Hello! Welcome back to the SBJ Tech Funding Round(up), where we break down the previous quarter’s investments in sports tech.
Today, we’re looking at Q3. Let’s hop into the trends we noticed:
Biometrics and data remain hot
Possibly the surest bet in funding is the data around player tracking.
More than $15.9 million in the graphic above fell into this bucket. A pair of former NBA Launchpad participants — volumetric video platform Peripheral ($8.7 million raise) and Swish Basket ($3.2 million) — made up the bulk of that figure. Peripheral turns live data into 3D renderings for interactive replays. Swish, meanwhile, uses video and LiDAR-enabled sensors at the hoop to track shots, ball movement and biomechanics.
Geographic expansion is ahead for Marquee, an intelligence layer for soccer scouting and recruitment, which pulled in a $4 million seed round as it begins to develop its international footprint with UK and U.S. offices.
Then, with an undisclosed sum, pMotion entered the fray to reach more consumers with its athletic analysis tech. Athletes can use a smartphone to run through a two-minute assessment to determine what may need correction in form or movement.
Getting techy in tennis
The third quarter brought significant tennis tech news through the collective SBJ Tech attention span.
First off, smart tennis court system provider Zenniz shared with my colleague Rob Schaefer that, along with their new Atlanta offices, the company raised a $6 million funding round earlier this year to help fast-track tech installations, hiring and development.
USTA Ventures, meanwhile, continues its work to identify emerging startups and invest in those platforms that align with its greater efforts. This time, it found recreational platform Rec, which it poured an undisclosed sum into. In particular, USTA Senior Director/Digital Strategy and Business Development Michael Hughes saw a parallel journey to grow connections between coaches and public players.
Larger medical potential
A couple of the raises we covered this quarter have a vision that can transcend sports and meet a large-scale consumer.
Cognify Health, backed by Roger Ehrenberg’s Game Changers Ventures, is tackling the need for accessible concussion testing for youth athletes. Founder Christian Juzang was inspired by his sister’s battle with a head injury as a volleyball player. Cognify is both a platform and a medical provider, building a roster of doctors while offering quick sync-ups between an athlete and a head-injury specialist.
Meanwhile, Nix Biosensors continues its march to provide hydration tracking, using its $10 million Series A to fund the development of Nix Health, its B2B algorithms created for licensing through consumer health and fitness brands. The firm is targeting a 2027 Q1 launch of integrations with the popular wearables brands.
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