Sportstech & Member News

Australian research-led education company SHUNT has launched a new eLearning platform that transforms its digital communications insights into practical learning resources for clubs, sporting organisations and commercial partners. At the heart of the platform is a dataset that monitors how Australian sport is using social media. Tracking more than 30,000 sporting organisation profiles, this provides a unique view of how clubs, leagues and governing bodies communicate, engage their communities and create commercial value.

Como 1907 and Como Ventures will launch Data on the Lake this July, a two-day AI hackathon created in collaboration with Google DeepMind, bringing some of the brightest technical minds in sport, data and machine learning to Como. the event will invite data scientists, machine learning engineers, developers and sports technology professionals to work with real football challenges and explore how frontier AI can shape the next generation of club decision-making.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has officially appointed INTIX as its exclusive ticketing partner on a long-term agreement, as a critical piece of the organisation’s digital transformation strategy. CWI manages a unique confederation of 15 Caribbean nation-states with a singular vision: to make West Indies cricket the heartbeat of the Caribbean. A core pillar of the partnership is unlocking the ability for CWI to collect and utilise valuable fan data. Through the INTIX platform, CWI can interpret fan behaviour from ticket purchasing patterns to stadium usage across each of the venues the West Indies plays at. 

The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) has secured a record-breaking $AUD 5.3 billion media rights agreement with Foxtel Group, Nine and Sky NZ, establishing the largest broadcast and media partnership in Australian sporting history. The seven-year agreement from 2028 delivers a substantial increase in annual revenue to the game, returns control of competition scheduling and structure to the ARLC, expands access for fans across key markets and creates new opportunities for growth in Australia, New Zealand and internationally.

The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) announced the closing of a $US 100 million Series E investment round, representing the largest capital raise in the history of professional lacrosse. Proceeds from the financing will be directed across four priorities: expanding media distribution and original storytelling; growing sponsorship and commercial partnerships; deepening investment in the Women's Lacrosse League; and broadening access to youth lacrosse to make the game more affordable and available. The investment is designed to accelerate the league's growth ahead of lacrosse's return to the Olympic stage at LA28.

Victorian sports technology company HITIQ is expanding its advanced manufacturing facility in South Melbourne, strengthening local capability in product development, manufacturing and research and development as it scales its globally recognised concussion technology. Over the past decade, HITIQ has invested more than $30 million in research and development to bring the technology to market. Its products have been developed with and used by major sporting organisations including the AFL, AFLW, NRL and the English Premier League.

Hudl, a global leader in sports performance analysis and scouting, and FIBA, the International Basketball Federation, renew their long-term rights agreement partnership. The multi-year deal covers the Men's and Women's World Cup and Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, and spans every level of the game - from continental and youth championships to club competitions and qualifying campaigns across five global regions. Both data and video from these competitions will be made available via Hudl Instat.

Marvel Stadium is excited to officially unveil Marvel Stadium 365, a new attractions hub. Developed in partnership with global experience leaders and agencies including Imagineear, FutureLabs, and District Agency, Marvel Stadium 365 Tours will elevate the traditional stadium tour utilising cutting edge technology including through AI driven moments.

Comcast said that it plans to spin off NBCUniversal into a separate publicly traded company, the latest shift in an industry grappling with rapid technological change and new consumer habits. The independent NBCUniversal will include the Universal Pictures film studio, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, NBC News, the streaming service Peacock, the cable channel Bravo, a lucrative theme parks division and Sky. Comcast will focus on providing broadband, cable and wireless services to business and residential customers. 

The NUAXION team won the Outstanding Poster Award at the 2026 EdMedia + Innovate Learning Conference held at the University of Edinburgh. Led by founder and startup entrepreneur Ann Stevens, the NUAXION team was recognized for their presentations and research on WEAVR-AI, a breakthrough framework for Extended Reality (XR) training development.

