SportAI and Shark Collaboration: Oslo-based AI startup SportAI has secured its second commercial contract, this time with pickleball and beach tennis equipment brand Shark. As part of the deal, SportAI is developing an AI-powered coaching app designed to help Shark’s customers improve their game through advanced technique analysis and personalized training.
AI-Powered Coaching and Equipment Recommendations
The upcoming app will utilize SportAI’s computer vision technology to analyze various aspects of a player’s game, including:
- Player movement
- Swing curves
- Ball striking metrics
- Personalized training suggestions
- Equipment recommendations
SportAI co-founder & CEO Lauren Pedersen highlighted the significance of this partnership, stating that equipment brands and retailers are a key market for the company, as they seek data-driven insights for product development and customer recommendations.
“[One of the groups] we really wanted to go after was equipment brands and retailers who want this data in for product development, but also product recommendations.” – (Lauren Pedersen)
“It’s super exciting for us,” Pedersen told SBJ.
Continued Investment in AI Development
SportAI’s models for tennis and padel are currently more advanced than those for pickleball and beach tennis, but the company continues to refine its technology. The app is currently in development and is expected to be released later this year.
SportAI has received significant financial backing, securing a $1.8 million seed round led by Skyfall Ventures last August, followed by an additional $805,000 in grants from Innovation Norway and Eurostars in January.
SportAI’s Expansion in the Sports Tech Market
This new contract follows SportAI’s first commercial agreement, signed last year with MATCHi, a racket sports booking platform for tennis and padel courts. Beyond equipment manufacturers and coaching academies, the company is also targeting broadcast clients to expand its AI-driven sports technology solutions.
News in Brief: SportAI and Shark Collaboration
SportAI, an Oslo-based AI sports technology company, has partnered with pickleball and beach tennis brand Shark to develop an AI-powered coaching app.
The app, expected to launch later this year, will provide technique analysis and training recommendations. SportAI continues to grow, securing over $2.6 million in funding while expanding its AI capabilities across racket sports.
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