Sportstech & Member News

SPIRE Academy has opened the SPIRE Performance Research Institute (SPRI), an applied research lab focused on youth athlete development and sports technology testing. The institute operates within SPIRE’s live training environment on its 800-acre Northeast Ohio campus, housing student-athletes from over 40 countries. Six technology partners are currently piloting products through the institute, including oxygen-based recovery systems and neuro-visual performance tools

Leading sportstech investor, Courtside Ventures have announced a partnership with The 4th Quarter, a media platform at the intersection of technology, sports and entertainment. The aim of the platform is to offer insightful analysis, original content, and practical insights for the founders, operators and investors shaping the industry's future, and complement existing sports media platforms that already exist. The platform will share weekly summaries dissecting key developments in sports, tech, and entertainment, in-depth features and highlights on founders, operators and execs, podcasts featuring industry trailblazers and exclusive events bringing the community together.

ASTN has announced the finalists in the 2025 Australia and New Zealand Sports Technology Awards. The awards celebrate the leading innovators, startups, and organisations shaping the future of sport and technology across Australia and New Zealand. Winners will be announced across 8 categories at the ANZSTA Ceremony on 28th October. 

Kirsty Richardson, owner of core stability technology company, GravityFit has pitched in front of 3,000 people at the Pegasus Tech Ventures, Startup World Cup in San Francisco. She was joined by two other Australian companies pitching at the event which included Deeligence and Adiona. Coreshell took at out the $US1 million win with their ground breaking battery technology, replacing graphite with metallurgical silicon anodes.

SEGA and Sports Interactive have signed a multi-year deal with the world soccer association, FIFA, which will bring the World Cup, Women's World Cup, and Club World Cup to upcoming management game Football Manager 26. All competitions will be featured with the official kits, branding and broadcast visuals of their real-world counterparts. This is the first partnership between the iconic series and FIFA. This licensed content will arrive in the game via a major update in 2026 across platforms, just ahead of the World Cup kicking off.

Hudl, aglobal leader in sports performance analysis and video technology, has announced the acquisition of Athletic Data Innovations (ADI), a cutting-edge athlete monitoring software platform developed by Australian-based human performance specialist and sports scientist Andrew Gray. For over 15 years, ADI has provided advanced analytics to top-tier sports organizations around the world. The ADI platform combines data from multiple tracking systems, including GPS and optical tracking to create a consistent performance picture while delivering game changing metrics to quantify athlete load.

As Foxtel parent company DAZN charts a course toward profitability, it was reported that billionaire Sir Leonard Blavatnik invested US$587 million into the sports giant last year. In April, DAZN took ownership of Foxtel for $AUD 3.4 billion, with part of that payment including shares in DAZN. Within the past ten years, Blavatnik has invested over $US 7 billion into DAZN. The company reduced its losses last year to $US 936 million from $US 1.4 billion the year prior. Meanwhile revenue has lifted by $US 323 million to $US 3.2 billion. Revenues are expected to hit around $US 5billion in 2025.

Mber+ has launched with Hype Reel for streamlined merchandise management and member engagement. mber+ empowers organisations to reimagine how they engage their members through personalisation, flexible merchandise management, data-driven insights and seamless integration.

ŌURA, maker of a leading smart ring, Oura Ring, announced it has raised over $US 900 million in funding led by Fidelity Management & Research Company. ŌURA plans to use the new funding to accelerate AI and product innovation, expand global distribution, and invest in development of new health features. The company has sold more than 5.5 million rings since launching in 2015, and generated more than $US 500 million in 2024. The company is on track to surpass $US 1 billion in sales in 2025.

Sharp Alpha Advisors has announced the closing of a $US 150m fund to provide non-dilutive growth capital to companies in the sports, gaming and entertainment sectors. Sharp Alpha UA Fund will deploy the capital over the next 24 months, targeting investments between $US 4 million and $US 30 million in growth-stage companies. The fund will consider a wide range of consumer-facing opportunities but will concentrate predominantly on online gaming, prediction markets, sports media, ecommerce, health and wellness, and interactive entertainment.

Sports streaming company, FrogBox has announced the launch of their own FrogBox camera. Designed from over one million hours of streaming and feedback from more than a thousand community clubs, the new FrogBox Camera is designed specifically for grassroots sport.

Wicket, a global leader in privacy-first facial authentication for live events and venues, has joined the Australian Sports Technologies Network (ASTN), strengthening its commitment to advancing fan experience, security, and operational efficiency across the ANZ region. Wicket’s platform is already trusted by major leagues and global events, including the National Football League (NFL), where it securely credentials every player, coach, and staff member across all 32 teams. Wicket has already demonstrated its value in the Australian market in partnering with the Geelong Cats at GMHBA Stadium and at the Australian Open.

