Sportstech & Member News

According to reports, the NBA has agreed to terms on its new media deals, a record 11-years worth $76 billion.  A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press that the networks have the terms sheets, with the next step being for the league's board of governors to approve the contracts. The deals, which set NBA records for both length and total value, go into effect for the 2025-26 season. Games will continue being aired on ESPN and ABC, and now some will be going to NBC and Amazon Prime.

Sportradar and European Football governing body UEFA have announced a multi-year extension of their existing exclusive betting data rights agreement, expanded to include the non-exclusive right to distribute data to non-betting media. In total, Sportradar can now offer more than 900 high-profile matches each season. UEFA and Sportradar will also extend their long-standing integrity partnership of 15 years.

Leading international sports agency TGI Sport has announced an agreement to acquire Supponor. Supponor’s AIR technology and experienced AI tech developers further bolsters TGI Sport’s Virtual Tech offering, whilst Supponor’s commercial and R&D teams add to the business’ leadership in tech development. Since 2020, the NBA, MLB, Formula 1, Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga, MLS, dozens of regional sports networks, and several others have begun using virtual ads in live broadcasts. TGI Sport is backed by Bruin Capital and Quadrant Private Equity.

Ticketek Australia has announced the introduction of Apple Pay on the Ticketek.com.au platform. In confirming the development, Ticketek Australia becomes the first major ticketing company in the country to offer Apple Pay’s one-tap payment option to customers.

Flowstate and competition management platform Liveheats have launched a strategic partnership with the goal of bringing automated video capture to the world of live events, introducing new data points to the Flowstate AI technology and enhancing the competitor experience throughout the action sports industry. Under the partnership, event organizers would be able to utilise the Flowstate platform for AI-driven video capture, as well as automation in tagging and sorting of video clips according to the relevant round, heat, athlete, or score - driven by Liveheats’ event data. 

Gridiron Australia (GA), the governing body for Gridiron (American Football) and now Flag Football in Australia, recently transitioned to the Assemble Sports platform, positioning the sport for an exciting phase of growth. For the first time, the sport has united the Gridiron community under a national, cohesive platform that caters to both tackle and flag football formats.

LIGR Live has announced the continuation of its partnership with the Australia Football League (AFL). LIGR Live is the official graphics provider of the Coates Talent League Boys / Girls, Smithy's VFL and rebel VFLW competitions, transforming streaming and fan experience across 600 games in 2024 with cutting-edge broadcast technology. 

Pixellot announces its automated video solutions have received Software Approval from the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Equipment & Venue Centre. The approved products include Pixellot Prime, Pixellot Show S3, and Pixellot Air NXT, catering to fixed and mobile installations. Notably, these three Pixellot’s products are the first to receive Software approval for automated video solutions, marking a significant milestone for Pixellot’s basketball technology.

FIFA has enlisted UBS to raise up to $2 billion for the expansion of its streaming platform FIFA+, Bloomberg reports. The world governing body is working with Switzerland’s UBS Group AG to raise $1 to $2 billion for the streaming platform that FIFA launched to offer a wide range of matches from around the world, and which to date has predominantly broadcast games from smaller markets and smaller member associations. Bloomberg writes that FIFA and UBS will target financial investors for a minority stake in the platform in the US and the Middle East.

GEOSNAPSHOT has been chosen as the media platform for the Perfect Game 2024 National Showcase. Perfect Game is a titan in the sports world, with an impressive annual portfolio of over 10,000 events, 150,000 games and 1.4 million players. GEOSNAPSHOT's cutting-edge technology and media solutions will empower Perfect Game to enhance their event coverage, offering high-quality, easily accessible photos and videos to players, families, and fans, highlighting our commitment to supporting elite sporting events with innovative digital media services.

