stadium, VIP service and access to the Bankwest Club. Over forty thousand fans entered the campaign, ten thousand of which were newly discovered (i.e. not captured anywhere else in their database). 

Boob Armour, breast protection inserts for female contact sports, is now more accessible than ever with its distribution expanding to Australia's largest sports retail group Rebel Sport. From young girls just starting their sporting journey, teenagers playing for fun or elite athletes & everyday women, Boob Armour products cater to all sports with contact, impact, or ball play, including activities like AFLW, soccer, basketball, netball, cricket, hockey and the list goes on.

PMY has won the 2024 Victorian Exporter of the Year Award. Founded in 2009, PMY has become a global leader in venue and event technology. With a presence in 14 countries and a portfolio of cutting-edge services, including their AI-driven OPTIC platform, PMY has redefined the industry, enabling venues and events to create unforgettable experiences. The company's success and dedication to providing independent, impactful technology solutions have made them a trusted advisor and partner to some of the world’s most prestigious venues and events.  

UniSport is committed to delivering an exceptional sporting experience through 2024 Nationals in Canberra, while minimising environmental impact. In partnership with Everclime, UniSport have developed two UniSport impact cards for students to choose between, that represent an impact contribution to either ACT Wildlife Conservation or the Forever Reef Project. UniSport have allocated $AUD 5 per registration to these organisations selected by the Student Organising Committee which will begin building an impact legacy for the events UniSport host. UniSport are activating the investment through Everclime blockchain technology and encouraging every student to make a choice.

Layercake has announced the launch of an innovative and revolutionary approach to broadcast production, using software defined video networks. The Streamcake Platform, a Layercake product, forms the backbone of a pioneering collaboration between Grass Valley, NEXTDC, AI-Media and Sharon AI. Streamcake brings together best-in-breed technologies orchestrating network connectivity, video processing, captioning and media enrichment, and on-demand cloud GPU infrastructure.

Revolve Athletic has formed a partnership with athlete management system firm Lumin Sports to enhance systems for athletes, coaches and clubs to enhance performance and athletic development. Revolve works with over 700 athletes and coaches in south-east Queensland across rugby league, AFL, netball, basketball, soccer and rowing. Lumin's system provides clubs with easy access to athlete information and data such as load monitoring, athlete wellbeing, strength programming, medical modules and injury reporting.

Fast-growing Australia-based stadium tech company has acquired Australian sports creative agency, KOJO. PMY provide solutions to more than 1,000 stadia and venue across the globe. The acquisition will further strengthen PMY's intelligence, technology, and experience offerings globally. KOJO has an impressive portfolio of collaborations and partnerships including AFL, Cricket Australia, NRL, and FIFA, along with iconic brands like BMW, MINI, and Wesfarmers. KOJO collaborates with entertainment giants like Sony Pictures, Netflix, Warner Bros., and Universal Studios, while maintaining long-term partnerships with major ANZ stadiums, including Optus Stadium, Adelaide Oval, Suncorp Stadium, and Sky Stadium in Wellington.

etrainu has been named the Official Education Partner for the 2024 National Officiating Summit, empowering sports officials with world-class online learning solutions and ensuring they stay at the forefront of their sport. Their leading online learning platform has made them the provider of choice by officiating organisations, including US Youth Soccer, Pickleball Australia, NRL Touch Football, Basketball Australia, USA Track & Field, and Football Australia

Australians with a flair for sport are being offered the opportunity of a lifetime. A nationwide talent search aimed at finding future stars for Brisbane 2032 gets underway next month. The Future Green and Gold campaign will be Australia’s greatest ever talent search, designed to unearth the next generation of sporting champions and fast-track them to the elite level. This is the first time the high performance sector has come together to deliver a talent search. The Australian Institiute of Sport (AIS) has partnered with all state institutes, Paralympics Australia and more than 40 major sports including cycling, rugby, para canoe and para snow.

QUT will develop and host an inclusive esports program for regional Queensland high school students, with the support of a $1.19 million grant from the Australian Government. The 'EsportsAble' project will see a series of esports events held in six regional locations across Queensland during 2025, culminating in a state championship in Brisbane.

Digital content and learning management platform specialist, CoachMate, has partnered and gone live with Golf Australia. CoachMate to help deliver the ‘MyGolf’, ‘Get Into Golf’ and ‘MyGolf Schools’ programs digitally to ensure that new golfers have the best experience possible. CoachMate is an app designed to save time and help deliver great coaching sessions on or off the course. This is done through easy-to-follow game based video content, group management and micro learning tips and tricks allowing you to become the best coach, teacher, volunteer, or player you can be.

Cool Beans Underwear founder and CEO, Saara Jamieson, has been selected as a finalist for the Paul Shetler Disrupter of the Year category in the 2024 InnovationAus Awards for Excellence. Saara is the inventor of the world’s first testicular cooling medical device underwear, now registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia.

Teamworks, a global leader in enterprise SaaS solutions for elite sports and tactical organizations, has announced the acquisition of Zelus Analytics, the leading sports intelligence platform. Zelus helps elite sports organizations and athletes win by blending rich data sources to inform roster construction, player development, game preparation, and in-match strategy decisions. Zelus has built a reputation as the only company to combine world-class data science and engineering talent, deep industry experience, and advanced models and metrics to tackle the most complex challenges in sports analytics (across MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA, IPL, European football leagues and pro golfers on the PGA TOUR).

PlaySpark to have been accepted into the 2024 cohort of the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) US Export Acceleration Bootcamp. As the business pushes into the USA, the program will help PlaySpark monetise their IP through branded mobile games, consolidate their GTM strategy and gain a better grasp of the tax, legal and cultural issues.

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Gerford AI supported USA Swimming in their remarkable achievement of 28 medals, including 8 golds, 13 silvers, and 7 bronzes. By analyzing over 232,000 data points across 73 races, our advanced analytics provided invaluable insights, helping USA Swimming secure the top spot in the standings. 

Cricket Australia have trialed Talk All Sports scoring platform for the first time at the recent Australia A vs India A test match in Brisbane. The four-day match marked a successful first-time deployment of the Talk All Sports Foldaway LED Scoreboard for Cricket Australia. Talk All Sports had completed seven school and trial matches with the technology, where umpires scored every ball. 

For many Paralympians, the equipment they use plays a crucial role in their performance – it’s what enables them to compete and push boundaries in their sport at the elite level. Recognising this, AIS Engineering worked with several sports in the lead-up to the Paris Games, completing a record 153 customised equipment projects to ensure our Paralympians are competing with top-notch gear suited to their needs.

GameDay, a leading provider of digital solutions for sporting organisations, has announced a new partnership with Royal Life Saving South Australia to support their ‘Holiday Swim’ and ‘Inclusive Swim’ programs. These community initiatives will benefit from GameDay’s innovative Programs feature as part of the GameDay Passport platform, ensuring streamlined operations and enhanced participant experiences. Through this partnership, Royal Life Saving SA will utilise GameDay’s Programs feature to manage registrations, track participation, and streamline communications for both programs.