Sportstech & Member News

Hockey New Zealand has officially launched on the free coaching and team management app CoachMate, marking an important step forward in supporting the country’s volunteer coaches and strengthening the delivery of community hockey. The launch forms part of Hockey NZ’s ongoing commitment to building a nationally aligned coaching environment that helps coaches develop, grow and inspire the hockey whānau.

AO Ventures has announced a further investment in Mindspring Padel, strengthening its partnership with one of the most innovative companies helping accelerate the global expansion of padel. The follow-on investment builds on AO Ventures’ initial backing of the company in early 2025 and reflects the exceptional progress Mindspring has generated as demand for padel infrastructure continues to grow rapidly across international markets. 

The DGTO was introduced in 2022 and will head to a review next year. Many Australian game developers are hopeful it will continue to make an impact, and even be expanded for the years to come. Australia’s DGTO was introduced in 2022 as a means to reduce the tax burden on local Australian game development studios, in recognition of their contributions to culture and the arts. All studios with expenditure of $500,000 or above are able to claim a 30% refundable tax offset, with cost-savings transferred back to the business, to reinvest in new and more ambitious projects. Glinda Games was created to take specific advantage of the cost-saving offered by the DGTO, with the business built around supporting Australian developers.

Genies, an AI avatar technology company powering the next era of interactive digital identity, and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) have announced a licensing partnership to offer Genie avatars for NBPA member. This opens up new ways for players to connect with fans across games and apps. Through the collaboration, Genie avatars may be licensed to developers to create games and apps, supercharged by Genies' developer ecosystem.

LALIGA has joined as a partner of the GSIC powered by Microsoft's Groundbreakers Challenge. The Challenge is a platform designed to connect leading sports organizations with startups and technology companies capable of solving real industry problems. Illegal streaming continues to undermine the value of media rights, impacting leagues, clubs, broadcasters, and ultimately the sustainability of the sports ecosystem. LALIGA and GSIC are looking for innovative companies developing technologies that can help with this problem. Selected companies will have the opportunity to pitch live at the PEAK SportsTech Conference in Las Vegas in April, in front of global leaders from sport, media, technology and investment.

Layercake has partnered with the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) to deliver a unified digital ecosystem designed to support elite athlete development while strengthening community engagement.  The platform combines a dynamic public website with an integrated Learning Management System (LMS), providing more than 400 athletes across 45 sports with seamless access to training resources, education, and performance tools.

The National Football League has launched the Innovation Hub Challenge, a pathway designed to move sports technology startups to integration-ready MVPs that could be piloted across the league. The Challenge is open to technology teams, organizations, and individuals with working products and demonstrated capabilities. There are three challenge categories - Fan Journey & Personalisation, Local Monetisation & Commerce, and Event Discovery & Global Engagement. Applications close 22 March, with the finalists showcasing their solutions 23-25 April.

Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) have announced they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Paramount will acquire WBD, forming a premier global media and entertainment company. The deal is worth an estimated $US 111 billion. The merged company will hold one of the industry's most compelling and competitive portfolios of sports rights, including: the NFL, Olympics, UFC, PGA Tour, NHL, Big Ten and Big 12 Football, NCAA College Basketball, and Champions League.

One of Australia’s leading community sport streaming service Sideline Sport has acquired the Seven West Media streaming platform, Streamer and an extensive catalogue of local and junior sport broadcasts. The acquisition gives Sideline a catalogue of community sport from across Australia, broadcasting up to 10,000 matches each year and strengthening its position as a leading grassroots sports streaming platform. Sideline Sport already manages successful competition platforms like NSW Rugby, Netball NSW TV and Basketball Victoria TV.

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) will host the Future of Sport Conference 2026, a one day industry forum exploring how technology, data, smart venues, and commercial innovation are shaping global sport in the lead up to Brisbane 2032. Speakers will include Matt Pasco (Las Vegas Raiders), Brenda Suh (SoFi Stadium & Hollywood Park), Travis Auld (Australian Grand Prix Corporation), Manny Spanoudakis (PMY Group), Stuart Morgan (Champion Data) and Ben Shields (MIT Sloan School of Management). The Conference is on 27th March. ASTN Members receive 20% discount on tickets. 