Soaring sports franchise values, plus the booming ecosystem of technology, betting, and media companies that has followed, has sparked private equity (and other professional managers of large pools of money) to invest in a sports industry increasingly on Wall Street’s radar. The impact of technology, a key factor for Private Equity (PE) firm investment, cannot be overstated. As sports modernized through tech and began to resemble the tech companies that PE was traditionally interested in, tech elevated their potential as a coveted asset class.

New concept designs have been released for a proposed AFL venue in Hobart, which is set to become the world’s largest timber-roofed stadium. The 23,000-seat Mac Point Multipurpose Stadium is being designed by Cox Architecture. The design has been informed by modelling cricket ball trajectory data to ensure the stadium is capable of hosting top-level cricket as well as AFL games.

Notre Dame has joined the Comcast NBCUniversal Sportstech Program as its first college partner. Notre Dame will help select the 10 companies that will participate in the Program, provide guidance to them during the six-month program and have an opportunity to see first-hand any technologies that the University could incorporate into its athletics department. The firms each receive $50,000 from Comcast and Boomtown, a company that operates the accelerator. Notre Dame joins NBC Sports; Sky Sports; Comcast Spectacor; NASCAR; Premier League; PGA Tour; U.S. Ski & Snowboard, USA Swimming; and USA Cycling as partners.

Special Olympics Australia and Playbk Sports have announced the upcoming release of a new eLearning course, “Delivering Physical Education (PE) for Students with Intellectual Disability and Autism”. This online innovative course is available now on the Inclusive Sport Academy, Special Olympics Australia’s Learning Management System. Targeted at PE and classroom teachers in both mainstream and special schools, this course aims to enhance the sport and physical education experiences for students with disabilities and autism.

XV is excited to announce a partnership with BrainEye where we will work to accelerate the uptake of BrainEye’s eye-tracking technology (measuring, tracking and managing brain health) in community and professional sport as well as in the education sector. The application of the technology will aid in maintenance and management of athletes health and wellbeing, as well as the administration of safe sport.

Brisbane Bullets have become Teamworks first NBL Elite Partner in the APAC region. With Hub, AMS and Influencer included in this package, the entire club will benefit from the Teamworks 'elite' partnership package. This will help streamline operations and administrative tasks, facilitate seamless monitoring and tracking of performance data to facilitate the personalisation of performance programmes, and, their marketing and wider commercial team will leverage Influencer to drive brand growth while maximising the new high performance centre and its capabilities for the club and fanbase. 

Chiliz, the sports and entertainment blockchain leader, is excited to announce a new integration with PUML Better Health, the gamified health, wellness, and sports platform. This collaboration aims to bring Move to Earn and Fan Health to the Chiliz community. PUML enables users to connect their wearable devices and claim their steps each day, rewarding members with PUML, its in-app game coin. This game coin can be redeemed monthly into the native token $PUMLx which can be exchanged for CHZ and Fan Tokens.

Veritone has announced a content licensing agreement with Tennis Australia, the governing body of tennis in Australia and host of the Australian Open. The agreement enables Veritone to license archive match footage from the Australian Open to content buyers in North America. Veritone’s customer base is in advertising, documentary, editorial, arts and entertainment who will now be able to curate, source and license tennis media through the Veritone platform.

Snapchat and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) have announced a two-year multi-region partnership that will see exclusive content shared on the social media platform. This includes a dedicated Olympics show featuring official highlights and behind-the-scenes content every day of the Games. There will also be a weekly Snapchat sports show called Beyond the Olympics, which will be localised for the France and UK, that showcases the best sporting content from WBD, including the biggest tennis, football and combat sports competitions.

MakerX, a leading digital product development firm, and Amerinda Advisory, a boutique strategy consulting firm, have announced a strategic partnership designed to drive the creation of innovative digital businesses and products. The alliance will combine Amerinda's deep advisory expertise with MakerX’s venture building, product design and software engineering expertise. This will empower corporates and startups to innovate and succeed, whether they are aiming for growth or navigating turnaround situations. 

