Sportstech & Member News

SportsEngine Play has agreed to a multi-year extension with Pixellot, accelerating the NBC streamer’s efforts to activate game streaming from youth sports facilities across the U.S.  SportsEngine Play will continue to help sports facilities of all sizes reduce their financial barriers of entry to streaming by offering a live and on-demand solution at no cost. The platform serves a constantly growing list of more than 10,000 facilities. 

WHOOP, the human performance company, has launched WHOOP 5.0 and WHOOP MG, two next-generation wearables designed to unlock a new approach to personal health and longevity. The devices offer 14-day battery life in a seven percent smaller form - and introduce category-defining features, including Healthspan with WHOOP Age, Heart Screener with on-demand ECG and Blood Pressure Insights.

Since adopting VueMotion's AI-powered biomechanical analysis in 2022, the Minnesota Vikings have seen a continuous decline in lower body injury rates, bucking the league-wide trend. In the 2024 season: The Vikings ranked top 3 in the NFL for fewest games missed due to lower body injuries — well below league average. They were #1 in the league for the lowest number of players missing consecutive games due to lower body injuries. By integrating VueMotion into daily player monitoring, injury rehabilitation, and performance optimization, the Vikings not only protected their players but preserved millions of dollars in player salary and competitive advantage.

Cool Beans Underwear was featured on the Today Show during the NRL Magic Round in Brisbane. Founder Saara Jamieson shared her journey, how Cool Beans is different and why the NRL chose to work with Cool Beans as part of the NRL Magic Round Tech Sprint.

Rookie Me have announced a partnership with NZ Rugby. Rookie Me will conduct a talent search program for the Black Ferns, New Zealand's female rugby team. In June 2025 Rookie Me will be conducting four regional Testing Combines across Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, and Auckland with the top 30 athletes invited to a national Combine.

Tennis Australia has launched the next edition of its AO Startups program. AO Startups accelerates elite founders through priority access to the Australian Open and professional and community sport. It provides a unique opportunity for startups solving large problems in sport, health and entertainment to build, test or pilot on the world stage with Tennis Australia and the Australian Open. AO Startups are seeking exceptional founders across four key areas - the quantified human, the event experience, the padel and pickleball experience and  the 'wildcard' (anything in sports, entertainment, health and sustainability). Applications close 28th May 2025.

The Gold Coast Sportstech Open Innovation Challenge has been launched to build meaningful partnerships with one of Australia’s most progressive semi-professional sporting organisations the Southport Sharks. The challenge focus areas include, enhancing player safety, elevating performance, driving sports innovation and community and fan engagement. The program is powered by the ASTN Invest Gold Coast and Southport Sharks, and is supported by the Gold Coast Health & Knowledge Precinct. Expressions of interest close 18 May, with a 6-week program kicking off on 22nd May. 

Unrivaled Sports, US's leading youth sports experiences company announced a strategic investment by DICK'S Sporting Goods which led the company's latest funding round. The strategic investment of $US 120 million will help to deliver and expand best-in-class youth sporting experiences, programs and destinations for young athletes across the nation. In the last year Unrivaled has built a national footprint across 30 states through acquisition, now hosting over 600,000 young athletes and nearly 2 million family members and fans.

ASICS has announced the launch of Run Concierge, a collaboration with Boston-based startup Neurun. Run Concierge is a first-of-its-kind AI-driven platform that integrates the latest advancements from Google Maps and Google Cloud to serve as a personal AI running guide. Run Concierge will debut later this summer across Race Roster’s and Njuko’s extensive network of racing events in North America, Europe, and Australia.

Worldwide leader in event venue point-of-sale (POS) technology, MyVenue, has signed a partnership and majority investment by family office and growth equity firm, Greater Sum Ventures (GSV). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The partnership offers MyVenue additional capital and specialized resources to accelerate global growth and R&D initiatives, and fuel its in-house software development and leadership teams.

