Sportstech & Member News

Indian-based Centre Court Capital has closed its maiden fund at NR 410 crore ($US 40 million) supported by domestic institutional investors and sports and media personalities. The fund will leverage off the wave of convergence across sports, fitness, wellness and social gaming in India. 

Sports investment firm APEX has announced the launch of a of a high-growth private equity fund with plans to raise 300 million euros, or about $US 350 million. APEX, which is based just west of Lisbon in Oeiras, Portugal, intends to use that newfound scale to pursue minority stakes ranging from 20% to 49% in teams, leagues and other sports assets. Over the life of the ten-year fund, Caçorino expects to strike 10 to 20 deals, with ticket sizes falling between $US 15 million and $US 50 million.

Australian-founded VueMotion is transforming athlete care and performance through accessible, AI-powered movement intelligence. As part of AO StartUps, VueMotion will pilot their cutting-edge biomechanics platform with Tennis Australia’s National Academy to elevate the performance of the next generation of stars.

Advance Queensland have acknowledged the outstanding achievement of Queensland Government-supported businesses at the Australian and New Zealand Sports Technology Awards (ANZSTA) and the 2025 Australia Sports Tech Conference in October. Three Queensland companies were category winners at the ANZSTA Awards - GravityFit, BoostAR and Anti Ordinary. Another five Queensland companies were finalists including Fempro Armour, tagSpace, Talk All Sport, Valor Esports and SportsAI.

ASTN members, Bodd (3D body scanning company) and Pitch Up (Facility booking tool), have been selected to take part in the Australian Sports Commission’s (ASC) virtual innovation hub, The Park, which is setting out to explore cutting-edge solutions to some of the sector’s biggest challenges. A total of five companies have been selected including previous ASTN Pre-Accelerator participant, Safeguarding You as well as HITIQ and Sports Velocity Systems.

Champion Data has announced a new partnership with the PGA of Australia and Golf Australia as the official broadcast graphics provider for the PGA Tour of Australasia. The Champion Data team is delivering a purpose-built, elevated broadcast graphics package crafted exclusively for Golf Australia, rolling out across 20 Golf tournaments throughout the 2025/2026 schedule.

Female protective wear company FemPro Armour has won the 2025 QSport Innovation of the Year Award. The protective wear is designed to make women and girls feel safe, confident, and protected when they step onto the field. Fempro Armour is a Queensland-based innovation company, redefining protective gear for female and male athletes through science and smart design. Growing from a slow start in motorcycling Fempro Armour is now a multi-sport brand trusted in AFLW, NRLW, rugby union, roller bergy, mountain biking, defence and healthcare.

Golf New Zealand (Golf NZ) has re-signed with CoachMate - the sports education platform that transforms volunteer-led coaching and team management into insightful, easy, and fun experiences. This renewal marks a particularly special milestone: Golf NZ was CoachMate’s very first foundation client and the partnership now enters a new phase of growth and impact.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has faced an unexpected broadcasting crisis just two months before the impending T20 World Cup 2026, after JioStar formally informed the body that it cannot fulfil the remaining two years of its four-year India media rights deal. The broadcaster cited mounting financial losses as the primary cause for pursuing a premature exit from the $US 3 billion agreement.

Globant, a company dedicated to reinventing businesses through innovative technology solutions, and LALIGA, Europe's most successful football league, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that marks a milestone in the transformation of the operations of one of the world's leading sports organizations through the large-scale adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). Through Sportian, the joint venture between Globant and LALIGA, AI agents will be created in key organizational areas such as talent development, operations, and technology to improve sports performance analysis, personalized content creation, and workflow automation, all within a coordinated and centralized system. These new agents will join Sportian's current offering of technological solutions.

Layercake, the company behind the intelligent media workflow platform Streamcake, announced the integration of Norsk into its ecosystem. The integration allows organisations to unify live and on-demand video workflows using a combination of Norsk’s real-time media processing tools and Streamcake’s automation, orchestration and provisioning features. Streamcake, enables broadcasters, sports organisations and enterprises to streamline complex workflows, automate infrastructure deployment and scale content delivery across platforms. 

QSport is proud to announce a landmark two-year partnership with Griffith University, continuing through to June 2027. This strategic collaboration will deepen both organisations’ commitment to advancing gender equity, leadership and participation in sport across Queensland. The partnership will focus on the establishment of Women in Sport Leadership Series, a research program hat collates data and insights regarding the lived experiences of women in sport as well as Griffith University being the Naming Sponsor of the Queensland Sport Awards, Athlete of the Year Award.

Spectatr.ai, a Sequoia-backed innovator in AI-powered sports technology, is partnering with the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and the Islamic Solidarity Sports Association (ISSA) to deliver real-time highlight clips during the Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Spectatr.ai unlocks the full potential of sports content with AI Agents that power smart highlights, content tagging, management, and distribution.