Under the Dubai Sports Sector Strategic Plan 2033, the emirate aims to increase the sports sector’s contribution to gross domestic product from $US 2.77 billion annually to $US 5 billion by 2033, representing an increase of approximately 80 percent compared with current levels. The strategy also seeks to increase attendance at major sporting events from 1.67 million people annually to more than 4.1 million, while raising the number of major sporting events by up to 250 percent over the coming years. The growth is expected to be driven by sports tourism, broadcasting rights, commercial sponsorship, sports content creation and the digital economy linked to sport.

As part of the the 2026 World Cup FIFA are delivering a portfolio of existing and emerging technologies to enhance the overall quality of football on and off the pitch. These technologies include Football AI Pro, Semi-automated offside technology, Referee View, Video assistant referee system, Out-of-bounds technology, Connected ball technology, Goal-line technology and Football video support. 

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is taking its innovation incubator, Launchpad, global with a significant expansion into Asia. This multiyear commitment aims to discover and integrate cutting-edge technologies from the continent's burgeoning tech scene into the world of basketball. Launchpad, currently in its fifth cycle, connects promising early-stage companies with NBA properties for pilot programs, attracting hundreds of applicants for a limited number of slots each year.

Special Olympics International has officially finalised a technology consulting agreement with global venue and major events technical firm PMY Group. The partnership installs PMY as the primary specialist advisory partner to deliver comprehensive games technology consulting services as the international governing body prepares for the 2027 Special Olympics World Games in Santiago, Chile.

AI-driven sports media and sports tech’s Sportway Media Group has raised €20 million, valuing the company at approximately €92 million. The financing was led by Gamma Waves alongside continued participation from existing shareholders. Founded in 2017 Sportway’s platform and managed service enable sports federations, leagues, clubs and media companies to professionally produce, distribute and monetise live sports content at scale. The company has deployed approximately 2,500 AI-powered camera systems across 21 countries, producing more than 250,000 live sporting events each year. 

The Queensland Government has announced what it describes as the largest upgrade to Suncorp Stadium in the venue’s 23 year history, with the headline addition an Australian-first wraparound LED video ribbon suspended from the roof and external media mesh facade screens described as the size of two tennis courts. The headline architectural move is a 360 degree wraparound LED ribbon board that runs the full perimeter of the seating bowl, replacing the existing fixed signage panels. The ribbon is paired with new supersized scoreboards at both ends of the ground. 

The 146th IOC Session may have approved one of the most important governance reforms in the recent history of the Olympic Movement. Much of the attention has focused on the decision to evaluate individual disciplines, and not only entire sports, when determining future Olympic programmes from Brisbane 2032 onwards, but the deeper change goes further. The reform removes from the Olympic Charter the list of International Federations -IFs- recognised within the Olympic programme and grants the IOC greater flexibility in managing it. 

The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) has partnered with Australian-owned construction group Built to support The Park – the Australian Sports Commission’s innovation hub designed to connect cutting-edge technology with the real-world needs of Australian sport. Through The Park, the AIS and Built will work alongside industry and sport partners to co-design, test and scale solutions that can deliver lasting value – from improved performance outcomes to greater efficiency and sustainability across the sector. 

Australian healthtech Everlab has raised $A 65 million in Series A funding. The oversubscribed round was led by Airtree Ventures (AU), with participation from global investors including Plural (EU) and existing investors Left Lane Capital (US) and b2venture (EU), alongside angel investors including Australian Test captain Pat Cummins. Founded in Melbourne in 2023, Everlab has completed 40,000+ consultations supporting 20,000 individual patients and major corporate partners. Having processed over 21 million biomarker test results, more than 25% of members have had findings flagged that have not been identified through the existing healthcare system.

3D Measure Me has announced a partnership with FITREC which will help fitness professionals track and visualise client progress using a smartphone. FITREC is dedicated to elevating the fitness profession by supporting trainers, coaches, instructors, and exercise professionals throughout their careers. 3D Measure Me is a smartphone-based body measurement platform that enables fitness professionals and their clients to accurately track body composition and physical changes through advanced image analysis technology.