Fanstake recently raised $US 6.25 million in seed funding to continue building a platform that lets college sports fans crowdfund potential NIL payouts as a way to entice athletes to attend their school. Fanstake CEO Greg Glass foresees schools needing to find new revenue sources to pay their players and fund their athletic programs. Courtside Ventures led the latest funding round, with participation from the likes of Will Ventures and Scrum Ventures.

After months of deliberation and back-and-forth disputes, DAZN is set to end its Ligue 1 broadcast rights agreement after just one year into a new four-year deal. DAZN will pay the LFP €100m to exit the agreement, as well as the remaining €140m it owes to the organisation for the final two instalments. A DAZN statement sent to L’Équipe informed that there was an exit clause within the contract with Ligue 1 and LFP, and also revealed that the French football league is now focusing on developing a direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming service. 

Little Athletics Australia and Playbk Sports joined forces to launch a first-of-its-kind eLearning partnership designed to revolutionise volunteer training and elevate the experience of more than 89,000 young athletes across the country. At the centre of this national collaboration are two flagship digital courses: Introduction to Teaching Little Athletics Skills (ITLAS) and Tiny Tots. These initial offerings mark the beginning of a broader digital learning ecosystem, purpose-built to support the Little Athletics community and hosted on a new, custom-designed Learning Management System (LMS).

Next Level Racing®, a global leader in simulation hardware, today proudly announces the launch of the Next Level Racing® HF8 Pro Haptic Feedback Gaming Pad, the latest evolution in immersive gaming technology. Building on the global success of the original HF8, the HF8 Pro introduces over 200% increased torque, 400% more motor power, 60% faster motor RPM, and a new 75fps real-time haptics system, creating deeper, sharper, and faster sensations than ever before. 

Behind every Formula 1 race is a live operating system built to manage the chaos in real time. It’s called RaceWatch and was developed by Catapult and the FIA – Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile through 15 years of collaboration. Every car transmits data through 300+ sensors, every camera feed is integrated, and every metre of track is monitored, allowing officials to build a full picture instantly and act without delay.

Dave Checketts, an influential figure in global sports business, and The Cynosure Group, a diversified private investment firm founded by the Eccles family, announced the formation of Cynosure | Checketts Sports Capital, a new investment vehicle dedicated to investing in high-potential sports opportunities. It also reunites two powerful entities who worked closely to keep the Utah Jazz of the NBA in Salt Lake City over 30 years ago. The fund will target multiple segments of the sports industry including teams, leagues, governing bodies, venues, media and broadcasting and sports technology.

Leading Australian venue point-of-sale specialist MyVenue has partnered with Crypto.com to allow fans to buy food, beverages, and merchandise with cryptocurrency at sports & entertainment venues globally. The technology was made available at the F1 Miami Grand Prix this weekend.

Under the expanded agreement, Genius Sports has been appointed as the exclusive distributor of official NCAA data to licensed sportsbooks for all post-season tournaments, including March Madness, through 2032. Sportsbooks will gain exclusive access to official NCAA data feeds alongside NCAA marks and logos. NCAA LiveStats to remain free for all member schools, delivering trusted, real-time data for over 70,000 games each year. GeniusIQ, a next-generation AI platform, will enhance LiveStats to power real-time analytics, advanced coaching insights, and immersive fan experiences.

The AFL and video game developer Big Ant Studios will launch the code's newest Australian rules football game, hitting the shelves on Thursday, May 8. Named AFL26, the game will follow on from the previous edition, AFL23, but delivering many enhancements. More than 1,200 AFL and AFLW players will be available, with a management career mode allowing fans to take full control of their team from recruiting, drafting and player development.

Drake Star, a global technology focused investment bank and advisory, has released its 2024 Sports Tech Market Report on the industry's financing activities. 2024 marked a historic year for Sports Tech M&A, with over $US 86 billion in total deal value across more than 1,100 M&A, private placement and public market transactions. While the broader M&A market was still recovering from a muted 2023, the sports tech sector demonstrated notable resilience and momentum — a trend that has continued into early 2025.