In a landmark achievement that cements its position among the global leaders in sports innovation, Spectatr.ai has been named the winner of the prestigious “Sports Technology of the Year” award at The Sports Business Awards 2025. The accolade recognises organisations that are redefining the future of sports through innovation, impact, and transformative technology. For Spectatr.ai, the honour marks a significant milestone in a journey that began with a bold vision to democratise sports media creation through AI-powered solutions.

SportBox, the new sports locker concept that makes sports equipment more accessible, has now two live locations in Victoria in partnership with the Glenelg Shire Council. Free access to basketballs, netballs and footballs are now available at Portland Foreshore (Portland) and Island Park (Casterton).

3D body scanning platform Bodd has raised $AUD 15 million as it looks to expand globally. The round was led by US strategic investor Blue Sky Capital, supported by Ellerston Capital. The capital is for expansion into the US, where they’ll open an office, as well as the UK and Middle East, plus increasing the headcount to 40, up from 15 when Bodd last raised $5 million in early 2023. The business is turning its attention to healthtech, with plans to deploy in Australian pharmacies in 2026 to capturing data on the human body and support growing demand for GLP-1 (weight loss) treatments.

A Games Vision, titled Believe, Belong, Become, Brisbane 2032, will be launched for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic & Paralympic Games this week. It’s a commitment to deliver a Games that unites, excites, and inspires, creating lasting impact and legacies for generations to come. 

Skate Australia, in partnership with Skate NSW, has launched a new national integrity management platform that strengthens the sport’s alignment with the National Integrity Framework (NIF) and reinforces its commitment to providing safe, fair and inclusive environments for all participants. The platform offers a simple, confidential and nationally consistent way for participants across Australia to raise integrity concerns. Powered by Rely’s trusted case-management technology, the system delivers clear reporting pathways and enhances visibility and coordination across all levels of the sport.

Victorian sportstech startup and ASTN member company, Boob Protect has been recognised as the performance category winner and crowned overall winner at the ISPO BrandNew startup awards in Munich, Germany. With an ultra-light, CE-certified breast protector that combines safety and comfort, Boob Protect demonstrates how true innovation can make empowerment tangible. Boob Protect emerged as the performance category winner prevailing over running footwear, respiration analysis device and stroboscopic glasses.

Cérge, in partnership with Belgravia Leisure and Belgravia Foundation, has reached a significant milestone, with the tech’s accessibility tools now viewed four million times across almost 100 Belgravia Leisure venues. Visitors can access 360-degree virtual tours, sensory guides, audio guides and communication boards directly on each venue site, without ever leaving the page.

Ten startup companies from five African countries that have been selected as finalists as part of the second edition of NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator, which the league launched last year to support the continent’s technology ecosystem and the next generation of African entrepreneurs. Five winners will receive financial support and the opportunity to join CMU-Africa’s 12-month Business Incubation Program – in the Innovation Hub. 

Ultrahuman, a Bengaluru-based health technology and wearables company, has secured roughly $11.27 million in venture debt to accelerate its next phase of global growth. The debt round is positioned as a bridge toward a larger equity funding round expected in the coming weeks. Ultrahuman plans to use the capital to scale operations in Canada, Mexico and Australia. At the same time, Ultrahuman is managing a US patent dispute while targeting revenue of about $120 million by the 2026 financial year.

HITIQ has announce that the PROTEQT™ concussion management system will be introduced through rebel, Australia's leading sporting goods retailer. PROTEQT™ will be available through select high-performance rebel stores and their online platform. This represents HITIQ's entry into mainstream consumer retail channels, providing access to athletes and sports participants across community and competitive levels. This retail introduction marks an important step in HITIQ's commercialisation strategy, transitioning PROTEQT™ from elite sports applications into consumer retail markets. 

City of Moreton Bay has partnered with the Queensland Government Innovation Division through the Private Sector Pathways program, inviting fresh ideas to improve access, mobility and inclusion across the City. After a State-wide call for solutions and an Innovation Showcase, two start-ups have been selected to progress to a $100,000 trial with Council. This includes Briometrix who will develop accessible footpath wayfinding tools to improve mobility and navigation across Moreton Bay, and Cerge, who are creating accessible digital journeys through venue mapping, sensory guides and virtual tours to help people ‘know before they go’.

The world’s first operator-less, AI-powered cricket training experience, powered by BatFast, is coming to Australia. HiTZ Cricket is partnering with Cricket Victoria and the Melbourne Renegades to launch its first Australian site at the CitiPower Centre in Melbourne later this summer.