The Queensland Government has secured another major event for Queensland, with a blockbuster Brazil match to mark the Socceroos World Cup homecoming.  Football powerhouse Brazil will play two matches in Brisbane and Townsville, with local club engagement programs, in a major boost for regional tourism. The Government’s plan to become Australia’s events capital is gathering momentum, with the blockbuster international fixture secured as part of its Destination 2045 tourism plan.

Sony Pictures Entertainment has announced its $US 100 million strategic investment in Cosm, a global technology, media, and entertainment company that is redefining the way the world experiences content through its venues and shared reality technology – an immersive experience that bridges the virtual and physical worlds. This investment advances SPE’s focus on experiential entertainment, fandom and technology.

ASTN has once again represented Australia’s sports technology ecosystem in Taiwan through a long-standing partnership with the IAPS NYCU Accelerator. With a record-breaking 87 applications from 27 countries, competition was stronger than ever. Three ASTN member companies have been selected for the final accelerator cohort, highlighting the quality and global competitiveness of Australian sportstech innovation. This includes Minimis, SportsBox and Aircast. ASTN COO Amy Crosland joined international industry leaders in Taipei for the ASPN Sports Tech Accelerator Batch 3 Kickoff Bootcamp.

The Japan Australia Sports & Health Innovation Exchange (JASHIE) has opened expressions-of-interest to join their 2026 Delegation from 9–13 November 2026. The five-day program will take participants to Tokyo, Osaka and Awaji Island, connecting Australian organisations with leading Japanese innovators across sport, health, technology and beyond. The Delegation gives provides access to industry leaders, curated networking, and business matching opportunities - building partnerships ahead of Brisbane 2032. The Delegation is supported by Trade & Investment Queensland, NTT Data, Mizuno, Nakanoshima Qross and JA Network.

PMY Group will be supporting the New York Mets as they map fan movement and behavior across Citi Field and its surrounding precinct. With a multi-billion-dollar transformation taking shape around the Ballpark, understanding how fans navigate the venue and broader area has never been more critical. PMY's real-time intelligence platform, Optic, will guide the Mets with visibility into fan flow, mode share, communication effectiveness, and arrival and departure patterns across every event at the Ballpark.

SportIQ, a provider of smart basketballs and in-app shooting coaching, launched a new Spalding Smart Basketball built on Spalding’s TF-1000 indoor game ball platform. The new ball combines the feel and performance of the TF-1000 with SportIQ’s patented embedded sensor technology. Through a connected mobile app, players get real-time shooting analytics as well as AI-powered coaching without changing how the game is played. The TF-1000 platform is already used in approximately 40% of competitive basketball games in the United States.

According to Drake Star's Q1 2026 Report a total of $US 130 billion sportstech-related deals were complete across 239 transactions in the first 3 months of 2026. This included $US115 billion in mergers and acquisitions, $US 2.9 billion in private financing and $US 4 billion-plus in new sports-focused fund formation. The themes shaping the next wave of activity include prediction markets, wearables & performance tech, youth sports infrastructure, and next-gen fan engagement formats.  

ASTN members TidyHQ, Clubland, Coachbetter, SportsCloud Australia and Spawtz will be part of the ' Transforming Sport Through Technology' stream at the 2026 National Sports Convention (NSC). Focused on “The Next Generation”, the stream will explore how technology, AI and digital innovation are rapidly reshaping sport, from participation and fan engagement through to performance, facility planning, governance and commercial growth.

Independent integrated marketing and communications agency Bastion has partnered with digital risk and online reputation management platform Social Protect to launch a new solution designed to make creator-led marketing safer, more sustainable and more effective for brands and talent alike. The new partnership responds to growing industry concerns around brand safety, toxic comment environments, reputational risk and creator burnout as investment in influencer and creator marketing continues to surge.

