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
OK, it’s not a World Series ring, but the Seattle Mariners are taking strides to improve performance through technology by adding a new piece of equipment to their arsenal. The team is the first in Major League Baseball to partner with Oura Health and use the company’s smart Oura Rings to help players and staff get personalized insights on sleep and overall health. The rings provide biometric data on sleep, activity and recovery habits by measuring key physiological signals such as temperature, heart rate, heart rate variability and respiratory rate. The data, delivered through the Oura app, feeds into a… Read More
Satya Nadella is a big fan of cricket. But on Sunday he wound up for a different sport as the Microsoft CEO threw out the virtual first first pitch for the Seattle Mariners before the team’s game against the San Diego Padres. Former Mariners catcher Dave Valle joined Nadella for the socially distanced toss — who needs six feet when you can go with 60 feet, 6 inches? After Nadella threw his first pitch, Valle said, “Not bad. I think you can do a little bit better.” So Nadella brought in a little muscle from the bullpen in the form… Read More
Microsoft is becoming the de-facto virtual fan enabler for sports leagues. The tech giant revealed today that it is working with the NFL to host a virtual fan experience for games during the 2020-21 season, which kicks off tonight. It’s similar to the company’s partnership with the NBA as leagues look to fill gaps with most fans banned from stadiums and arenas due to COVID-19. Previously: I was a virtual NBA fan: What it’s like to cheer from the digital sidelines in Microsoft Teams For each NFL game, the home team will invite fans to the virtual experience. They’ll watch… Read More
Fans might not be able to engage in football by attending NFL games in person at the start of the upcoming season, but they can dive deeper into the sport thanks to new Next Gen Stats powered by Amazon Web Services. AWS and the NFL are debuting six new insights into player and team performance in time for the season kickoff on Thursday between the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs. The league previously announced the stat Expected Rush Yards, which was born out of the Big Data Bowl analytics competition, and is intended to reveal how many yards a… Read More
