Get Exclusive Updates Of Sports Funding, Sports Mergers, Sports Acquisitions and Sports Partnerships
Welcome to ScoreCard, your monthly dose of the latest and greatest happenings in the dynamic world of sports and sports technology! In a rapidly evolving landscape, we understand the importance of staying informed and ahead of the curve. That's why we've created ScoreCard by SportsFirst to bring you a comprehensive roundup of the most exciting sports deals, startup funding alerts, mergers, acquisitions, and emerging technologies in the industry.
Every month, our dedicated team of experts curates the top stories and trends from the world of sports and sports tech, ensuring that you never miss a beat. We've got you covered from the latest mega-mergers to innovative startups shaking up the industry. We dive deep into sports to bring exclusive insights, expert analysis, and thought-provoking commentary on the hottest topics.
ScoreCard is more than just a newsletter; it's a community of like-minded enthusiasts, professionals, and visionaries passionate about the future of sports and sports technology. Our mission is to keep you informed, inspired, and engaged as we explore cutting-edge developments reshaping how we play, compete, and experience the thrill of sports.
Welcome aboard, and let the games begin! 🏆
1) Apple launches a new app for tracking sports scores, stats
Apple announced the launch of Apple Sports, a new free app dedicated to supplying sports fans with their favorite teams’ latest scores and stats. The app encompasses various sports leagues including NHL, MLB, basketball (both men's and women's), and multiple soccer leagues such as the Premier League, Serie A, MLS, La Liga, and the Bundesliga.
The app encompasses various sports leagues including NHL, MLB, basketball (both men's and women's), and multiple soccer leagues such as the Premier League, Serie A, MLS, La Liga, and the Bundesliga. When setting up the app, users are prompted to select their preferred leagues and teams, or they can import this information from Apple News. Afterward, they have the flexibility to customize their view to display recent, current, or upcoming matches related to their favorite leagues or teams.
However, the app still has some notable limitations, indicating that it may not be fully developed yet. Notably, the NFL is not covered at this time, although Apple assures users that it will be available for the upcoming season. Additionally, there are discrepancies in the MLB coverage mentioned in the press release, as the option is already available in the app despite the absence of listed games.
2) Push Sports Secures Rs. 80 Lakh Funding on Shark Tank India
Delhi-based sports-tech startup, Push Sports, has secured a significant round of funding amounting to Rs. 80 lakh at 4% equity on Shark Tank India. The investment was led by entrepreneurs Peyush Bansal, Co-founder of Lenskart.com, and Vineeta Singh, CEO of SUGAR Cosmetics.
Push Sports aims to transform the grassroots sports ecosystem by providing structured sports education delivered by trained coaches across ten sports for children aged 3 to 19 years. Their gamified assessment tools encourage physical activity and help develop technical and interpersonal skills, promoting holistic development.
3) SportVot Secures ₹9.4 Crore in Pre-Series A Round to Digitise and Democratise Grassroot Level Sports
SportVot, a prominent sports broadcast and talent discovery platform, proudly announced today that it has successfully raised ₹9.4 Crore in a Pre-Series A funding round. The investment, led by Omidyar Network India, and featuring participation from Anicut Capital, StartupLynk, Ventana Ventures, and existing investors Capital A, Ankur Capital, SucSEED Innovation Fund, and Marwah Sports, marks a significant step forward in SportVot’s mission to democratize sports through cutting-edge technology.
Founded in 2019, SportVot has become a trailblazer in providing a comprehensive suite of online services for streaming sports events and identifying emerging sports talent at the grassroots level in India. The platform has not only delivered and commercialized grassroots sports but has also attracted investments to local sports associations while revolutionizing sports broadcasting using cloud technology.
4) STAN and Aptos Labs Launch Groundbreaking Esports and Influencer Fandom Platform for India’s 500 Million Gamers
Bengaluru-based gaming community startup, STAN, has joined forces with Aptos Labs to introduce an innovative esports and influencer fandom platform tailored specifically for India’s vast gaming community, which boasts an impressive 500 million gamers.