Valor Esports is introducing a new interactive training program that goes beyond mechanical and strategic gameplay. Students can now build and train transferable skills in communication, teamwork, leadership, critical thinking and more - all without needing to play in-game. This program is designed for schools looking to offer credit-worthy, future-focused learning pathways that connect esports and transferable skills to real opportunities. Expressions of interest are open, with the trial to commence January 2026.

Auckland Rugby League have announced a partnership with BarTV as their official streaming provider for the 2026 season. This partnership will deliver comprehensive coverage not only of club rugby league competitions but also new pathways programmes. BarTV is a leader in producing and streaming high-quality grassroots sports content, widely known for its work across Australia, including the NSW Cup.

ECAL has announced a partnership with the Betfred Super League, England’s leading professional Rugby League competition. ECAL will help transform the League’s 2026 fixture calendar into a dynamic, direct-to-consumer sports channel that keeps fans engaged, informed, and ready for every match. ECAL sends real-time fixture updates, personalised reminders, and broadcast information straight to fans’ calendars.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced extraordinary digital engagement results for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025. The tournament generated 5.2 billion video views, a dramatic leap from the 1.5 billion achieved during the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Social media engagement soared to 279 million interactions, more than triple last year’s figure (84 million), while the ICC website and app attracted 8.5 million unique visitors, up from 3 million in 2024.

La Liga have secured a fresh TV package deal for the years of 2027-2032, extending with channels Movistar+ and DAZN. The deal represents an increase on the previous package, but also continues to illustrate the gap opening to the Premier League in terms of TV rights. The current deal is worth €4.95b runs until 2027, and is worth around €990m per season. The new deal has been confirmed to be worth €5.25b in total over the five seasons, averaging out as €1.05b per season, an increase of €60m.

POS tech company MyVenue and ticketing platform Humanitix were among the recipients of the 2025 Australian Export Awards. The Australian Export Awards, presented by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), recognises outstanding, innovative and inspiring exporters. MyVenue, the Australian-developed point-of-sale (POS) technology company powering transactions for the world’s biggest and busiest sports and entertainment venues, was named the national winner in the Technologies category. Launched in 2020, MyVenue generates over 90% of its revenue from export markets, and its technology is deployed on 20,000 terminals in 250+ venues worldwide, including Dodger Stadium, Hard Rock Stadium, State Farm Stadium, Rogers Place, and Lumen Field.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs has launched a program called “Sports Everywhere” to support domestic companies in developing sports technologies, including training and safety solutions for baseball, golf, cycling, and hiking. The program will run through next year with a budget of $US 17 million. It focuses on developing sports-technology applications, integrated software and hardware solutions, and mixed virtual and physical services to boost the sporting goods manufacturing

In February, uniqFEED entered into a strategic partnership with Telstra Broadcast Services (TBS), a global technology company delivering live sports and video content for more than 150 broadcast, media and sports customers. Together, the companies collaborate to scale virtual advertising globally through shared technology and operational expertise, working together where this combined approach offers the best solution for the client. The collaboration combines uniqFEED’s proprietary AI-driven technology with TBS’s global connectivity and 24/7 support.

Tahreez Sport and Entertainment was launched as a joint venture between PMY Group and Alturki Holding in Saudi Arabia to expand live sports and entertainment projects in the Kingdom. The partnership will focus on technology solutions and fan experiences, aligning with the goals of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. 

Smart athletics track, Feldspar has now passed third-party testing by Sportslabs EU, the leading sports surfaces testing lab, confirming that our prototypes comply with World Athletics performance standards. This puts Feldspar one step closer to delivering a fully certified, next-generation running surface for athletes worldwide.

Softball Australia has announced a partnership with Sideline Sport in launching livestreaming platform called SoftballAustralia.TV.  The creation of SoftballAustralia.TV will help ensure that all major Softball Australia event livestreams can be enjoyed in one reliable location, while also supporting the development of a comprehensive digital video library for athletes, supporters, and the wider softball community, including international fans.

The South Australian swimming Country Championships will be piloting with Olly Timing in January. Olly uses high-speed video and AI to capture the exact moment each swimmer finishes, producing reliable times without needing a timekeeper on every lane. It’s already been tested nationally, with accuracy equal to, and often better than, manual timing.

Fremantle Dockers have announced the appointment of Matthew O'Sullivan as new Head of Data & Technology, bringing more than a decade of experience leading major digital and data transformation projects at Chelsea Football Club. Matt has delivered technology programs across Football, Consumer and Operations, including CRM, HRIS, ITSM and ERP upgrades, and helped shape Chelsea's long-term technology blueprint.

