Before you take yet another mulligan, consider that the tool to improving your golf game might not be found in your bag of clubs. The makers of an app that employs artificial intelligence and 3D motion analysis say they’ve created a revolutionary way to improve your golf swing through a video shot on your phone. Sportsbox AI is a startup that launched in 2021 out of AI Thinktank, a Bellevue, Wash.-based incubator for AI ideas founded by tech veterans Mike Kennewick and Rich Kennewick. They’re the brothers who founded Voicebox Technologies, an early leader in speech recognition and natural language tech that sold… Read More
Redmond, Wash.-based Tagboard has entered into a new four-year deal with Major League Baseball to help the league create interactive content and experiences utilizing the startup’s cloud-based production platform. Following a year in which COVID-19 transformed the way people view sports and teams try to engage with fans, MLB’s aim is to bolster fan engagement across in-stadium, livestream, and digital properties. Tagboard has worked with MLB for years as well as the NFL, CNN, FOX and others. The company’s new Tagboard Interactive graphics system gives producers access to real-time social media content and the ability to craft interactive media, such… Read More
Vicis is back. The one-time Seattle startup darling that went through a major and sudden downfall in 2019 just debuted a new-and-improved version of its high-tech football helmet called the ZERO2. The launch marks a milestone in what’s been a roller coaster for Vicis over the past few years. After spinning out of the University of Washington in 2014, Vicis garnered attention for its unique ZERO1 helmet that featured specialized layers built to mitigate the impact of bone-crushing hits that cause concussions and put the health of professional football players in jeopardy. It raised more than $85 million over five… Read More
Boost Sport, a Seattle startup that helps basketball teams analyze their performance with video analysis technology, raised a $1.3 million seed round. Founded in 2016, the company uses machine learning and artificial intelligence that lets coaches and trainers pull data insights from video footage without having to purchase in-venue camera systems and wearable devices. Boost says its software can help spot trends and surface opportunities about strategy and personnel. TitletownTech, a partnership between the Green Bay Packers and Microsoft, led the round. Other investors include Portfolia, Stadia Ventures, Barbara Clarke at the ImpactSeat, and Scott Cannon. Boost is led by… Read More
Vancouver, B.C.-based startup Form raised $8.5 million ($12 million CAD) for its augmented reality swimming goggles. Founded in 2016 by tech vet and former competitive swimmer Dan Eisenhardt, Form’s $199 goggles provide real-time visual feedback such as metrics on split times, distance, stroke rate, pace, and calories. The company launched in August and shipped more than 10,000 goggles in its first four months of operation. Large family offices in the UK and Denmark led the round, which included participation from Silicon Valley Bank. Eisenhardt previously sold sports-oriented AR startup Recon Instruments to Intel. The consumer AR market hasn’t taken off… Read More
