Lucra was named to Fast Company's annual list of the World's Most Innovative Companies of 2024.

Lucra was named to Fast Company's annual list of the World's Most Innovative Companies of 2024.

Performance optimization in sports isn’t new. But a recent shift toward prioritizing athletes’ health, safety, and wellness—both physical and mental—has been seismic. Driving this change are the same kinds of algorithms that have personalized nearly every aspect of our digital experience, in this case enhancing our understanding of both the individual athlete and the human body. 

Springbok Analytics has pioneered a way to use artificial intelligence to turn 2D MRI data into personalized 3D musculoskeletal analyses, a type of digital twin, to optimize a person’s health and performance. Its technology, which could treat and potentially prevent everything from ACL tears to rotator cuff injuries, has found customers throughout the NFL, NBA, and MLB, as well as college teams. While Springbok focuses on elite athletes, MAGIC helps out amateurs and average Joes. The U.K.-based company offers AI-powered programs in which users can receive one-on-one training from celebrity trainers and professional athletes. 

Not all sports innovators are focused on physical performance. RealResponse offers a platform for athletes and student athletes to safely and swiftly share any concerns they have about things like team culture or mental health issues through anonymous two-way communication and surveys. Meanwhile, ProXR is focused on the tools athletes use for their sports. What began as a backyard baseball accident turned into a complete reimagining of the baseball bat’s shape, angling the knob to eliminate friction during the swing and protect hitters from hand injuries.

In women’s sports, the NWSL is at the forefront, pioneering media rights deals and raising the bar for how women’s sports franchises are valued. With the rise of sports betting, sports tech leader Sportradar is making video processing faster than ever, enabling micro-betting for live sports, while Lucra, another tech company, is gamifying casual sports betting.

On the marketing side, State Farm continues to reinvent how fans interact with brands by gamifying marketing and bringing spokespeople to life. And ASB Glass Floor is taking tech to the basketball court with its interactive LED playing surfaces, laying the literal groundwork for brands to entertain and connect with fans like never before. Lastly, SailGP brings sustainability to racing sports, reimagining both coverage and competition to reduce its carbon footprint—just one of this year’s companies whose contributions could transcend sport itself.

1. NATIONAL WOMEN’S SOCCER LEAGUE

For raising the bar for how women’s sports are valued

2. SPORTRADAR

For wagering heavily on micro-betting

3. STATE FARM

For scoring big with its social integration into big games

4. SPRINGBOK ANALYTICS

For adding some extra muscle to AI

5. SAILGP

For charting a course to more sustainable competition

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6. PROXR

For reinventing the handles for bats, racquets, and hockey sticks

7. REALRESPONSE

For protecting athletes from abuse

8. LUCRA

For gamifying casual sports betting

9. ASB GLASSFLOOR

For lighting up the floor (and the data) on basketball courts

10. MAGIC AI

For harnessing AI to bring glitz to personal training

St. Croix Casinos Renew Comprehensive Partnership with U.S. Integrity

U.S. Integrity Renew Comprehensive Partnership with St. Croix Casino

U.S. Integrity will continue provide integrity monitoring services via its proprietary dashboard to St. Croix. U.S. Integrity conducts analysis across dozens of data sets to proactively identify irregular contest-level, officiating & wagering patterns.

St. Croix Casinos operates 3 casinos in Wisconsin – St. Croix Casino in Turtle Lake, St. Croix Casino in Dansbury, and St. Croix Casino in Hertel. All three casinos include a sportsbook and share a commitment to integrity while delivering outstanding guest service and experiences.

“U.S. Integrity has been an integral partner to St. Croix Casinos and the St. Croix Gaming Commission since the Tribe began its journey into sports betting. We look forward to our continued partnership,” said Mary Kay Merrill, Chairwoman of the St. Croix Gaming Commission.

“USI is a proud partner of St. Croix and we’re thrilled to continue our partnership with each property to deliver regulated sports wagering in Wisconsin,” says Matthew Holt, U.S. Integrity’s CEO & co-founder. He continued, “U.S. Integrity’s mission is to provide conflict-free, best in class insights & compliance solutions to our clients.

Diamond Kinetics Accelerates Innovation In Youth Sports Technology With Acquisition Of SidelineHD

Diamond Kinetics Accelerates Innovation In Youth Sports Technology With Acquisition Of SidelineHD

March 7, 2024

Pittsburgh, PA (March 7, 2024)Diamond Kinetics (DK), the sports technology company transforming youth baseball and softball development, today announced the acquisition of sidelineHD, an innovative youth sports media platform specializing in livestreaming and video highlights. This strategic move underscores the company’s commitment to integrating thoughtful technology to provide personalized and enhanced player experiences and foster a love for the games.

sidelineHD has revolutionized the youth sports landscape by empowering parents to create professional-quality livestreams of youth games with integrated scoreboards, player information cards, and real-time sports data. Leveraging AI in real-time, sidelineHD automatically generates highlights and video clips, offering players and families the ability to share this valuable social content instantly, generating memories that grow their love of the game and their desire to play at the next level while also hooking into recruiting platforms and other services that provide tangible benefits to today’s youth player.  