ASTN member CoachMate presented in front of the National Football Associations of Europe at the UEFA Champions Innovate showcase in Hungary, in the lead-up to the Champions League final recently. Throughout the 2025/26 season, UEFA, the Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ), UEFA grassroots partner EA SPORTS FC and four start-up companies (including CoachMate) have worked together to enhance grassroots football environments across Hungary, with the shared goal of scaling successful initiatives across Europe.

FIFA, the world governing body of football, and DAZN, one of the world’s leading sports entertainment platform, have launched FIFA+ exclusively on DAZN, marking a significant new phase in their strategic partnership and a major step towards building the Global Home of Football. The move creates a single global destination for thousands of FIFA-related live events, archive content, and original programming. FIFA+ on DAZN will deliver around 8,500 live football events in selected territories annually.

The German Football Association (DFB) is acquiring a stake in Coachbetter and becoming a strategic shareholder. With this investment, the world's largest sports federation – with more than eight million members and over 24,000 clubs – is partnering with Coachbetter to expand the digital infrastructure for amateur football. Coachbetter is the leading platform for club and team management in football.

The Global Institute of Sport recently hosted a masterclass on Fan Engagement and Marketing, bringing together two industry leaders to tackle the field’s most pressing issues. The Global Institute of Sport (GIS), which offers a Master’s in Sports Business and Sports Analytics through the University of Newcastle, regularly holds masterclasses with industry leaders as part of its curriculum. The latest focused on fan engagement and marketing, covering two key themes: the growing tension between live sport and online streaming, and the role of data in shaping the fan experience.

HITIQ has executed a non-dilutive grant agreement with the Victorian Government, supporting the company’s continued expansion of advanced manufacturing, research and development, and global commercial growth from its Victorian headquarters. HITIQ has announced the formal execution of a Grant Agreement with the Victorian Government, marking an important step in the company’s strategy to scale its brain health technology platform from Victoria.

PlayerData has raised a $US 12 million Series A as it expands its product suite and pushes further into connected performance technology. The round was led by Pentland Ventures, Darco Capital and Bolt Ventures, with additional backing from Tennis Australia and Kevin Durant’s 35V. The company is using the funding to scale its hardware and software offer, which now spans wearable GPS performance tracking, automated camera systems and connected-ball technology developed with Mitre.

Coachbetter, a Switzerland-based sports technology company, has secured $US 8.2 million in pre-Series A funding. Coachbetter is a SaaS platform focused on modernizing the operational infrastructure of amateur and youth soccer clubs. The company will use the funding to expand its engineering and product teams, enhance platform functionality, strengthen collaborations with professional soccer organizations, and scale into new international markets and club structures. 

Sport Tech Hubs are architects of bespoke digital environments that drive measurable growth in sport and fitness. They use technology as a gateway to accessibility, inclusion, amazing experiences, injury prevention and high level coaching & performance. Sport Tech Hub have welcomed Hudl and Sports Performance Tracking as part of the ever growing suite of sporting technology that schools will be able to utilise in their sporting programs and facilities. This continues their mission to find the leaders in industry and allow teachers, coaches and student access to the best technology on offer.

The Darwin and Districts Cricket Competition has partnered with MyClubtap to launch a free fantasy cricket competition for the upcoming season, with separate leagues for the A-Grade Men's and Div-1 Women's competitions. The DDCC Fantasy competition is supported by RNS Australia, a premium cricket gear brand looking to expand its footprint in the Northern Territory.

Basketball New Zealand has re-signed with CoachMate, the sports education platform that transforms volunteer-led coaching and team management into insightful, easy, and fun experiences. The renewed partnership marks an exciting next step for both organisations as they continue working together to support coaches, volunteers, clubs, associations, schools, and communities across Aotearoa with practical digital tools and quality coaching resources.

The Australian Football League (AFL) and clubs have renewed and expanded their partnership with Tradable Bits, selecting the company's fan data platform to power digital fan engagement across both the AFL and AFLW. Following a competitive RFP process, Tradable Bits was selected to continue as the league's fan engagement partner, reinforcing a long-standing relationship that began in 2019.