MyVenue founder and CEO Tim Stollznow has been awarded the prestigious 2025 South Australian Pearcey Entrepreneur Award. The awards celebrate outstanding and innovative talent across the spectrum of the ICT sector, recognising entrepreneurs who take risks, make a difference, and are an inspiration to the technology ecosystem at large. MyVenue is a South Australian-founded point of sale SaaS company for stadiums, arenas and hospitality venues. Its tech is powering billions of dollars in credit card transactions at some of the world's biggest sporting events including the NFL, NBA, Formula 1 - and the upcoming 2028 LA Olympics.

Female protection gear company Fempro Armour has been nominated for the QUT Queensland Sports Innovator of the Year. The winner will be announced at our annual Queensland Sport Awards and Hall of Fame Induction on Thursday November 27.

The Future Golf App is now fully connected to MiClub and the Future Gold partner clubs’ tee sheets, creating a unified, real-time booking experience that’s faster, smarter, and more seamless for golfers nationwide. Queensland is the first region to go live, with additional states rolling out in the next few weeks. Powered by MiClub and backed by Future Golf’s 200-plus golf course partners the partnership benefits 40,000-plus members.

KINEXON Sports has been recognized as the first technology provider officially validated by FIBA for its wearable and in-venue tracking systems. The milestone, achieved through the federation’s inaugural independent testing program, confirms that KINEXON’s IMU and LPS solutions meet — and in several areas exceed — FIBA’s benchmarks for data accuracy, reliability, and player safety.

Function Health is heading into 2026 as a celebrity and athlete-backed unicorn, raising $US 298 million Series B round at a $US 2.5 billion valuation and unveiling a “Medical Intelligence Lab” that introduces new AI features. The funding will help fuel the MI Lab, where Function is working to turn AI into what it calls “medical intelligence,” a system built to capture the deepest possible view of each person’s biology by unifying data from lab tests, imaging, wearables, IoT devices and medical records, then layering it with global research and clinical expertise to spot early warning signals.

CoachMate has announced that New Zealand Football (NZF) has re-signed, extending a successful partnership that has already made a profound impact on grassroots football. CoachMate digitises football education into bite-sized, accessible resources and combines them with easy-to-use team management tools. Monthly active participation has peaked at nearly 9,000 unique users, demonstrating the strength of the New Zealand Football community on CoachMate.

UK-based Sportable has established its Asia-Pacific headquarters and Centre of Excellence in Collingwood, Melbourne, creating up to 20 highly specialised roles in software development, hardware engineering, and client delivery.  Sportable’s world-first ‘Smart Ball’ technology delivers real-time insights on ball movement during games, enhancing fan engagement and supporting accurate officiating. The company’s Smart Sherrin, developed in partnership with the AFL, has already assisted with more than 2,000 score reviews in the 2025 NAB AFLW season.

Leading smart basketball flooring company ASB GlassFloor have opened ASB Athletes Lab 2.0 in Orlando in partnership with the NBA. The new facility combines our ASB GlassFloor, ShotTracker analytics and Spiideo video systems to deliver a fully interactive and data-driven performance environment for professional and collegiate athletes.

TeamSnap, one of the world's leading youth sports management platform with over 19,000 sports organizations and 30 million users, has launched TeamSnap ONE. This new, comprehensive platform is the only technology in the market that combines flexible registration, next-generation communication, team management, expert training content, live streaming and game highlights.

AO StartUps has opened applications for its final intake of 2025, focusing on AI companies ready to transform the global sports industry. The sports and entertainment tech program is a core pillar of Tennis Australia’s innovation and venture capital strategy, created to help startup companies accelerate their growth and pilot their cutting-edge technology. A record 12 companies pioneering new player, fan and event technologies joined the program at AO 2025. Successful companies are also considered for future investment via AO Ventures – the official VC arm of the Australian Open and Tennis Australia. Early-stage tech companies have until 30 November 2025 to apply.  

The major US domestic broadcast rights tie-up between Major League Soccer (MLS) and Apple will end in mid-2029, three and a half years earlier than originally agreed. The initial 10-year deal between the MLS and the Apple TV streaming service, unveiled in mid-2022, was due to run through 2032 but has now been cut to a six-and-a-half-year agreement. The change to the length of the deal was voted through at the same time as the MLS's 30 team owners agreed to change the format of the season (as mentioned above), switching from February-December to July-May.

Automated production leader Pixellot has raised another $US 35 million to fuel its scale and growth. Pixellot last raised a $US 161 million Series D round led by PSG Equity in May 2022. This time, PSG invested an additional $US 15 million with $US 20 million structured as venture debt financing. This year, Pixellot is on pace to stream 1.5 million games across 14 sports. Most recently, Pixellot announced a five-year expansion to its longstanding agreement with PlayOn Sports -- which operates high school brands GoFan, MaxPreps and the NFHS Network.