F45 Training has become the first health and fitness operator to make its functional/HIIT group workouts available on Strava, the digital community with 125 million members. The integration between F45 Training’s LionHeart app and the Strava app allows members to automatically upload class type, average heart beats per minute, calories and location and can track their progress against others and themselves.

GameDay has solidified its partnership with etrainu, a premier provider of online education and compliance training. This strengthened alliance is set to bring about numerous benefits for both organisations and their clients. Technology users and sport administrators are increasingly turning to online learning to facilitate the implementation of large-scale software solutions. Recognising this trend, GameDay has formed a strategic partnership with etrainu to provide accessible in-house online learning resources. This collaboration ensures that any type of GameDay or Passport user can easily access educational content, significantly reducing the learning curve associated with new software.

For the 2024 season, Queensland Rugby League (QRL) – the governing body for rugby league in Queensland with nearly 500 clubs and over 20 leagues – will partner with Tidy Connect, the leading peak sports body solution by the Australian-based TidyHQ, to optimise its sports administration. 

Euroleague Basketball (EB) is joining forces with WSC Sports, the pioneer in AI-powered sports content technology, to provide digital creators with access to fully-licensed footage of its elite competitions. The continent’s two premier men’s basketball competitions, the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the BKT EuroCup, will make available fully licensed footage through the WSC Sports For Creators Program, collaborating directly with creators to increase the online brand presence and engagement, while helping to reach new audiences outside of the existing fan base.

Sports technology company Feldspar is working on creating the 'world’s first sensor-enabled running track’. Feldspar, a UK-based sports technology company, say their work is well underway to create a smart running surface which will help athletes train by feeding them AI-driven real-time data in addition to giving fans the kind of insights and analytics that have never been available before.

The Australian Sports Technologies Network (ASTN) has today announced the extension of its support from the Western Australia Government to develop and promote the WA sportstech and innovation industry in Western Australia. The arrangement includes a follow-on grant for a second year under the X-TEND WA Program, following a successful first year, during which ASTN delivered many tailored programs and activities to help grow the State’s sportstech ecosystem.

RCKT Co, a leader in sports marketing, content production, talent management, and social media, and Greenroom Digital, a specialist sports digital marketing agency, have announced a new strategic partnership focused on the Australian market. The partnership will leverage RCKT Co’s deep industry expertise in sports marketing, creative and production alongside Greenroom Digital’s cutting-edge digital, tech and data activation capabilities.

Linius Technologies has announce that the deployment of its sports solution, Whizzard, is now live with its customer Lone Star Conference (LSC). LSC, Linius’ second customer in the US college sports market, signed a 3-year agreement in April 2024 covering football and basketball. LSC will use Whizzard to curate highlights and for automated highlights of all games. 

Australian compression apparel company Cape Bionics will receive non-dilutive funding through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) as part of ANDHealth+, Australia's leading health accelerator. A total of $AUD 3.75M from the Australian Government’s MRFF will be invested into six high-growth potential digital health companies over the next 16 months, via a two-stage investment process, which include Cape Bionics. ANDHealth+ is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care MRFF Early Stage Translation & Commercialisation Support Program.

Fremantle and Melbourne are among the first AFL clubs to have joined forces with analytics company Traits Insights as clubs look to power ahead by gaining an advantage with how they use data and new technologies. Traits is a player profiling platform used towards talent identification by recruiting and list management teams, as well as by coaching staffs to develop players already at clubs.

Dribl from Australia and Koach Hub from Singapore are combining their strengths to bring the best in football administration, league management, player data, and fan engagement. The partnership officially kicked off at the Laos Football Federation's Youth League which is under the FIFA talent development scheme.