Australian web3 fitness app STEPN has announce a long-term partnership with the Argentina Football Association—home of the reigning World Champions. This collaboration marks a major step forward for sport and Web3 which will include a series of co-branded Genesis Sneakers, real-life rewards, including signed jerseys and match tickets and a shared vision to inspire the next generation of movers,

New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) has officially launched on the free coaching and team management app CoachMate. This marks another step forward for NZRL’s digital coaching platform that supports the game’s rapidly growing participation base and dedicated volunteer community. The micro-learning approach makes development more accessible and engaging for coaches at every level.

At the recent Sports Technology Awards in London, both Champion Data and Sportradar won awards. Sportradar won the Best Technology For Coaching and Tactics category. Champion Data and LIV Golf won the Best Use of Fan Engagement Technology by a Sports Organization category. Congratulations to other ASTN members who made it to the finalist list (Box Altitude, LayerCake, MyVenue).

The players union for the USL Super League has partnered with women's soccer footwear company IDA Sports to provide its cleats to all the league's athletes. IDA Sports is the only company devoted solely to soccer footwear specifically engineered for women, based on biomechanical needs. All interested players in the USL Super League will receive IDA Sports Rise Elite cleats for game day. The players will also provide feedback that will help the company with future designs.

Energy drink company Red Bull has launched a CVC arm, Red Bull Ventures. The CVC unit will make early-stage investments in sports and sustainability startups aligned with the parent company’s strategy. Previously, Red Bull had backed innovation indirectly—investing through other VC firms such as Speedinvest, Fund F, Calm/Storm, 3VC, and xista. Now, with Red Bull Ventures, the company is establishing its own platform to directly fund early-stage startups aligned with its brand ethos. While Red Bull has not confirmed the fund size, media reports suggest a target of around €200 million ($AUD 350 million). 

Sports Entertainment Network (SEN) has announced a partnership with Australian Made through its cutting-edge technology, SEN Sync. This collaboration marks a significant milestone for SEN, as SEN Sync becomes an Australian Made licensee, with its source code built in Australia by Project Diamond, SEN’s software development studio. As part of this partnership, Australian Made will be the naming rights partner of SEN Sync across the AFL season, reinforcing the commitment to supporting locally made products and innovations.

Evolt has announced a strategic integration with Technogym, a world-leading brand for fitness, wellness, sport, and health. The integration between Evolt and Technogym will provide customers with a unified, holistic fitness experience, combining Evolt’s body composition analysis with Technogym’s fitness equipment and wellness solutions. Mywellness by Technogym enables collection and tracking of profiled big data from all Technogym digital ecosystem touchpoints and from a wide variety of integrated software or equipment. 

Evolt has announced an expansion into the UK with new distribution partner, Inspace Fitness. This strategic partnership will enable gyms and fitness businesses across the UK to deliver measurable health outcomes, increase client engagement, and grow revenue through advanced body composition analysis.

Hard Rock Bet has launched its latest sports betting tool, Stats Hub, powered by GTG Network. The new Stats Hub provides bettors interesting insights across a variety of sports including the NBA, NHL, MLB, and NFL . Hard Rock Bet is currently licensed and accepting legal bets in eight states in the USA, all of which now have access to the new Stats Hub. 

Baseball has always been a game of numbers, but the modern era is pushing analytics into a new stratosphere—thanks to advanced technology like Sportradar’s Synergy platform. Currently used by every Major League Baseball team, Synergy is transforming scouting, player development, and talent discovery on a global scale. The Synergy platform seamlessly integrates video and performance data from players of all levels—from amateur leagues to professional.  Powered by artificial intelligence and computer vision, Synergy enables teams to uncover hidden patterns, predict player trajectories, and improve training regimes. The system is also used by the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO).

