EU-Startups’ Post

Investment in sports technology reached $51.9 billion in the first half of 2025, with artificial intelligence driving approximately 30% of all privately financed deals according to Drake Star's Global Sports Tech Report. Major investment firms like KB Partners, SeventySix Capital, and Ryan Sports Ventures are increasingly backing AI-powered startups that enhance everything from micro-betting and seating logistics to content production and performance analysis, fundamentally transforming how the sports industry operates and competes.

Jabbr raises 32 million kroner to bring AI to combat sports The Danish company Jabbr has raised 32 million kroner in new funding to develop its AI-powered platform for analyzing combat sports. The investment round is led by the Silicon Valley fund Buckley Ventures with participation from PSV Tech, Olympic gold medalist André Ward, and the venture firm Seven Seven Six 7️⃣7️⃣6️⃣ founded by Reddit, Inc. creator Alexis Ohanian Sr. Jabbr’s technology uses cameras and artificial intelligence to analyze and score fights in real time. The goal is to make judging more objective and to give athletes, trainers, and broadcasters detailed insights into performance. The first production batch of 300 systems is already fully pre-ordered and expected to be delivered next year. Founded in Copenhagen by Allan Svejstrup Nielsen and Elias Obeid, Jabbr has already attracted global attention after delivering AI-driven fight statistics for major events such as Oleksandr Usyk’s victory over Tyson Fury. With teams in Copenhagen, Shenzhen, and Los Angeles, the company now aims to scale its technology to a wider international market.

On 1 October 2025, AI-sports tech startup Spectatr.ai announced a strategic collaboration with content distributor Triple B Media. Their joint initiative aims to deliver AI-powered highlights, multilingual content, and real-time engagement tools to fans and rights holders globally. (PR Newswire) Disclaimer This image is AI-enhanced and used for illustrative purposes only. #SportsAI #FanEngagement #TechPartnership #NextGenSports #AOAMIR

Latest in the world of #SportsTech Deadflow 💰 💸 CVC Capital formed a $14 billion Global Sports Group fund, marking one of the largest dedicated sports investment vehicles to date. 💸 Next Ventures closed its second fund, Next Ventures II, doubling down on investments in whole-person health. 💸 Former National Football League (NFL) stars John Elway, Tim Tebow, and Blake Bortles teamed up with @Chick-fil-A CEO Andrew T. Cathy and Magnolia Hill Partners to launch Momentous Sports, a new investment firm targeting sports and real estate. 💰 OnTracx, a Ghent University spin-off, raised €1.2 million ($1.4 million) in seed funding to scale its wearable sensor and digital platform that helps runners recover and prevent injuries. 💰 Airsoft Gun India announced plans to raise $10 million to expand its sports tech platform and strengthen India’s shooting ecosystem. 🤝 Genius Sports acquired Sports Innovation Lab for an undisclosed amount to enhance its fan activation platform with data, technology, and broadcast capabilities. 🎥 Paramount Skydance is preparing a bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, according to a Reuters source, potentially reshaping the global entertainment industry. We track all the deals in sports tech so you don’t have to. Get the complete report every week in the STX Weekly Newsletter: https://lnkd.in/g35BxteY #sportstech #sportsinvestment #sportsinnovation 

✅ #SportsTech Funding News of the week: 🎮 Electronic Arts (EA), the California-based global gaming giant, agreed to be acquired by Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Affinity Equity Partners in a $55 billion all-cash deal, the largest sponsor-led take-private transaction in history, valuing EA at $210 per share. ⌚ ŌURA, the Finnish healthtech company behind the smart ring, is reportedly raising $875 million in Series E funding at an $11 billion valuation, with revenues expected to top $1 billion this year. 💸 Midnite, a London-based sports betting and gaming platform, secured a $100 million credit facility to fund marketing, product innovation, and team expansion as it pushes toward Tier 1 operator status. 💰 Scorability, an Austin, Texas-based recruiting platform that helps college coaches discover, evaluate, and connect with athletes, raised $40 million in funding to accelerate its growth in college sports recruiting. 💰 AudioShake, a San Francisco startup building AI tools to separate and remix audio tracks, raised $14 million in Series A funding led by Shine Capital to expand its audio technology for the AI era. 💰 Rival, a New York-based fan engagement platform, raised $2.8 million in first funding and acquired Shake, a Gen Z-focused social gaming platform. 🤝 Allwyn, a multinational lottery operator headquartered in Switzerland, agreed to acquire a 62.3% majority stake in US daily fantasy sports leader PrizePicks for $1.6 billion, marking its entry into the American sports and entertainment market. 💸 Red Bull Ventures, the investment arm of the Austrian energy drink giant, invested in Apex Capital’s athlete-backed venture fund to back startups at the intersection of sports and entertainment. 💸 Los Angeles Lakers executives Joey and Jesse Buss launched Buss Sports Capital, a new sports-focused acquisition firm. Image Source: Plano Gaming

We’re excited to share the September edition of our SportsTech Monthly Report! 🚀 With some initiatives already completed and plenty more ahead, we are proud to launch a brand-new section of the report - PZPN Innovation Hub Spotlight. We’re also excited to announce the launch of the Startup Club - a 3-month program for Polish startups shaping the future of football innovation. 🚀 From workspace at our Hub, through direct access to decision makers and expert mentorship, to international networking opportunities - the program is designed to accelerate the most promising Polish sports tech solutions. A big thank you to Dawid Prokopowicz (Google) for sharing his valuable perspective on digital transformation in sports in our Expert View section -insights that highlight how rapidly innovation is reshaping the industry. In this month’s report, you’ll find highlights such as: ⚡ Connecting ecosystems - (USTA) United States Tennis Association brings together startups, leagues, and investors at the US Open 📲 Digital & fan engagement - Napster Corp. and Fenerbahçe SK launch an AI-powered 3D virtual store 📺 Broadcast records - Canelo vs. Crawford draws 41M Netflix viewers in a historic boxing showdown 🌟 Star power in tech - Steph Curry partners with Google as performance advisor 💰 Major investments - Apollo plans $5bn sports investment vehicle 🇵🇱 In our Focus on Poland section, we proudly present Adspective, a Polish startup that has just entered a strategic partnership with FC Barcelona through the Barça Innovation Hub. Their breakthrough Virtual Product Placement technology will allow Barça to deliver more engaging, personalized content to fans around the world - a strong proof that Polish innovation is influencing the global sports industry. 👉 Enjoy the reading!