Leaders of CrossFit, Sweetgreen, Thrive Market, Athletic Greens, Momentous, Pendulum, Plunge and dozens of other health and wellness companies are joining together to an advocacy group to share stories of how Americans are using healthy food, exercise and other root cause actions to reverse chronic conditions. The key message of End Chronic Disease is simple: Americans are entitled to choice in where their healthcare dollars go – and that choice should include medically incentivized food and exercise interventions.

The ATP has announced the approval of in-competition wearable devices for players across the ATP Tour and ATP Challenger Tour, starting from 15 July. The initiative ushers in a new era of innovative data-led performance analytics and injury prevention in tennis. Wearable devices will generate cutting-edge insights for players from physical metrics such as heart rate and high-intensity load data, enhancing their analysis of matches and training sessions. ATP has approved both STATSports and Catapult devices and will centralise all data into ATP Tennis IQ – Wearables, an intuitive new dashboard for players.

Longevity-centered health platform, Function Health, has secured $53 million in a Series A funding round that attracted a slew of celebrities and wellness experts. The health platform, co-founded by Dr. Mark Hyman, offers 100-plus lab tests across all areas including heart, thyroid, hormones, brain, cancers and fertility (five times more than the average physical, according to Function) and provides detailed and actionable insights from doctors for $US499 per year, or $US42 per month. Results are stored so members can spot health trends over time and easily share the results with doctors. 

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) has thanked the Australian Government for their record $283 million investment in sport over the next two years which lays the foundation for sustainable success in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond. The $283 million investment will support athletes, coaches, and support staff over the first two years of the four-year cycle to the LA 2028 Games and includes the biggest ever Paralympic spend to address systemic and structural barriers to performance for para athletes. Together, total investment in high performance sport will be $489 million over the next two years.

Garmin Health, a leading provider of digital health solutions that leverage the data and insights of the Garmin (NYSE: GRMN) product ecosystem, today announced the 7 finalists for the 2024 Garmin Health Awards. The annual event celebrates the world’s most innovative solutions that successfully combine the power of Garmin wearable technology within health and wellness programs to create long-term benefits. This year’s finalists will present their solution in person at the 2024 Garmin Health Summit, which is set for September 24-25 in Prague. The finalists include two Australian companies - G2go in the Human Performance category and Metluma in the Women's Health category.

Next Level Racing and The Boeing Company have launched the Next Level Racing Flight Seat Pro Boeing Military Edition. The new Flight Seat Pro Boeing Military Edition is the newest addition to the Official Boeing Licensed range of flight products alongside the Boeing Commercial Edition and Boeing Military Edition Flight Simulator cockpits.

Pimax has announced an official Virtual Reality partnership with Next Level Racing®, with the two leading brands in racing and flight simulation immersion collaborating on live event experiences. VR headsets now allow enthusiasts to experience racing and flying as if they were truly behind the wheel of a GT3 race car, or in the cockpit of a Boeing 747. The partnership will focus on live events activations and exhibitions around the world, whilst creating exciting VR content for simulation enthusiasts. 

Nix Biosensors, the leading provider of cutting-edge hydration monitoring technology, has announced the launch of their groundbreaking app, Nix Pro. Building on the success of their individual athlete-focused app, Nix Solo, Nix Pro is designed for group hydration monitoring of sports teams, labor groups, and tactical organizations dedicated to increasing safety and improving performance among their respective groups.

Healthcare practitioners across Australia will now be able to increase their knowledge about the assessment, management, and treatment of sports related concussions, thanks to a new, free online course launched by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). The Concussion in Sport for Healthcare Practitioners online course runs for 120 minutes and is available through the Australian Sports Commission Learning Centre. The course is available to all Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) registered healthcare practitioners.

Euroleague Basketball has announced the completion of the selection process for the 2024 Euroleague Basketball FanXP, a pioneering initiative in partnership with SPORTBIZ EUROPE. The Euroleague Basketball FanXP competition focuses on enhancing various aspects of the basketball experience, including Content Creation, Fan Engagement, Fantasy Sports, Gameday Experience, Digital Solutions, Venue Management, and New Businesses. Over the next five months, startups will strive to align with these criteria and showcase their expertise. A total of 16 candidates have been selected from 12 countries.

