#62 Consumer Tech Products that will impact Sports in 2024

January 18, 2024

News, features & insights from the world of SportsTech. Every Week.

Lots of funding news to get through this week. Can feel that momentum building slowly. Andinspired by CES, we take a look at a few consumer tech products that will likely have a big say in thesports world this year.

Feature Story

Consumer Tech Products that will impact Sports in 2024

As CES concluded last week, we got to see some pretty ‘interesting’ products. From a See-ThroughTV from LG to a $12k toilet from Kohler, it’s all there. The power of the human spirit to solveproblems on full display, even when one doesn’t seem to exist.

Apart from all the weird stuff, there are always a few that make you to sit up and take notice. Thisgot us thinking about what new products / gadgets do we expect to see in 2024 that could have animpact in the world of sports

Apple Vision Pro: The obvious first. Set to launch February 2nd, 2024, the $2k+ price point meansthat we’re still a long way from mass adoption of this or any other lo-fi VR headset (sorry Meta). Butearly signs indicate that sports will play an important role in how the product is used. Apple’sincreased recent investment in sports & fitness is not without a grand design in place. Nike’s DOT SWOOSH: Who said the products have to be physical. After banking $185 million insales during the 2021-22 NFT heyday, Nike’s recent post on the the future of .swoosh only reinforcesthe companies belief in the future of virtual products & digital merchandise. Electric Air Taxis: There was a lot of early buzz around air taxis at the Paris Olympics, as well assome pretty strong opposition. Do we really expect to see eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off andlanding) flying around Paris? No. But if they are then best believe we’ll be in one. Smart Rings: Part of the inspiration for this piece – Samsung just announced that they are makinga smart ring, Apple has been rumoured to be working on one for a while. The headstart that Ouraand others have had is quickly disappearing as 2024 might be the year of the smart ring. Add thatto the FitnessTech gadget everyone must get for Christmas.Hydrogen based racing: Okay we’re cheating a bit since this is slated for 2025 instead of this year.But the FIA’s announcement to rebrand the Extreme E series as Extreme H is a strongendorsement of the tech. And Le Mans is already set to introduce a hydrogen category from 2026.Everyone doing their part in the race to net zero.That was a quick list and we’re sure there are more worth talking about. Join us on LinkedIn to chatabout any others you have in mind.

GOPRO=PRO(GSTVCR23+SportsTechDB)

NEW OFFER for 2024The PRO Edition of the GlobalSportsTech Report is packed with 17additionalpagesofdata&insights.That’snearlyhalfthefreeLITEeditionaddedon.

Buy now for on a 50% discount on PRO Access to SportsTechDB with it’s 6k+ SportsTech startups,powerful filters & interactive infographics, so €499 instead of €999.

Top News from the World of SportsTech

APEX Capital’s Impact Program has closed it’s 1st round with 3 startup investments- Hexis, anutrition platform; Traits, an athlete profiling tool and VRTL, a virtual fan engagement environment. Match Ventures is getting more attention for their €40 million fund which aims to back 20companies and also improve the broken VC due diligence model. We already broke this news in ourlatest VC Report where Match Ventures was a partner, good to know that others are coming roundto it. The NFL is in advanced talks to take an equity stake in ESPN in a deal that could see the Disneyowned company take control of NFL media – which includes NFL Network, NFL.com, Red Zone,NFL+ and NFL Films.The Mercedes Formula 1 team is set to collaborate with Florida based automotive technologycompany Lumina, to use their LiDAR system to enhance security for the FIA safety car. OneCourt is making the news for their haptic miniature field that helps visually impaired fansenjoy their favourite sport – American Football. Fans can use the board to feel player and ballpositions in near real-time. Teamworks, the Operating System for Sports powering over 6,000 sports organizations worldwide,has now arrived in Germany. Willkommen.

Not SportsTech but you should know:

Apex Capital, along with athletes Alex Albon and John Stones, are investing in a San Franciscoteam competing in the Woods & McIlroy backed indoor Golf League, TGL. As part of a new multiyear partnership with Fanatics, LeBron James and his son Bronny, willappear together on an upcoming trading card. NBA Champion Giannis Antetokounmpo announced the launch of Improbable Media, aproduction and brand consulting company. Founded with former NBA hooper Jay Williams andother partners the company will start with producing documentaries about the 2 time MVP.The all-electric motor racing series, Extreme E, is going to be discontinued after 2024 as they shiftto a hydrogen-powered competition next year under the moniker Extreme H. The Indian conglomerate GMR Group, part owners of Delhi Capitals, are close to acquiring a majorstake in Hampshire County Cricket Club.

Money Talks:

Two Circles, a marketing firm owned by Bruin Capital, has been sold for $315 million to Londonbased private equity firm Charterhouse Capital Partners. Bruin Capital has invested about $38 million in the sports-focused production company Box toBox Films, taking a minority stake. GolfForever, which offers golfers an at-home training system, secured $10 million in Series AFunding led by Clerisy. Los Angeles based new sports memorabilia authenticator, The Realest, has secured $4.6 million inseed funding in a round led by KB Partners. Full Venue, a Portugal-based AI company for the sports and events industry, raised €2 million inseed funding led by GED Ventures. Estonian basketball fan engagement platform Scorestars secured €725K in a seed round offunding led by Trind VC, Startup Wise Guys, 3 Comma Capital, and Estonian angel investors. One of the leading providers of custom wellness and performance programs for federal agencies,O2X Human Performance has received a growth investment from Falfurrias Growth Partners, aCharlotte-based private equity fund. Teamworks has acquired Kairos, a communication and messaging software for professional sports,for an undisclosed amount. A leader in digital health and wellness, FlexIt Inc., has acquired Sukhi Inc., a Washington basedEnterprise Wellness business, for an undisclosed amount. Madrid based Playtomic has acquired Sportclubby, the Italian social platform for sports, for anundisclosed amount again.

Latest from our Channels

#192 Respo.Vision: Reinventing Sports with Computer Vision and AIRespo Vision is an AI and Computer Vision-powered 3D sport’s tracking data system that is bringingthe next-generation sports analytics and entertainment experience to the forefront. Here’s a 60 mins snapshot of the most important findings from SportsTechX’s latest GlobalSportsTech VC Report 2023. Covering data & insights from another interesting year for SportsTech. Sports Tech AllStars Recap: VC’s in SportsTech STX Weekly: Last week’s newsletter, the first of 2024, in case you missed it

Reply

or to participate.