An innovative AI technology is set to amplify your tennis strokes and equipment performance
Norwegian Startup SportAI Secures $1.8 Million Seed Round for Sports Analytics
SportAI, a Norwegian startup specializing in tennis analytics, has secured a $1.8 million seed round led by Skyfall Ventures, a venture capital firm based in Oslo. The new funds will be used to accelerate the reach of sports analytics and announce the first commercial contract.
Lauren Pedersen, the CEO of SportAI, moved to Oslo in 2007 and brings experience from tech firms Opera and Airthings to the table. Pedersen, who is also an athletic powerhouse with a background as a former NCAA tennis player and current ITF Masters World Championships representative for Norway, co-founded SportAI in 2023.
SportAI's innovative system can analyze video from mobile phones, cameras mounted at courts, or broadcast feeds. The system, which uses a combination of machine learning and computer vision, interprets biomechanical data to provide personalized technique analysis and detailed match statistics.
The first commercial contract for SportAI is with a prominent global platform that connects over a million racket sports players and oversees thousands of courts. This partnership involves integrating SportAI's AI-highlights technology on MATCHi TV equipped padel courts. The system uses a single camera per court to automatically track all match actions without any manual recording or camera operation. After each game, the AI instantly generates a personalized highlight reel, featuring items such as match summaries with best rallies, footwork data, positioning maps, player style analysis with nicknames, and heat maps of intense court activity. Currently, this rollout covers 30 clubs and offers new insights to clubs, coaches, and players in padel sports.
Through the collaboration, SportAI will provide AI-driven enhancements, such as personalized technique analysis and detailed match statistics. The system's recommendations can benefit tennis players, racket makers, and retailers, by identifying specific needs in a player's technique based on their style and level of play, and recommending equipment to enhance their performance.
The approach of SportAI does not require manual tagging or specific hardware, making advanced analytics more cost-effective. Insights are delivered directly to users, allowing them to make informed decisions about their game and equipment choices.
Carlsen led SportAI's pre-seed round and is an advisor to the company. Dekel Valtzer, a former tennis pro and startup founder, and Magnus Carlsen, the highest-ranked chess player of all time, also contributed to the funds.
The SaaS platform can be directly integrated with coaching, equipment, and broadcast coverage, making it a versatile tool for the sports industry. The new funds could broaden access to athletic insights, revolutionizing the way sports are analysed and played.
SportAI is aiming to soon announce the name of the partner for the first commercial contract, marking a significant milestone in the company's growth.
- The artificial-intelligence technology developed by SportAI, a Norwegian startup specializing in sports analytics, will be integrated with a prominent global platform that connects over a million racket sports players, providing AI-driven enhancements for tennis players and racket makers.
- With the integration of artificial-intelligence and technology, the sports industry, particularly tennis, could see a revolution as SportAI's system delivers insights directly to users, enabling them to make informed decisions about their game and equipment choices, and broadens access to athletic insights.