The sports industry has transformed from having a single yellow line on TV to a multi-billion dollar tech ecosystem. With $51.9 billion in sports tech investment in the first half of 2025 alone, AI is playing a major role, with nearly 30% of privately financed deals involving an AI component. As investors like Keith Bank of KB Partners and Wayne Kimmel of SeventySix Capital note, AI is now the buzzword on everyone's tongue. But as they've learned, the real value isn't just in using AI; it's in how the technology enhances existing processes and solves real-world problems. The future of sports will be shaped by companies that can leverage AI to improve everything from fan engagement to athlete performance and operational efficiency. #SportsTech #AI #SportsAnalytics #VentureCapital

Latest in the world of #SportsTech Dealflow 💰 🎮 Electronic Arts (EA), the California-based global gaming giant, agreed to be acquired by Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners in a $55 billion all-cash deal, the largest sponsor-led take-private transaction in history, valuing EA at $210 per share. ⌚ ŌURA, the Finnish healthtech company behind the smart ring, is reportedly raising $875 million in Series E funding at an $11 billion valuation, with revenues expected to top $1 billion this year. 💸 Midnite, a London-based sports betting and gaming platform, secured a $100 million credit facility to fund marketing, product innovation, and team expansion as it pushes toward Tier 1 operator status. 💰 Scorability, an Austin, Texas-based recruiting platform that helps college coaches discover, evaluate, and connect with athletes, raised $40 million in funding to accelerate its growth in college sports recruiting. 💰 AudioShake, a San Francisco startup building AI tools to separate and remix audio tracks, raised $14 million in Series A funding led by Shine Capital to expand its audio technology for the AI era. 💰 Rival, a New York-based fan engagement platform, raised $2.8 million in first funding and acquired Shake, a Gen Z-focused social gaming platform. 🤝 Allwyn, a multinational lottery operator headquartered in Switzerland, agreed to acquire a 62.3% majority stake in US daily fantasy sports leader PrizePicks for $1.6 billion, marking its entry into the American sports and entertainment market. We track all the deals in sports tech so you don’t have to. Get the complete report every week in the STX Weekly Newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gDt2XVCU #sportstech #sportsinvestment #sportsinnovation

Minute Media Acquires VideoVerse in Strategic Expansion of AI Sports Video Capabilities Minute Media, a global leader in sports content and technology, has acquired VideoVerse, a company known for its innovative AI driven video technology. This move marks a new era in sports media, reflecting the growing influence of artificial intelligence in creating and distributing sports content. VideoVerse has revolutionized how sports videos are produced, making it easier to generate highlights, replays, and custom video content for fans on any device. By bringing VideoVerse into its ecosystem, Minute Media is aiming to boost both scalability and creativity in its sports coverage. This partnership will help deliver faster, more accurate video offerings, driving higher fan engagement and setting a new standard for real time, personalized sports content. Industry experts predict this collaboration will advance storytelling in sports media, benefiting fans, sponsors, broadcasters, and the betting industry alike. The acquisition signals a major step forward for both companies, showcasing how AI innovation is transforming fan interaction with sports worldwide #SportsTech #AIVideo #MediaInnovation Read the full article at: WWW.SPORTSANDGULF.AE

🚀 Minute Media x VideoVerse (Orbit 2020): Building the Future of Sports Content Watch CNBC-TV18 coverage of the Minute Media acquisition of VideoVerse (Orbit 2020) in a US$ 270M deal, creating one of the most significant media exits in India. Orbit was VideoVerse’s first VC backer, passing on the opportunity twice before finally investing in 2020. The founders never gave up until their AI solved a key industry need and they had unique data that mattered. Minute Media, a global sports tech and content company working with leagues like the National Basketball Association (NBA), NFL, and MLB, sees AI-powered video creation as the missing piece of its full-stack offering.  The acquisition brings VideoVerse’s flagship product Magnifi’s cutting-edge AI capabilities — real-time highlights, multilingual subtitling, and automated workflows — directly into Minute Media’s global ecosystem. Vinayak Shrivastav, CEO & Founder of VideoVerse, tells CNBC TV18, “Together we’re creating a true end-to-end ecosystem to redefine how sports content is created, distributed, and monetized — delivering more value to rights owners and more magic to fans worldwide.” Asaf Peled, CEO of Minute Media adds, “No other company globally can offer this end-to-end solution at scale.” 🚀 What’s next? Innovation: Expanding AI beyond subtitling into localized storytelling, interactive fan feeds, and monetization intelligence. India strategy: India will be a key AI and tech hub for Minute Media, tapping into its massive sports audience and talent pool. Global growth: Doubling down in the US and EMEA while expanding deeper into Asia Pacific, with a focus on scaling revenues sustainably. 🎥 Watch CNBC TV18 interview with Minute Media & VideoVerse Oscar Ramos Jong Wan Brian Lee William Bao Bean #TheEmergingMarketsVC #startups #founders #AI #SportsVideo