AO Startups Opens New Global Intake

By AIT News Desk On Oct 31, 2023

A new global search is underway to find the most ambitious and creative sports technology innovators for the next intake of AO StartUps.

Since its launch in 2022, AO StartUps has selected fourteen companies to pilot their cutting-edge technology during the Australian summer of tennis and across other areas of Tennis Australia’s business.

The most recent intake featured a range of innovative tech companies from across the globe including PAM, Raven, DVOX, Circular, Straffr, Trickshot, and Stringr.

“Hundreds of sports tech startups emerge every year but only 10% can sustain themselves in the long run,” Tennis Australia Head of Innovation Dr Machar Reid said.

“We created AO StartUps to help companies on that journey and reward tech founders for the incredible effort and energy they invest in getting their concepts off the ground.

“We are not a typical accelerator program but rather we work with each company to craft a tailored experience that will see them deeply integrated into a core vertical within our events or year-round business.

“This is an incredible opportunity for emerging startups to showcase the true potential of their technology and collaborate with the biggest global sport and entertainment event in January.

“AO StartUps has fast become a critical component of our innovation agenda at TA and we have high hopes that this intake will uncover a new batch of creative founders who are seeking to put their stamp on the sporting world.”

AO StartUps is led by Tennis Australia’s Innovation team and follows the launch of Tennis Australia’s Venture Capital fund (Wildcard Ventures) and its multi-year partnership with global accelerator powerhouse, Techstars.

The sport and entertainment verticals of most interest during the upcoming intake include health and fitness and Padel tennis as well as all things artificial intelligence and automation.
Early-stage tech companies have until 19 November to apply.

AO StartUps is the latest step in Tennis Australia’s innovation and venture capital strategy which helps startup companies pilot their cutting-edge technology at the AO and other areas of Tennis Australia’s business.

Companies participating in AO StartUps will be provided the opportunity to prove their business models in real-time and directly access proprietary intel and exposure at one of the world’s largest sports and entertainment events. It’s been designed to extract maximum value for the startup, streamline corporate processes that can often stifle innovating at speed, and provide an opportunity for investment via Tennis Australia’s venture capital fund, Wildcard Ventures.

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