Orreco, an AI-powered performance science firm in Ireland, has acquired computer vision startup Data Driven Sports Analytics and raised a $4M Series A extension from Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban, Enterprise Ireland, pro athletes and existing investors.
A recent graduate of the Comcast NBCUniversal’s SportsTech program, Orreco will also participate in the upcoming cohort of MLS Innovation Lab that will be formally announced shortly.
The primary motivation for the investment and acquisition is Orreco’s work on Motion Signal, which collates a wide variety of data inputs to identify injury risk. The AI algorithms consider everything from sources of external load, such as GPS wearables and video-based biomechanical analysis, to internal measures such as Orreco’s biomarker tests.
Motion Signal is showing increasing promise to work in real-time to help flag soft-tissue injuries before they happen — everything from hamstring strains to, potentially, even non-contact Achilles and ACL tears.
“What’s driving a lot of interest is Motion because it’s so scalable,” Orreco co-founder & CEO Dr. Brian Moore told SBJ, “and it’s in the middle of this really challenging problem.”
Four Premier League clubs, including longtime innovation partner Newcastle United, have been piloting Motion Signal, and Orreco is in conversations with a few NBA teams. Orreco recently became the first firm of its kind to contract with Sportradar for use of its real-time NBA data feed.
“This is the first proactive approach to use AI to help reduce injury risk,” Cuban said. “It’s great today and only going to get better.”
Data Driven Sports Analytics is based in Melbourne, Australia, and has supported the women’s world No. 1 player, Aryna Sabalenka, for years. Though focused on tennis to date, the technology will be adapted to other sports, especially basketball and soccer. It can collect data off broadcast footage, so no specific hardware is necessary. An AI interface makes data retrieval and analysis more accessible.
“This is our step toward having a fully integrated system,” Moore said. “We have a full stack ourselves so that we can go toe to toe with the bigger organizations in the space.”
Algorithms also help guide return-to-play programs. The challenge for many rehab protocols is simulating the necessary curvilinear movements needed to compete. Orreco has used drones to recreate such patterns in the past, and it has also developed Trace, a new automated product trainers can use to create personalized cone drills for athletes to regain their form.
The funding is expected to create up to 55 new jobs and the development of a real-time athlete data monitoring center at its Galway headquarters. Orreco won Best in Athlete Performance at the 2023 Sports Business Awards: Tech. Prior investors include professional golfers and major champions Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, NBA agent Todd Ramasar, NHL agent and Olympic medalist Allain Roy.