Asus has unveiled its VivoWatch 6 Aero, the world's first fitness tracker that can measure blood pressure and electrocardiogram (ECG) at the touch of a finger. The watch instantly measures blood pressure and ECG (used to detect atrial fibrillation) through wristband sensors. The watch also captures the usual health-tracking, like monitoring SpO₂, heart rate, steps, calories, and sleep quality. 

Sideline Sport partnership with NSW Rugby TV has delivered over 100 games live and on demand across Sydney metro and regional New South Wales over the weekend. Sideline Sport is utilising Broadercaster which provides a multitude of different production models, including traditional onsite camera and cameraman, to remote operator controlled cameras, through to fully autonomous AI based vision capture. Broadercaster allows sports to promote and control their brand, while delivering a professional streaming experience to key stakeholders including participants, fans and sponsors.

SportBox has announced a partnership with Department of Sport, Racing and Olympic and Paralympic Games to help more Queenslanders get active, more often. As part of the Queensland Government's ActiveKIT initiative, SportBox are preparing to roll out 25 brand-new smart lockers across Queensland, designed to support active lifestyles and encourage outdoor play. These lockers will offer free access to sports equipment in key locations, making it easier than ever to play, move, and connect with others.

SportVot and FrogBox have announced a strategic partnership bringing FrogBox's cricket highlights solution to the Indian market through SportVot's local network of grassroots tournaments. FrogBox is now the official highlights partner across several grassroots cricket tournaments powered by SportVot. 

Healthtech start-up Superpower, co-founded by 24-year-old Australian Max Marchione, has raised $US 30 million in a Series A round led by Forerunner Ventures. Two years after its founding, the deal values the company at more than $US 300 million. Superpower is building what it calls the world’s first “health super-app,” selling diagnostics, personalised health protocols and 24/7 care for $US 499 a year. The membership includes a bi-annual lab testing that analyses over 100 blood biomarkers and combines data with AI and physician oversight to create personalised plans.

PMY Group (PMY), a global leader in technology solutions for sport and major events, has acquired UK-based EVENT360, a premier producer of match-day entertainment, immersive stadium ceremonies, and live experiences. EVENT360's impressive client roster includes UEFA, NFL International, Six Nations, the Rugby Football Union, the Football Association, Arsenal Football Club, and SailGP. Under the acquisition, EVENT360 will be rebranded and integrated into KOJO, which is PMY’s global experience division, enhancing the company’s ability to deliver technology-driven fan engagement and world-class live event production.

Strava, the app for active people, announced it will acquire Runna, a UK-headquartered tech company developing personalized running training plans and coaching. The deal is part of Strava’s ongoing initiatives to innovate for its 150+ million registered users and represents deep investment in Strava’s API developer community. Over 100 training apps currently connect to Strava’s API in order to provide users with enhanced features and functionality. 

WSC Sports, the global leader in AI-driven sports content automation, has acquired Infront Lab’s Engines 365 and will add the solution to its offering, further helping sports organisations manage and deliver digital experiences. Beyond the acquisition, WSC Sports and Infront will continue to collaborate on OTT streaming solutions and consultancy services for sports rightsholders based on the combined technology stack.

The Global Institute of Sport (GIS) and the University of Newcastle have announced a landmark partnership to establish a cutting-edge sports university campus in Sydney, leading the charge to develop talent for Australia’s rapidly expanding sports industry through the golden decade leading up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Champion Data have partnered with Netball Australia, Fox Sports and HCF Australia to create the HCF Team Health Score, a first-of-its-kind metric giving fans a real-time view of their team’s overall match health. Developed by Champion Data, the Score goes beyond traditional stats to capture the physical, mental and support elements that influence performance on court.

Tennis Australia has formally launched Beyond Tennis powered by Infosys, a gaming application designed for tennis fans as well as Gen Z gaming enthusiasts. Within the gaming application users will be able to step into the shoes of a player’s coach or agent in turn guiding the careers of AI-powered tennis players. This gaming application will witness the world’s first AI-driven tennis league. Alongside being a Digital Innovation partner for Tennis Australia, Infosys will also own a team within the AI-driven league, the Infosys Aces. Tennis Australia has also partnered with OneFutureSport, a Melbournebased company, to capitalise on its creative technology, and digital expertise.