In a move meant to bolster the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled digital health products, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has updated two guidances to ease its oversight of general wellness devices and clinical decision support (CDS) software. The agency said that the changes will provide product developers with more flexibility and predictability in bringing products to market, while ensuring that medical-grade products continue to be regulated.

Defence, aviation, apparel, fitness, healthcare. On the surface, these industries appear to share little in common. Yet each now falls within the expanding remit of Bodd, the Melbourne-based start-up unlocking human body data at scale. In under 90 seconds, the Bodd scanner generates a detailed profile of its user, recording a suite of physical measurements such as body composition and shape, as well as health metrics including blood pressure and heart rate. In December, Bodd raised $AUD 15 million in an oversubscribed funding round, valuing the company at $AUD 110 million. 

FIFA has extended and expanded its integrity services agreement with Sportradar, a leading global sports technology company creating immersive experiences for sports fans and bettors, for an additional five years, reinforcing a long-term partnership dedicated to safeguarding the integrity of football worldwide. The renewed agreement, which runs through 2031, provides comprehensive AI-driven bet-monitoring services and now includes expanded intelligence and investigation support and dedicated risk assessment services for both FIFA and its 211 member associations.

Sports betting and technology leader Genius Sports' annual revenue for 2025 hit $US 669.5 million, up 31% for the year. The business is expected to continue to grow strongly in 2026, with revenues expected to hit over $US 800 million. Upon completion of the acquisition of Legend, Genius expects to further strengthen their position at the intersection of official data, fan identity, and real-time content.

WHOOP, the wearable human performance company, has announced plans to add more than 600 new roles across software, research & design, hardware, product, and marketing as the company continues to scale globally. The majority of new roles will be based at the company’s iconic Boston headquarters in the heart of Kenmore Square, with additional hiring across North America, Europe, the GCC, and Asia.

ASTN has opened expressions-of-interest for the 17th cohort of the Accelerator Program. Queensland and Western Australian-based startups will have priority access to the program, thanks to support from Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) in Queensland and Meshpoints in Western Australia. Selected startups will receive approximately 20 hours guidance from a pool of experienced mentors, as well as dedicated workshops on themed topics including business story-telling, investment pitching, international markets and sports systems. Applications close 16th March. 

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, have launched two pioneering guidelines to help everyone involved in sport – from grassroots to high performance – use artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly and effectively. The first is a world-leading Guide for Responsible AI in Sport which outlines how to use AI safely and ethically, drawing on international best practices. The second is a Roadmap for AI in Australian Sport which sets out a clear national strategy on how the sector can work together to harness AI’s potential. 

Novig, the fastest growing sports trading platform in America, has announced the close of a $US 75 million Series B round of funding. The investment follows a period of growth for the platform, which reported a 10x increase in trading volume during 2025. Novig's annualized trading volume currently exceeds $US 4 billion. Although sports account for the majority of activity on most prediction market platforms, those products are not built with sports traders in mind. Novig, by contrast, is built for sports fans, delivering a fair, transparent, and commission-free trading experience. 

ASTN Member companies Cellr, Myriad Studios, SportsAI, SWAARM and LSKD are amongst the many exhibitors in the leadup to the NRL Games at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Saturday, 28 February. In addition, NRL hosted player signing sessions as part of Ozfest, prize draws and ASTN and its member companies participated in the sports innovation and tech showcase.

Zenniz, one of the world's leading provider of smart tennis court solutions, has completed a new $US 6 million funding round. The raise will accelerate Zenniz’s ongoing global growth. With systems already in operation on 4 continents and in over 25 countries, the Finland-based company is now establishing its North American Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. In June 2025, Zenniz also became one of the first vendors in the world to be certified by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for line calling in international tournament play for club-level systems.