STAN has quickly become a dominant force in the Indian gaming landscape, amassing a substantial user base of 1 million Monthly Active Users (MAU), with an impressive 250,000 actively participating in Web3 activities. The convergence of gaming and Web3 technology is reshaping the digital entertainment landscape, and STAN is at the forefront of this movement.
The partnership with Aptos Labs aligns with STAN’s vision to revolutionize the gaming experience for its users. Mr. Parth Chadha, Co-Founder of STAN, expressed his excitement about the collaboration, stating, “We’re thrilled to partner with Aptos, a blockchain platform uniquely positioned to accelerate STAN’s growth and innovation. Their exceptional scalability, rock-solid security, and cost-effectiveness are game-changers for our high-volume NFT and gaming needs. Aptos’ cutting-edge technology like Move and their commitment to the Indian gaming community further solidify this partnership as a win-win for both parties. We’re excited to unlock the full potential of Web3 gaming together.”
5) VR STARTUP RAISES $20M SERIES A AS HEADSETS RE-ENTER SPOTLIGHT
StatusPro, a sports technology and gaming company, recently secured $20 million in Series A funding. This investment aims to expand its offerings beyond its initial success with the NFL Pro Era.
NFL Pro Era, launched in 2022, has already attracted over 1 million users, making it the fastest-selling VR sports title on Meta’s Quest platform. The game stands out for its use of real-time player data, offering users an immersive NFL experience, including recently added multiplayer contest modes.
The funding round was led by Google Ventures, with contributions from Dream Sports, Wise Ventures (backed by Minnesota Vikings owners Mark and Zygi Wilf), JDS Sports, and Alumni Ventures. Notable individual investors such as LeBron James, Drake, Maverick Carter, and Myles Garrett, as well as organizations like Haslam Sports and TitletownTech, also participated.
Co-founded by former football players Troy Jones and Andrew Hawkins, StatusPro plans to continue enhancing the NFL Pro Era while exploring opportunities to develop new gaming experiences.
6) DRAFTKINGS TO BUY JACKPOCKET FOR $750M AS STOCK STAYS FLAT
DraftKings stock stayed flat in late trading after the sports betting company released fourth-quarter earnings and announced an agreement to buy online lottery app Jackpocket for $750 million.
For the quarter ending in December, DraftKings reported revenue of $1.23 billion, almost exactly in line with consensus estimates of $1.24 billion. Losses per share of $0.10 trailed estimates of $0.08.
DraftKings announced the Jackpocket deal at the same time. The company said it will fund the deal with $412.5 million in cash and $337.5 million in stock. Should it close, it would allow DraftKings to get into the online lottery business, which has a much bigger addressable market than sports betting.
7) HUDL, SNAP! PARTNERSHIP FOLLOWS AMATEUR SPORTS’ DATA REVOLUTION
Sports video and data company Hudl recently signed a strategic partnership with Snap! Mobile to integrate Snap!’s fundraising tool into Hudl’s growing offering for amateur U.S. sports organizers.
The deal signals Hudl’s recognition of the evolving challenges—and opportunities—presented to grassroots organizations as more and more elements of the athlete and supporter experiences move online. Pro-level tech is increasingly becoming a must-have, putting a strain on budgets.
Hudl has worked with more than 200,000 teams globally after building on early tools that helped coaches and athletes review and share game footage. The company received a growth investment from Bain Capital in 2020 and last year expanded its product suite to include fan engagement features such as livestream passes and ticket sales.
8) Pavna Sports Venture announced the launch of South Asia’s first Women’s Handball League in India, investing more than 100 crores.
Pavna Sports Venture has announced the launch of South Asia’s first professional Women’s Handball League (WHL) in India, with an investment exceeding Rs 100 crores over the next three years to foster grassroots development of the sport. Organized under the South Asian Handball Federation and supported by the Asian Handball Federation and Handball Association of India, WHL aims to elevate women's handball in India and globally.