Apple and Formula 1 announced a five-year partnership that will bring all F1 races exclusively to Apple TV in the United States beginning next year. The partnership is said to be worth around $US 140 million per annum. The partnership builds on Apple’s deepening relationship with Formula 1 following the global success of Apple Original Films’ adrenaline-fueled blockbuster F1 The Movie, the highest-grossing sports movie of all time. F1 is one of the fastest-growing leagues in the world, with a U.S. fanbase that reached 52 million in 2024. 

The Japan–Australia Sports & Health Innovation Exchange (JASHIE) has announced a partnership with the ASTN - Australian Sports Technologies Network (ASTN) as a Supporting Partner for the program. As a Supporting Partner, ASTN will contribute its mentoring expertise, extensive startup network, and program support to help strengthen innovation linkages between Australia and Japan.

The Pro Padel League has a new partnership with fan engagement technology provider Komo, which will begin with a set of activations around the PPL’s 2025 City’s Cup finals this weekend at Hammerstein Ballroom in N.Y. During the finals, QR codes placed on site/match broadcasts and links distributed via social media will redirect fans to a custom PPL website built using Komo’s Engagement Operating System platform. The site includes minigames that focus on padel rules, PPL facts and finals weekend bracket picks; and a social-media-sharable digital picture frame. Komo works with properties including Fox Sports, Comcast Tech Solutions, AEG and Live Nation.

Valor Esports is now officially integrated with Clever, a leading identity platform for the education sector, making it easier for schools across North America to access structured esports training. With Clever, students can now log in to the Valor Esports platform seamlessly using their existing school accounts. The integration is another step in Valor Esports' mission to help educators run esports like traditional sports: structured, time-efficient, and accessible for all.

This article outlines key steps in developing an AI Action Plan, providing a resource that can be employed by any sport organization. By following these steps, an organization can learn to not only maximize the efficiency and effectiveness gains made from adopting AI but also help to reduce its inherent risks and potential negative impacts.  

Football Victoria (FV) has announced a new partnership with Dribl, ushering in a new era for football competition management, administration and engagement across the state. From NPL Victoria through to MiniRoos, Dribl will be rolled out across all metropolitan and regional competitions, modernising how football in Victoria is experienced. FV’s adoption of Dribl will streamline competition administration and deliver real-time engagement for the entire football community. 

Leading smart navigation platform PAM has launched live golf player tracking in PAM eXplorer designed to give fans more ways to connect, interact and explore. Live player tracking allows fans to see exactly where players are in real time, directly on the interactive map. Whether they’re following along from the couch or walking the venue, fans can find their favorite players, get directions to the action, and stay updated with live scores, all in one place. 

Shakewell Agency has been involved in designing an app that makes mental skills resources more accessible to athletes. Optimize Mind Performance is convenient, on-the-go tool for mental performance that offers tailored audio content from top mental skills coaches globally.

Cricket Victoria and Fever, a leading global live entertainment platform, have partnered for ticketing operations of State cricket at CitiPower Centre. Fever operates in more than 500 cities and 40 countries worldwide and will collaborate with Cricket Victoria at the CitiPower Centre, leveraging the Secret Media Network to uncover, understand, and engage both new and existing audiences through the power of data-driven insight.

Global sportstech football deals reached $US 7.7 billion since 2020, according to a new report from leading sportstech research firm SportsTechX. Deals hit $US2.2 billion injust the first half of 2025. Europe leads the way with around 60% of that investment, with North America at around 33%. Funding of fan-based solutions has increased from 63% to 80% over the last 18 months.

Global sports & entertainment point-of-sale provider MyVenue is live with 490 POS fixed & handheld devices at NHL venue, Rogers Place. MyVenue’s single-platform solution replaces multiple legacy systems, streamlining game-day operations and reporting for an arena that attracts 2.1 million visitors to 170 events every year. MyVenue has been deployed in over 30 major league venues in the last two years.

PAM, one of the world's leader in Smarter Navigation, has teamed up with NFL team, the Tennessee Titans to transform every step of the fan journey. From planning at home to navigating Nissan Stadium, fans now have a frictionless way to get where they want to go, including finding parking, concessions and merchandise. The navigation platform provides an important means of communication with fans with the construction of the new stadium and changes happening in and around Nissan Stadium.

The Brisbane Bullets are proud to announce the launch of Bullets Assist, a free digital platform designed to empower athletes, coaches, teachers and the wider basketball community across Queensland. The initiative has been made possible thanks to funding support from the Queensland Government’s Department of Sport, Racing and Olympic and Paralympic Games under the ActiveKIT Super Round program. Created in partnership with Playbk Sports, a Queensland-based education technology company, Bullets Assist combines award-winning digital learning with the club’s high-performance expertise.