The Australian Flying Disc Association (AFDA) and GameDay has announced a new partnership to deliver digital solutions to enhance membership, competition, and event management across the sport. AFDA will be implementing GameDay’s Passport Registrations, Competitions, and Live Scoring products that aim to streamline operations and improve the experience for players, officials, and administrators. In addition, AFDA is set to launch a brand-new website through Stack Commerce, further enhancing its digital presence as part of the broader Stack Sports ecosystem.

AFLW players are stepping up as role models in a groundbreaking new program set to inspire thousands of young Queensland girls through sport and education. The Brisbane Lions, in collaboration with Playbk Sports and supported by the Queensland Government’s ActiveKIT initiative, launched Inspire, a first-of-its-kind digital education program housed on Lions Learning—the club’s new online platform. The Inspire Program is designed to empower young girls aged 13-18 by providing leadership, body confidence, health, and physical activity education, guided by elite AFLW players who serve as mentors and role models.

Catapult has announced the launch of Vector 8, marking a major leap forward in athlete performance monitoring. With Vector 8, teams can make precise real-time decisions with an live experience, save time with faster and more efficient workflows, and get a clear picture of athlete performance through a completely new user experience. The Vector 8 athlete monitoring system includes a wearable device, fastest power dock ever built, a receiver and relay network that covers 120 athletes across a 400 x 400 metre field and a new App with live and post-session sync, integrated data and video, and AI-powered performance insights.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of competitive gaming and mind sports, maintaining integrity has become increasingly complex. As AI systems grow more sophisticated, the line between human and machine capabilities continues to blur, creating new challenges for platforms committed to fair play. Checkmate Live has announced a significant step forward in addressing these challenges. It has become the first competitive gaming platform to implement a machine-readable Fair Play Protocol for artificial intelligence and large language models (LLMs).

Former ASTN Chair, Co-Founder and Lifetime recipient James D has been nominated for a CYDIA Award for his contribution to sports. These awards will be presented on the final evening of the Cyprus Diaspora Forum 2025 on 10th May 2025.

The method for measuring first downs in the NFL will switch from chain gangs to camera-based technology in 2025. The official use of Sony's Hawk-Eye virtual measurement system, consisting of six 8K cameras for optical tracking of the ball's position, was announced at the annual league meeting. The system notifies on-field officials of the measurement's outcome, with virtual recreations of the measurements produced in real time for the in-stadium crowds and broadcast audience.  

Follow Me AI announced the first commercial implementation of our Kinelitics™ technology platform, by the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS). After an exhaustive international scouting process, the QAS selected Follow Me AI to co-design, develop and host a Talent ID mobile native app that harnesses the capabilities of our core platform. Our Kinelitics™ platform enables large-scale remote testing of fitness and mobility, by delivering a battery of industry-accepted testing protocols through a standard mobile device and AI Computer Vision. 

Computer visioning running analytics platform, VueMotion, has announced that it has been rigorously validated against industry-leading tools, confirming its accuracy and reliability in performance analysis. VueMotion’s instantaneous speed measurement is as precise as the gold standard, providing coaches and athletes with accurate speed data that they can rely on for performance analysis. VueMotion has been validated against Criterion Laser system (timing gates) for instantaneous speed validation, OptoGate for sprint metrics such as ground contact time, step length, step velocity, and flight time, and Vicon for indoor motion capture of key-points' trajectories.

A smartphone app capable of screening a brain in less than 60 seconds is being used in the battle against concussions. The rollout follows a highly successful clinical trial of the Braineye technology involving almost 350 AFL players in 2022. The tool has changed the way players at the Southport Sharks in the Victorian Football League (VFL) deal with concussions. Players are asked to follow the dot on the screen while artificial intelligence gathers information on the speed and reaction time of their eye in less than 60 seconds.