"This acquisition aligns perfectly with Diamond Kinetics' vision of providing a unified and complete experience for youth baseball and softball athletes and families," said CJ Handron, CEO and Co-Founder of Diamond Kinetics. "By integrating sidelineHD's livestreaming and video highlights capabilities into our offering, we are now able to deliver even more value to users as they move from practice-time to in-game action, and vice versa."

The integration of sidelineHD’s livestreaming and video highlights capabilities will unlock new possibilities for both DK and sidelineHD users. Based on game outcomes, players in the sidelineHD app will now be exposed to more personalized training and instruction pathways, gaining access to guided hitting sessions and MLB content to help them improve their skills while having more fun with DK’s interactive content, challenges, and lightweight mobile games.

"Joining forces with Diamond Kinetics will allow our team to take the streaming experience, in-game content, and performance data to the next level, providing both instructional and social value for our users," said Ben Jun, CEO of sidelineHD. "With DK's support, we look forward to delivering personalized video content that enhances training, development, and the overall enjoyment of youth sports."

SidelineHD will remain a stand-alone application and its capabilities will be integrated into existing and future DK products. DK will also continue to enhance sidelineHD’s product, and add even more value to existing streaming capabilities. As youth players do more in the DK ecosystem they will unlock unique and personalized avenues of expression that will enhance the livestreaming experience, making it even more enjoyable to watch while also generating one-of-a-kind highlight reels ready for distribution on social channels.

The acquisition and other growth initiatives are supported by investment from Diamond Kinetics strategic capital partners, led by Elysian Park Ventures and TNC Ventures, as part of a continued commitment to building innovative companies across the youth sports space.  Existing Diamond Kinetics investors include Elysian Park Ventures, TNC Ventures, SeventySix Capital, and Eberg Capital amongst others.

###

About Diamond Kinetics

Diamond Kinetics (DK), is a leading sports technology company pioneering the future of youth baseball and softball development. With an emphasis on connected devices, computer vision functionality, and virtual reality integration, DK provides affordable and portable mobile technology that enhances real-world play and accelerates learning, development, and overall passion for the game. DK is the Trusted Youth Development Platform of Major League Baseball, and partners with organizations including PONY, Babe Ruth League, Ripken Baseball, USA Baseball, USA Softball, and MLB Players Inc., the business arm of the Major League Baseball Players Association, to reach and engage today's youth baseball and softball players. For more information, visit www.DiamondKinetics.com

About sidelineHD

SidelineHD is a leading sports broadcasting platform empowering team parents to create professional-quality LIVE broadcast TV-style streams effortlessly integrated with popular social platforms like Facebook and YouTube. Our platform features dynamic scoreboards, player information cards, and real-time sports data, enhancing the viewing experience for a wide range of sports including baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, hockey, lacrosse, and water polo. With a focus on modern technology, including self-serve livestreaming and real-time AI production, sidelineHD revolutionizes the way game footage is captured and shared. Our mission is to provide affordable and accessible solutions that enable users to celebrate and share the excitement of sports with their communities. For more information, please visit www.sidelineHD.com

LALIGA Signs with U.S. Integrity to Bolster League Initiatives Across the Globe

LALIGA Signs with U.S. Integrity to Bolster League Initiatives Across the Globe

LAS VEGAS, NV (March 5, 2024) – Today U.S. Integrity (“USI”) announced a groundbreaking partnership with LALIGA, delivering a real time alerting system for LALIGA’s top two divisions in Spain. LALIGA will be provided with analytical insights and engage in ProhiBet, a comprehensive prohibited betting solution, delivered by U.S. Integrity and Odds On Compliance.

The partnership between LALIGA and U.S. Integrity represents a commitment to the preservation of integrity in sport. By entering into such an agreement, LALIGA demonstrates its dedication to ensuring that its competitions are conducted in a fair and transparent manner, where manipulation and suspicious activity is detected and addressed.

Among a myriad of services, USI will also provide integrity monitoring alerts to LALIGA, which will help further investigate any potential nefarious activity involving LALIGA events. U.S. Integrity, the world’s leading integrity monitoring and compliance firm, conducts analysis across a plethora of data sets to proactively identify irregular contest-level, officiating & wagering patterns.