A period undie brand is sponsoring one of the UK’s most prestigious football clubs, a makeup company has signed up with Formula One and a shape wear business sponsors the US Olympic team. Sports sponsorship is changing and women are at the heart of it. Research from the Victorian Office for Women in Sport and Recreation in 2023 found that sponsorships of women’s elite sporting properties outperformed men’s sport in brand awareness, brand consideration and customer conversion.

Each year the Australian Sports Commission hosts the Sports Technology and Applied Research Symposium (STARS). STARS brings together sport and exercise researchers, technologists and sport industry professionals from across Australia and the world to share ideas that can drive innovation in their fields. This year's event will be held virtually from 22-24 October.

Catapult Sports is boosting the scouting capabilities of its fast-growing sports technology business through a $A139 million acquisition of IMPECT GmbH, the operator of a soccer intelligence platform that provides insights on player performance and team dynamics. The Melbourne-based company has announced a $A 150 million capital raising to fund the deal, comprising a $A 130 million institutional placement and a $A 20 million share purchase plan.

GSIC (powered by Microsoft) have launched an Innovation Day Challenge with Serie A club Genoa CFC. Injury prevention remains a major challenge for football clubs and in this challenge Genoa are searching for new solutions around advanced injury prevention methodologies, nutritional solutions, recovery strategies, physical therapy devices and athlete monitoring platforms. Applications close 14th November, and up to 10 companies will be selected to deliver a 10 minute online pitch, with the opportunity to collaborate directly with the football club. 

For a second year, Messe Munich and Colosseum Sports are teaming up again to hold ISPO and Sports Tech Nation in Munich (Germany). ISPO Brandnew is the largest startup competition for sports products in the business and Sportstech Nation complements this with its focus on digital solutions. Any Australian sportstech companies are interested to present at the start-up village are advised to contact the ASTN to explore the opportunity further.

Over the next decade, roughly $US 9.8 billion will be invested in stadium technology across the top five U.S. leagues according to technology consulting firm AmpThink. About two-thirds of that total ($US 6.4 billion) will go toward system refreshes. In all, AmpThink expect investment in 900 discrete refresh projects across 144 venues, averaging $US 640 million per year.

Sony Corporation today announced that Sony welcomed STATSports Group, one of the industry leaders in athlete monitoring solutions and performance analysis, into Sony’s sports businesses, with the acquisition through a majority share of STATSports. Founded in 2008, STATSports offers solutions that empower over 800 of the world’s top sports clubs. The acquisition allows Sony to add STATSports’ state-of-the-art athlete tracking technologies and performance analysis solutions to its existing array of Sports technology solutions (which include Hawk-Eye Innovations and KinaTrax).

Gymnastics NSW has announced a new partnership with Club Ducks, a platform revolutionising how community sporting clubs manage sponsorships. This partnership will empower Gymnastics NSW-affiliated clubs to streamline operations and boost sponsorship revenue—freeing up time and energy to focus the athletes and the sport. The solution offers tools including sponsor engagement tracking, sponsor tier creator and profession sponsorship proposals.

State Farm Stadium has extended its partnership with global point-of-sale (POS) provider MyVenue until 2030, citing the solution’s speed, scalability, and reliability for its decision. The stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, selected MyVenue as its POS provider in 2021. The end-to-end POS solution powers 580+ fixed and handheld devices across concessions, premium levels, and 140 luxury suites, as well as mobile ordering locations

SportWest has extended its partnership with SportsLink Travel for a further two years, with the leading sports travel business continuing as the organisation’s preferred travel and tour partner. Through the renewed agreement, SportWest Members will continue to benefit from commercial returns, including rebates, to enhance their travel experiences and deliver value back to sport in WA.

Saara Jamieson, founder and chief executive officer, Cool Beans Underwear has been named a finalist for the Paul Shetler Disrupter of the Year Award at the 2025 InnovationAus Awards. Saara Jamieson is a former researcher at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and the inventor of the world’s first testicular cooling medical device underwear, now registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia. The Cool Beans product is aimed at improved fertility through naturally optimising sperm health. The winner will be announced at the InnovationAus Awards for Excellence in Sydney on November 27.

From elite stadiums to venture capital boardrooms, the ASTN South Australian Sportstech Delegation’s recent visit to the United States has been a showcase of innovation, collaboration, and global partnerships. Held from 7–12 September 2025, the sportstech delegation from South Australia visited San Francisco and Los Angeles, engaging with leading sportstech companies, investors, government agencies, and academic institutions. Supported by the South Australian Department of State Development, ASTN facilitated a delegation program for nine South Australian-based sportstech businesses.