World leaders in sport will again descend on Victoria this year as the nation’s pre-eminent sport business gathering SportNXT Melbourne returns. The three-day summit will be held 7-9 September in the build up to a blockbuster Australian first, the NFL regular season match at the MCG between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Franciso 49ers. The state’s packed calendar of events generates around $AUD 3.3 billion a year for the state’s economy thanks to events like the Australian Open, Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, and AFL Grand Final.

Australian sports broadcasting innovator Layerckae has been shortlisted in two categories at STA Smarter Sports Awards for 2026. Layercake, with their solution, Streamcake, has been shortlisted in the Smarter Sports Broadcast and Production category and the Smarter Innovation of the Year category. The awards attract entries from 30+ countries. Winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony in May. 

Australian video-based swimming timing system Olly Timing, is embarking on international expansion including the UK. Olly Timing will be demonstrating at the Swim England Summit on 19th March. Olly supports organisers, officials and operators to strengthen operational resilience, manage volunteer workload and enhance the overall competition experience.

Tradable Bits, a leading provider of fan engagement, data, and marketing solutions, has announced the appointment of Mike Morris as General Manager, Asia-Pacific (APAC). Based in Melbourne, Morris will lead Tradable Bits' APAC operations and growth strategy. He will work closely with league, team, and entertainment partners to help them acquire, unify, and activate first-party and zero-party fan data to drive deeper engagement and measurable commercial outcomes.

Twinlabs.ai and myFitApp have announced a partnership that combines myFitApp’s digital member experience with TwinLabs’ AI capabilities. The collaboration is focused on helping fitness operators better understand their data, move faster, and make smarter decisions, all without adding complexity. The solution positively impacts class utilisation, staffing efficiency, and member satisfaction.

The Premier League is launching a Netflix-style direct-to-customer streaming platform from next season, chief executive Richard Masters. Premier League Plus will be launched initially in Singapore and, if successful, could be replicated all around the world. The new platform could eventually transform the way fans consume the most popular league in the world, which says it has a global audience of 1.87 billion people and is watched in 189 countries.

ASTN is strengthening sportstech ties between Australia and New Zealand through a new collaboration with the team behind the Grit Works Queenstown Cycling Hardware Accelerator. Designed for early-stage cycling and outdoor hardware founders, the programme supports innovators to move from concept and prototype through to manufacturing-ready, globally deployable products. Founders will also gain exposure to ASTN’s broader sportstech ecosystem across Australia - expanding networks, expertise and commercial pathways. The 11-week accelerator kicks off on 27 April and is now open for applications.

BatFast, the global sports simulation technology company, has announced the appointment of former Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. The appointment marks a pivotal moment for BatFast as it accelerates international expansion of its AI-powered sports simulation platform, which integrates advanced robotics, computer vision ball tracking, machine learning analytics, and immersive gamification to deliver world-class training, entertainment, and fan engagement experiences.

Transact + CBORD, an award-winning leader in innovative campus technology, have announced a new agreement with leading global sports and entertainment point-of-sale (POS) provider MyVenue, which will change the game for campus commerce across collegiate sporting and special events. The partnership allows students to use stored-value campus funds for concessions purchases inside stadiums, arenas, and hospitality venues.

The PGA TOUR and PAM, the world-leading smart navigation platform specializing in digital interactive mapping and signage, announced a new strategic investment and multi-year marketing partnership designating PAM as the Official Smart Map and the Official Smart Map Technology of the PGA TOUR. PAM will use multiple digital touch points, including maps, phones, websites and digital signage to elevate the onsite fan experience and increase efficiency with operational aspects including routing, ridesharing and security. It will also allow for a more effective on-site workforce management system with tournament vendors and volunteers.

The AFL and Telstra have announced a two-year partnership with Champion Data to trial cutting-edge Optical Tracking Technology at Marvel Stadium, representing a significant advancement in football technology and innovation. A program that is set to pioneer the way AFL stadiums could look in the future, the trial will see more than 40 cameras installed at Marvel Stadium, creating a sophisticated data capture system designed to transform multiple aspects of the game.