Australian sports broadcasting solutions company, Layercake, has recently won the Pitch Perfect Innovation Contest at SPORTEL Singapore. The win validated two key things for Layercake - first, that the industry recognises the fragmentation problem across sports distribution, and second, that there’s real appetite for infrastructure that simplifies it. With a focus on Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), Layercake is witnessing a clear shift from rigid, long-term distribution models to more flexible, event-driven and audience-first strategies.

EngageRM has announced a new partnership with the Everett Silvertips, bringing their platform to one of North America’s leading junior hockey organisations. By bringing memberships, partnerships and fan engagement into one system, EngageRM are helping the Silvertips simplify day-to-day operations, unlock new commercial opportunities and strengthen the connection with their fanbase.

Queensland-based female protective wear company, Fempro Armour, has featured as part of News Corp's 'Back Australia' series. The campaign focuses on backing Australian companies that design and manufacturer in Australia. The campaign showcases Fempro Armour's work in creating female-specific cricket body armour. Fempro's upcoming Vanguard Cricket System has been developed specifically for female cricketers, combining impact protection with integrated apparel to improve comfort, stability, and confidence in play.

Aircast has been named the Grand Prize Winner of the 2026 Golfweek Tech Lab, recognised at the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club for innovation that is redefining how live sport is delivered to fans. The Golfweek Tech Lab brought together a curated field of the most forward-looking startups in the business of golf, evaluated by a panel of industry judges and event attendees across categories spanning broadcast, fan engagement, performance, and operations. The platform delivers live video at 0.3 second latency over shared and wireless networks. Fans can switch camera angles, pull up alternate feeds, and follow the action across a sprawling course in real time, without the lag that has defined "second-screen".

Sphere Abu Dhabi will open its doors on Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates at the end of 2029. Developed through a partnership between the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Sphere Entertainment Co., the project marks the first time a Sphere venue will be built outside the United States. The 20,000-capacity Sphere Abu Dhabi will host three categories of events: Sphere Experiences or proprietary immersive productions that feature multisensory storytelling; concert residencies; and brand events that include everything from combat sports and conferences to product launches.

ASTN Members InSquare, Minimis, SportsBox and Aircast have been selected for the first stage of the new ASPN Sports Tech Accelerator in Taiwan. Supported by the Ministry of Sports, this year's applications reached a record-breaking high, with 86 sport-tech startups from 27 countries joining us from Taiwan and around the world. 

Minister Dimopoulos has announced the first step towards LaunchVic and Breakthrough Victoria coming together to create Innovation Victoria. Since its establishment, LaunchVic has helped Victoria’s startup ecosystem grow nearly 20-fold. It’s now home to 4,400 startups valued at $AUD 139 billion. Breakthrough Victoria has committed $AUD 497 million across 91 investments, attracting $AUD 1.4 billion in co-investment, helping shape the state’s economic future. Innovation Victoria will provide the capability uplift, connections and capital pathways to accelerate the commercialisation from idea to growth, scale and global opportunity.

Professional Sports Authenticator’s parent company, Collectors, is investing $US 200 million into the authentication and grading giant to expand operations over the next 18 months. PSA will use the new funding to grow the company’s physical footprint, develop and deploy new technology and hire for 1,000 open and planned positions through 2026. The industry leader in trading card authentication by submission volume, PSA graded over 19 million cards in 2025 — more than 14 million ahead of its closest competitor.

TwinLabs.ai helped Total Fitness use AI-powered digital twin technology to analyse how members actually used gym spaces and equipment. The insights revealed stronger-than-expected demand for strength and functional training areas, leading Total Fitness to redesign layouts, optimise equipment allocation, and improve member experience. The success of the pilot has prompted a broader rollout across its gym network.

Genius Sports, a global leader in real-time sports data, announced it has completed its acquisition of Legend, a global, digital sports and gaming media network. With the acquisition of Legend, Genius Sports is uniquely positioned as the only company operating two synergistic businesses across official sports data and media and advertising.