Avenue Capital Group has announced the final close of the Avenue Sports Fund, securing over $US 1 billion in capital commitments. The Avenue Sports Fund is designed to deploy both debt and equity capital across a broad spectrum of opportunities, including established leagues and franchises in North America and Europe; emerging leagues with high-growth potential; women’s sports; and sports-adjacent sectors including media, real estate, and technology. The fund has already made investments in TGL (tech-driven golf league), Cosm (immersive media and entertainment technology), US SailGP Team, and PGA Tour Enterprises.

WHOOP, a leading human performance wearables company, announced the launch of WHOOP Advanced Labs, a groundbreaking new feature that combines blood testing with continuous wearable data to deliver a complete picture of health. Members can upload past bloodwork results or schedule the company’s curated Advanced Labs panel, which tests an extensive set of biomarkers. For the first time, our members can see how their blood biomarkers and daily behaviors connect in real time. More than 350,000 WHOOP members have signed up for the waitlist of the new features.

Apollo have announced the launch of Apollo Sports Capital (ASC), a new investment business providing capital solutions across the global sports and live events ecosystem. ASC will invest predominantly in credit and hybrid opportunities in the sports landscape, spanning franchises, leagues, venues, media, events and more. ASC will build on Apollo’s established presence in sports, with Apollo’s managed funds having deployed approximately $US 17 billion to-date in the broader space, including investments in sports and entertainment companies, media rights, and stadium and league financings.

Videogame developer Electronic Arts has agreed to sell itself to a group of private investors in a deal that values the maker of "Battlefield" and "Madden NFL" at $US 55 billion. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners and private equity firm Silver Lake came together to buy the popular videogame maker with a combination of $US 36 billion in cash, equity already held by PIF, and $US 20 billion in debt financed by JPMorgan.

Global Sports Innovation Center (GISC) powered by Microsoft will soon open a new center (after Madrid & Singapore) with a vision, test and validate sports technologies in one of the most complete sports sandbox in the world in cooperation with the Valencian region, its venues, 50+ sports federations and sports events.

Football Australia and SBS today announced a landmark multi-year, multi-platform agreement to broadcast the inaugural Australian Championship on SBS, SBS On Demand and SBS VICELAND. SBS the exclusive linear television home of the Australian Championship for at least the next two years, showcasing 18 matches on Free to Air Television and live and free on SBS On Demand from the Group Stage through to the Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and Grand Final.

Allwyn International, the lottery-led gaming entertainment company, and PrizePicks, the largest daily fantasy sports operator in North America, announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for Allwyn to acquire a majority stake in PrizePicks. Allwyn has agreed to purchase an approximately 62.3% stake in PrizePicks for an expected initial cash consideration of $US 1.6 billion, implying an upfront enterprise value of $US 2.5 billion. 

Genius Sports a leading official data, technology and broadcast partner that powers sports, betting and media, announced that it has acquired Sports Innovation Lab, a leader in sports fan data. The acquisition fast-tracks the expansion of Genius Sports’ media business, combining the most comprehensive official game data with the deepest fan intelligence available. 

India’s sports industry is undergoing a strategic transformation from a cricket-dominated entertainment sector to a multi-sport, digitally enabled economic engine. According to KPMG in India’s latest report titled - “Sportlight - The Business of Sports”, the sector is now estimated at $US 19 billion growing at a CAGR of 12–14% and is projected to reach $US 40 billion by 2030. 

EVENT360 and KOJO, two of the most recognised names in sports presentation, are uniting under the KOJO brand (a PMY company) to deliver stadium ceremonies and premium game-day experiences to audiences around the globe. The rebrand marks the next step following PMY’s acquisition of EVENT360 in April, and a successful summer in which EVENT360 delivered sport presentation at major events including the Men’s and Women’s FA Cup Finals, The UEFA Nations League Finals in Munich, SailGP in New York and the 1888 Cup in Dublin.

Ankored, a youth sports safety and compliance platform, today announced the close of its $US 4 million seed funding round led by Rally Ventures. The investment will accelerate Ankored’s mission to simplify how youth sports organizations keep players safe and manage risk so they can focus more on the game. 

The Park is a virtual innovation hub led by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC), designed to connect technology-driven companies with the Australian sports sector to tackle key challenges and unlock system-wide value. Through a six-month co-designed program, The Park will bring together selected technology firms, NSO/Ds, and the ASC to accelerate solutions from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 to TRL 8+. The initiative will focus on five foundational challenges - Harnessing data, AI and machine learning; Next-generation wearables; Digital twin technologies; Brain performance innovation and Environmental sustainability in sport. Applications close 31 October 2025.

Maria Baker, founder of female snow apparel company, Nobody's Princess, has been nominated as a Business News Australia Melbourne Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist. The winner of the Awards will be announced on Friday 24th October.