Emma Thomson, Founder of Pitch It up, has been announced as a recipient of a 2026 Brisbane Lord Mayor's Women in Business Grant. Pitch It up have developed a unique light-weight balls are safe for players and students of all ages, including All Abilities participants with neurodiverse and physical disabilities. The Pitch It Up training aid that can be adapted to suit every player's individual skill level, and can be safely used at home, in the park, at the cricket nets, in schools and in clubs. Pitch It Up are expanding their portfolio to include an audible ball allowing vision-impaired students and players to train safely at home.

The peak governing body of university sport in Australia, UniSport, has announced a new partnership with Assemble Sports, to introduce a smarter, more connected sports management platform designed to make event registrations faster and easier for students and member universities. The mobile-friendly system streamlines registrations across multiple sports and formats, improves access to real-time event information such as fixtures, schedules and results, and reduces administrative complexity.

Active Education Australia and the Sports Excellence Scholarship Fund (SESF) have announced a national collaboration, united by a shared commitment to supporting active, healthy lives for young people across Australia. This partnership champions access, opportunity, and equity in sport, health, and physical activity for young people. By sharing networks, platforms, and communication channels, the partnership aims to amplify impact and create clearer pathways for young people to stay engaged in sport and physical activity.

Zena Sport has announced an exclusive partnership with Rebel Sport, Australia’s leading sports retailer, with Zena Sport's female protection impact product now available nationwide. Zena Sport was founded to address an issue that for too long female athletes were told to ignore: direct chest and breast impacts. Rebel Sport’s decision to back Zena Sport nationwide as their exclusive female chest, breast, and rib protection brand signals meaningful progress.

LX Health is strengthening its SportsTech focus for 2026 through a partnership with the National Rugby League (NRL), reinforcing the LuminaX HealthTech Accelerator’s commitment to technologies operating at the intersection of health, performance, and elite sport. For the 2026 cohort, LuminaX will continue supporting startups across injury prevention, concussion and brain health, recovery and rehabilitation, performance analytics, wearable technology, digital health platforms, and athlete wellbeing. 

PlayHQ, a global leader in competition management platforms, and Rugby Canada have announced a strategic partnership set to modernize registration infrastructure and unlock player development insights across Canadian rugby. The partnership provides Rugby Canada and provincial organizations an integrated platform that will consolidate provincial operations into one unified view, giving administrators the tools to manage registrations, compliance, competitions, and communications from a single interface.

SportIQ, a company that develops smart basketballs and in-app shooting coaching technology, has raised a total of $US 6.2 million in a Series A funding. The company develops connected sports balls that combine sensors, analytics, and AI to support performance tracking. Its sensor system and analytics app, which are covered by multiple patents, are used in the Spalding TF DNA basketball. The system uses a sensor embedded in the ball’s valve to track shooting performance, collecting data such as shooting position, power, angle, and technique. 

Melbourne-based AI sports tracking platform Superstat has officially been announced as one of 19 startups in the Startmate Accelerator program (Summer 2026). Startmate has invested $AUD 2.28 million in the cohort, giving each startup $120,000 for a 7% stake. Superstat delivers automated stats and actionable insights, not just numbers, helping teams strengthen what works, fix what doesn’t and giving clubs an unfair, game winning advantage.

It has been announced that a “Standard for a Common Exchange Format for Match-Data in Football (Soccer)” will be developed through the IEEE Standards Association. This standard establishes a uniform and standardized format for providing digital data arising from football (soccer) matches. The standard includes data from the following sources: match sheet data, video data, event data, tracking data, match meta data, and player physical data. Usage of this data includes performance analysis, fan engagement, medical analysis, wagering, and coaching. The Working Group will be led by sports data and standards experts including Jesse Davis, Joris Bekkers and Sam Robertson.