VueMotion CEO Ryan Talbot has arrived in Austin, TX! Together with his wife Steph, Ryan has relocated from Sydney to Austin to continue growing VueMotion's customer base in the great USA. Ryan has joined the Capital Factory and is excited to work out of this impressive startup co-working facility. Ryan said "I've been thrilled by the warm welcome I've received from everyone I've met at the Capital Factory. Being located in the USA is an incredible opportunity to introduce more athletes and coaches to VueMotion's human movement analysis platform. I'm very happy to be in closer timezone as many of our valued customers and partners!"

The Wollemi Capital Group Syndicate (WCGS), and the National Basketball League (NBL), have formed a consortium to acquire a majority interest in the WNBL following the completion of the 2024/25 season. Basketball Australia will maintain a minority interest in the League. Under the new ownership structure, the consortium will take control of the league, with the NBL to operate the WNBL, from April 2, 2025.

SLOCOACH has partnered with Netball NSW to develop The Resource Centre. The platform is an online hub that provides access to the latest training content, courses, and live sessions allowing a space that coaches, umpires and athletes can continue to learn and grow no matter where they live. Within the platform there are various interactive session hubs that enables participants to be able to listen and learn from Netball NSWs most experienced coaches and umpire coaches. 

TMRW Sports, which is focused on building progressive approaches in sports, media, and entertainment, has announced the closure of its Series A investment round. The round was co-led by Dynasty Equity. TMRW Sports was founded by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Mike McCarley. TMRW Sports’ first project is TGL presented by SoFi, a new team golf league that fuses advanced tech and live action with six teams of PGA TOUR superstars and will launch in January.

The NCAA x Meta have announced a new 'NIL Empower Program', a collaboration that will help women maximize their name, image and likeness endeavors throughout their time as college athletes. Participants will have the opportunity to form direct relationships with Meta experts, who will provide product and business best practices. The program will include education on building a community, using social media safety resources and preparing for the future. Corporate partner Invesco QQQ will assist the NCAA in building a financial literacy and career development session.

Helmet House has announced a partnership with Quad Lock as its exclusive U.S. powersports distributor, a collaboration marking a significant milestone in Quad Lock's North American expansion. Quad Lock is renowned for their market-leading smartphone mounts, cases, and accessories designed for motorcycles, cars, cycling, running, and everyday use. This deal will enhance Quad Lock’s presence in the U.S. motorcycle market and maintain its focus on providing an exceptional consumer experience. Helmet House will distribute the full range of Quad Lock solutions to powersports retailers, covering various activities including motorcycling, cycling, and UTV.

What if consumers could achieve their fitness goals with personalized, AI-powered workout planning and guidance for less than the cost of a weekly cup of coffee? That’s the idea behind Zing Coach, a fitness app backed by health tech company Palta, which just raised $US 10 million in equity and debt financing in a Series A funding round. Zing Coach will use the funding to enhance its technology and features, enter new markets and expand its team.

Centre Court Capital (CCC), a venture capital firm backed by the Sajjan Jindal Family Trust and specializing in sports tech and gaming, has led led an undisclosed Series A investment round in Quidich Innovation Labs. Quidich, a sports broadcast technology company founded by Rahat Kulshreshtha and Gaurav Mehta, has been focusing exclusively on sports, especially cricket, since 2019.

Nike athletes traveling to Paris will have recovery technology on their feet thanks to the new Nike x Hyperice boot, a collaboration between Nike and Hyperice that features heat and air compression for feet and ankles in the form of a high-top boot. To make it all work, the shoe includes Hyperice’s Normatec bladders bonded to warming elements to distribute heat throughout the shoe’s upper. Designed to push heat into muscle tissue, the boot can assist with both warmup and recovery.