Despite the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing economic uncertainty, new startups are founded every day. To introduce you to 5 recently founded SportsTech startups, we analyzed 1.160 startups in the field. All of them develop innovative solutions spanning from video analytics and performance coaching to concussion monitoring solutions.
The 5 promising SportsTech startups you should watch in 2021 were hand-picked based on our data-driven startup scouting approach, taking into account factors such as location, founding year, and relevance of technology, among others. The 1.160 companies that were analyzed for this report are identified using the StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, covering 1.379.000+ startups & scaleups globally. When you are looking for up-to-date solutions for your innovation units, R&D, or product development department, the StartUs Insights Discovery Platform gives you the most exhaustive collection and ensures you continuously discover new startups, scaleups, and technologies.
Global Startup Heat Map: 5 SportsTech Startups to Watch
The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights 5 SportsTech startups developing technology-driven solutions for different industries. Moreover, you can explore global hotspots for SportsTech startups and even download this graphic to include in your next presentation.
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ReSpo.Vision offers Video Analytics
Video analytics allow teams and individual players to understand their movements, as well as their opponents’. However, it requires multi-camera setups and manual annotators, thus making it unaffordable for smaller clubs. That is why SportsTech startups are developing AI-based solutions that analyze videos for automated assessments. This provides advanced metrics that help clubs determine playing strategies and improve their game.
ReSpo.Vision is a Polish startup that offers AI-based video analytics. The startup’s solution uses computer vision and machine learning algorithms to analyze football games in real-time, directly from any broadcast TV feed. It extracts 3D tracking data of all players and the ball in real-time to detect events, assess performance, and provides insights and recommendations.
enduco provides Performance Coaching
Performance coaching helps athletes, especially those looking to compete at the highest levels, build endurance and strength. However, this option is not accessible or affordable for many unsponsored athletes. To tackle this issue, SportsTech startups are making personalized coaching more accessible via mobile apps as well as web-based platforms. These solutions combine cameras and machine learning to offer data-driven feedback.
German startup enduco provides a performance coaching solution for endurance athletes. The startup’s app records a training session via a smartphone camera or third-party device. It then utilizes insights from sports science to determine fitness levels and suggest personalized training plans. The AI-based training regime also includes routine tests for functional threshold power (FTP) and heart rate (FTHR).
Vokalo develops a Sports Wearable
Most team sports lack effective coach-to-player communication during training sessions. Instead, coaches need to pause training frequently to provide feedback or explain tactics. Moreover, the feedback tends to be generalized to the team, rather than individual players. Hence SportsTech startups are working on wearables that optimize real-time communication between coaches and players.
Danish startup Vokalo develops a sports wearable that enables advanced audio communication between coaches and athletes during training sessions. The wearable optimizes performance in sports by allowing coaches to provide personalized feedback in real-time. This also makes the training sessions more organized and efficient.
Alpha Fiber creates a Concussion Monitoring Solution
Concussions are a cause of concern for many athletes as repeated concussions can lead to long-lasting neurological damage. That is why headset wearables feature impact detection systems that track the intensity of impacts to the head. However, these are infeasible for sports where players do not use helmets. SportsTech solutions on the other hand utilize computer vision solutions to detect concussions without wearables.
Alpha Fiber is a US-based startup developing a solution for concussion monitoring. The startup uses computer vision to detect concussions in real-time from camera feeds. The solution combines a research-based protocol and deep learning to accurately monitor head impacts. The noninvasive solution does not require any wearables and enables concussion screening, treatment, and diagnosis.
Espo builds an eSports Fan Engagement Platform
Outside of the games, fan engagement is an increasingly major revenue stream for sports teams, particularly in eSports. Additionally, independent content creators are very influential in eSports, unlike other sports, and can drive engagement to particular games. To tap into this growing community, SportsTech startups are developing engagement platforms that reward fans for active participation.
British startup Espo builds a fan engagement platform that promotes collaboration between eSports teams, pro players, brands, creators, and fans. It facilitates community tournaments and virtual meetups, as well as rewards fans for taking part in Espo’s Community Incentive Program. The platform offers a wide range of campaigns targeted at fans of different eSport games.
How will SportsTech impact your company?
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