The Groundbreakers Challenge is a global open‑innovation call designed to connect the most promising sport‑tech startups with real industry challenges from leading sports organizations. In this edition, through GSIC’s proven methodology and PEAK Conference’s world‑class stage, selected startups gain the opportunity to pitch live in Las Vegas, engage directly with decision‑makers, and unlock potential pilot collaborations that can accelerate their impact worldwide. Deployable products and solutions across fan engagement, media tech and sponsorship, venue management and athlete performance. Applications close 15 March.

Basketball Australia has unveiled its revolutionary Coach Development Framework this week, establishing flexible coaching pathways designed to support basketball mentors nationwide from grassroots to elite levels. The Framework blends online modules, face-to-face sessions, practical experience, and self-directed learning, providing coaching education to suit any location or schedule. Basketball Australia has partnered with etrainu and their online education platform as well as Coach Logic where coaches receive feedback and actionable advice on their development.

The Juventus Football Club has launched an open innovation program called Juventus Forward. The initiative represents the heart of Juventus’ open innovation, a strategic bridge between the club, start-ups, partners, talents and a community working on sport, technology and applied innovation. As part of the program CDP Venture Capital will relocate its Accelerator dedicated to the Sportech and Wellness vertical from Rome to Turin, making the Allianz Stadium a new national hub for sports start-ups and business acceleration. Whilst The Players Fund will support Juventus as a strategic partner of the Innovation team, bringing an international perspective, benchmarks and expertise through global scouting activities.

The Australian Sports Technologies Network (ASTN), announced new agreements with the Queensland Government’s Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) and the Department of Sport, Racing and Olympic and Paralympic Games (DSROPG), to deliver a program of work aimed at strengthening Queensland’s sportstech and sports innovation ecosystem. The initiative aligns with Queensland’s broader innovation, economic development and legacy objectives as the State continues to build momentum toward the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and reinforces Queensland’s position as a nationally and internationally relevant hub for sports innovation.

Sports intelligence leader Twenty First Group (TFG), a company revolutionising sports through AI-powered analytics and data expertise will open their Asia-Pacific headquarters in Melbourne, driving growth in one of the world’s most exciting sports ecosystems. Known for elevating performances at the The Ryder Cup, Major League Soccer (MLS), and clubs like Arsenal Football Club and AC Milan, TFG sees Victoria’s unique blend of sports passion and top technology talent as the perfect foundation for success.

As the Official Games Systems and Results Supplier, Kronos has delivered a digital ecosystem to the Local Organising Committee of the Open Masters Games (Abu Dhabi), enhancing the overall digitalisation of the Games experience. From registration and accreditation to timing, scoring, and secure results dissemination, the Kronos systems have supported athletes, officials, and other stakeholders through the Games.

The NFL and StatusPRO, a sports entertainment and technology company that combines AI and performance data with emerging technology to create experiential content, has announced an expansion of their partnership, granting StatusPRO new rights that enable the company to build a device-agnostic training product. The newly secured rights align with StatusPRO’s vision of building a unified platform spanning training and gaming. Powered by AI and telemetry data from sports leagues, the platform delivers simulated content that enables fans, athletes and coaches to play, watch and learn the game, deepening engagement across the sports ecosystem.

Polytan has delivered Torquay’s new state-of-the-art hockey pitch at Banyul-Warri Fields, marking a major milestone for hockey on Victoria’s Surf Coast. The facility features Polytan’s elite Poligras Platinum World Cup synthetic hockey surface, made from 20% bio-based materials. This is the first dry, non-sand dressed hockey pitch in Victoria, and the first in Australia certified to the new FIH Innovation Category, delivering elite wet-field performance without the need for water.

Leading volunteer management platform, Rosterfy, recently delivered in its 10th year of a partnership with the Super Bowl. In this time Rosterfy’s has delivered end-to-end volunteer management technology has helped host cities and organising committees recruit, screen, train and schedule thousands of volunteers, creating seamless experiences for both organisers and volunteers alike. 

Video production company, Sideline Sport, has partnered with Basketball Victoria to officially launch their Remote Production Model at the Junior Country Championships over the weekend. Production was fully remote-controlled, over 100 games across four courts captured simultaneously, with live action captured and managed by operators located in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane.