Sports Business is one aspect that all of us would like to keep an eye on. This thread is exclusively to share the industry insight on anything related to sports start-ups. I request to keep this discussion active and share everything for the betterment of the community.
Here is a list of INTERNATIONAL SPORTS TECH STARTUP TO WATCH OUT for in 2020.
- NEX TEAM
For bringing shooting-practice routines of NBA stars to its AI-driven training app
The company’s HomeCourt app, which uses AI-driven training tech to help everyone from kids to pros improve their game, attracted the NBA as an investor in July 2019. By early 2020, the app evolved to include NBA Global Scout, a mobile, AI-powered extension of the original HomeCourt that allows players from India to Indiana, China to Chi-town, and Senegal to San Diego to record their measurements—such as wingspan, height, vertical leap, and agility—then build and show off their skills through development drills created to help NBA scouts evaluate their on-court proficiencies.
- SECOND SPECTRUM
For giving basketball and soccer fans a new perspective
Since 2018, the Los Angeles-based company has collected spatial data from cameras in NBA arenas to supply player-tracking statistics to every team in the league, and L.A. Clippers fans have been able to see some of that data through Second Spectrum’s CourtVision app. Last year, deals with the English Premier League and North America’s Major League Soccer have it tracking data, including as a player’s speed, shot velocity, and distance from the goal, and MLS is aiming to incorporate visualizations for some of this information into its match broadcasts.
- FANATICS
For hitting another homer with MLB and Nike
In 2019, the new sports apparel giant expanded from its NFL duties for Nike by signing a 10-year deal with Major League Baseball to design, manufacture, and distribute all Nike MLB fan gear sold at retail. It also signed 10-year retail deals with the Golden State Warriors, expanded its footprint in the English Premier League with a full commerce and apparel deal with Everton FC, and opened new offices across Asia.
- IBM
For adding sound analysis to its AI-powered golf and tennis highlights
The tech giant originally introduced AI highlights at The 2017 Masters—processing hundreds of hours of live video; analyzing player movement, gestures, and facial expressions; and listening to the roar of the crowd to identify the most highlight-worthy moments just minutes after they occur. Over the past year, it’s added sound analysis to this AI-powered sports highlights technology, allowing for more accurately edited highlights at The Masters, Wimbledon, and US Open. The company also put AI analytics in the hands of USTA coaches with its new Coach Advisor tech.