Pavna Sports Venture holds exclusive licensing rights for the next 10 years of the Women’s Handball League, with a provision for an additional 10-year extension.
9) Disney to invest $1.5 billion in Fortnite maker Epic Games to create a new universe
Disney announced that it will be investing $1.5 billion in an equity stake in Fortnite maker Epic Games. According to Disney, the two companies will collaborate to create “all-new games and entertainment universe.”
The Walt Disney Company also announced that these experiences will be “interoperating with Fortnite” and enable users to experience a new persistent universe where people will be able to play, shop, watch, and engage with content, stories, and characters from the Disney franchises like Avatar, Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars.
10) ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery Forming Joint Venture to Launch Streaming Sports Service in the U.S.
ESPN, owned by The Walt Disney Company, FOX, and Warner Bros. Discovery have agreed on key terms to establish a joint venture (JV) aimed at creating an innovative streaming sports platform. This platform will integrate the companies' sports networks and selected direct-to-consumer (DTC) sports services, featuring content from major professional sports leagues and college sports.
However, the formation of the pay service is contingent upon the parties reaching definitive agreements through negotiations. The planned launch for this offering is scheduled for the fall of 2024 when it will be accessible to consumers through a new app. Subscribers will also have the option to bundle the product with Disney+, Hulu, and/or Max.
11) A patented sports trainer designed to propel athletes toward peak performance, Hyperlab's 'Helios', sealed an investment of Rs 25 lakh ($24.1k) on Shark Tank India.
Hyperlab's groundbreaking sports trainer, named 'Helios', has successfully secured a Rs 25 lakh deal with Aman Gupta in the latest episode of 'Shark Tank India season 3. Positioned at the nexus of sports and technology, Hyperlab, led by Hitarth Parikh and Chahil Patel, emerges as a driving force for change, aiming to revolutionize athletic training. The founders showcased their innovative product on 'Shark Tank India 3', seeking the guidance of experienced Sharks to propel their vision forward and bridge the gap between physical and virtual training realms.
12) London-based VR/AR fitness company FitXR raised an undisclosed amount from Circle Rock Capital
The VR fitness platform announced a third, undisclosed investment from CircleRock Capital.
Early on the scene, FitXR strategically expanded across the VR fitness landscape, providing seven exercise modalities on Meta and Pico headsets.
Bolstering its boxing and HIIT workouts in recent months, a partnership with Zumba brings 32 classes to dance enthusiasts, while its next-gen Slam workout taps mixed reality’s pass-through function so users move around hitting targets with awareness of their surroundings.
13) Golf Genius announced that it had acquired Shotzoom, owner of Golfshot and CoachNow for an undisclosed amount again.
Golf Genius announced that it had acquired Shotzoom, owner of Golfshot and CoachNow. Golfshot is the leading mobile and wearable GPS solution for golfers, with over 8 million registered users, more than 45% of whom play outside the United States. CoachNow, recognized as the leading platform for coaches in golf and over 50 other sports worldwide, provides advanced video capture and analysis and coach/athlete collaboration, empowering the world’s largest professional coaching community.
As the sports industry continues to grow and evolve, we can expect to see even more exciting funding and acquisition deals in the future. These deals will not only shape the landscape of the industry but also provide opportunities for new players to enter the market and for existing players to expand their reach. Whether it's through new technologies, innovative partnerships, or strategic acquisitions, the sports industry is sure to remain a hotbed of activity for years to come. So stay tuned for more updates and insights on the latest developments in this fast-paced and exciting field.
ScoreCard is for every Sports enthusiast. So, whether you're an athlete, a fan, an investor, or an entrepreneur in the sports and sports tech realm, ScoreCard is the perfect companion for staying up-to-date and inspired. Gear up for an exciting journey, as we embark on this adventure to stay ahead in the game!
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