Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the sports industry, offering innovative solutions that enhance athletic performance, prevent injuries, and engage fans in unprecedented ways. The global AI in sports market is projected to grow from USD 5.93 billion in 2024 to USD 20.94 billion by 2029, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 28.69%.
This growth is driven by the increasing adoption of AI technologies such as predictive analytics, computer vision, and machine learning across various sports applications, from training and coaching to fan engagement and performance analytics.
Here are the AI-powered sports tech startups to watch in the U.S. in 2024:
NEX
Co- Founder & CEO: David Lee
NEX specializes in AI-powered solutions for esports, providing a platform called Playground that enhances player performance and engagement through data-driven insights and personalized coaching. The platform offers features like skill assessment, performance tracking, and goal setting, enabling players to monitor progress and stay motivated.
Zone7
Co-Founder & CEO: Tal Brown
Zone7 leverages AI to enhance human performance and prevent injuries in high-performance environments. The company provides AI-powered insights for injury risk forecasting, load management, and performance optimization, serving various sports including football, basketball, and American football.
Sportsbox AI
Co-Founder & CEO: Jeehae Lee
Sportsbox AI uses patent-pending 3D Motion Analysis and Kinematic AI technology to provide real-time corrective feedback for athletes. The company’s AI Coach mobile applications capture, measure, and analyze complex athletic motions in 3D, helping users improve their performance in sports like golf.
Tonal
Founder & CTO: Aly Orady
Tonal offers an advanced home gym system that uses digital weights and machine learning to provide personalized strength training. The system adapts to users’ abilities and tracks their progress, offering tailored workouts and real-time insights to help them achieve their fitness goals.
SwingVision
Co-Founder and CEO: Swupnil Sahai
SwingVision uses AI to provide real-time video analysis for tennis players. The app, available on iOS, tracks various metrics of a tennis game or practice, offering insights to help players improve their performance. It uses computer vision algorithms to analyze shots and swings, making professional-level analysis accessible to all players.
Mustard
Founder: Tom House
Mustard offers a mobile app that uses AI to analyze athletic mechanics and provide corrective tips. Initially focused on baseball, the app uses the smartphone’s camera and proprietary algorithms to monitor player motion and offer personalized coaching, making elite training accessible to everyone.
Springbok Analytics- Elite Sports
Co-Founder & CEO : Scott Magargee
Springbok Analytics transforms standard 2D MRI data into detailed 3D muscle visualizations using AI. This technology helps in injury assessment, recovery science, and personalized training by providing a comprehensive view of musculoskeletal health, enabling better performance and informed decisions.
Infinite Athlete
CEO: Charlie Ebersol
Infinite Athlete aims to create a unified technological foundation for all major sports, combining and connecting sports data from various sources. The company offers products like AI Injury Detection and the Game Operations Dashboard™, which help in injury prevention and enhancing fan engagement through personalized graphic overlays and real-time athlete tracking.
Uplift Labs
Co-Founder & CEO: Sukemasa Kabayama
Uplift Labs uses AI-powered technology to provide detailed movement analysis for athletes. By using just two iPhones or iPads, the platform captures full 3D athletic movements, offering insights to minimize injury risk and improve performance. It also enhances storytelling in sports broadcasts by providing biomechanical insights.
Perch
Co-Founder and CEO: Jacob Rothman
Perch offers a unified weight room technology solution that uses cameras mounted on weight racks to monitor and manage performance. The system provides real-time feedback, performance insights, and historical data analysis, helping coaches and athletes optimize their training and reduce injury risk.