This partnership with U.S. Integrity represents a significant milestone in our efforts to safeguard integrity and transparency in professional football. At LALIGA, we are committed to maintaining a fair and honest competitive environment for our clubs, players, and fans across the globe,” stated Javier Tebas, President of LALIGA.

“We’re incredibly excited to expand our international efforts, and to work with LALIGA to better align our alerting processes for their future matches on a global scale.” says Matthew Holt, USI’s CEO & co-founder. He continued, “All our partners are committed to the highest integrity standards, and LALIGA will not fall short of that. These types of partnerships, and on an international level, will help amplify the sports betting integrity industry and strengthen the unique & proprietary anomaly detection tools we have developed at U.S. Integrity.”

U.S. Integrity Partners with Betfred for Sports Wagering Monitoring and Regulatory Compliance Software

U.S. Integrity Partners with Betfred for Sports Wagering Monitoring and Regulatory Compliance Software

Las Vegas, NV (February 29th, 2023) — Betfred USA and U.S. Integrity today announced a partnership that will provide Betfred with monitoring software and tools that will play a pivotal role in preventing student-athletes, coaches, and staff from engaging in prohibited sports wagering.

Kresimir Spajic, CEO of Betfred USA, underscored the importance of this service, stating “Through our renewed partnership with U.S. Integrity, strengthened by the integration of ProhiBet technology, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to integrity and compliance by providing a secure and transparent system that aligns seamlessly with the regulatory framework surrounding sports betting.”

Through their partnership with U.S. Integrity, Betfred will be provided access to ProhiBet, a technology that provides a secure and transparent method for sportsbook operators and sports properties to ensure that student-athletes, coaches, and administrative staff remain compliant with the intricate web of state regulations that govern sports betting activities.

“We are thrilled to partner with Betfred -- the combination of ProhiBet's state-of-the-art encrypted data transfer system and Betfred’s dedication to upholding the integrity of sports will undoubtedly enhance the transparency and trustworthiness of current and future prohibited bettors,” stated Matt Heap, Managing Director of ProhiBet. Heap brings a wealth of experience in the field as the former head of the Colorado Division of Gaming’s sportsbook operations.

Betfred’s partnership with U.S. Integrity and ProhiBet is part of a two-fold approach to solidify the sportsbook operator oversight surrounding sports betting and prohibited bettors.

ProhiBet Partners with George Washington University

ProhiBet Partners with George Washington University

Las Vegas, NV (February 27th, 2024) – George Washington University and ProhiBet today announced a partnership for the utilization of ProhiBet’s cross-monitoring and notification platform. Designed to safeguard sports integrity and ensure adherence to regulations, ProhiBet will play a pivotal role in preventing GW Revs student-athletes, coaches and administration from engaging in prohibited sports wagering.

In addition to the integration of the ProhiBet solutions, the agreement allows for on-site educational training for all student-athletes, coaches and administrative staff. The in-person education presentations are customized with in-depth breakdown of data analytics.  

ProhiBet’s cutting-edge technology provides a secure and transparent method for sports properties and sportsbook operators, to ensure that athletes, coaches, and league/school administrative staff remain compliant with the intricate web of state regulations that govern sports betting activities.

“We are thrilled to partner with George Washington University -- the combination of ProhiBet's state-of-the-art encrypted data transfer system and GW’s dedication to upholding the integrity of sports will undoubtedly enhance the transparency and trustworthiness of sports betting activities,” stated Matt Heap, Managing Director of ProhiBet. Heap brings a wealth of experience in the field as the former head of the Colorado Division of Gaming’s sportsbook operations.

ProhiBet is a joint venture between U.S. Integrity and Odds On Compliance. U.S. Integrity offers wagering monitoring services to stakeholders across the sports wagering ecosystem while Odds On Compliance is a leading compliance technology and consultation firm in the sports betting and gaming industry.

ProhiBet Partners with the PFL for the utilization of their advanced fully encrypted decentralized cross-monitoring and notification platform.

ProhiBet partners with the PFL for the utilization of their advanced fully encrypted decentralized cross-monitoring and notification platform.

LAS VEGAS, NV (February 20th, 2024) — Professional Fighters League and U.S. Integrity today announced a groundbreaking partnership for the utilization of ProhiBet’s advanced fully encrypted decentralized cross-monitoring and notification platform. Designed to safeguard sports integrity and ensure adherence to state-specific regulations, ProhiBet will play a pivotal role in preventing specific individuals such as PFL athletes, coaches, employees, and officials who are prohibited from placing bets on PFL events.

ProhiBet’s cutting-edge technology provides a secure and transparent method for sports properties, both professional and collegiate, and sportsbook operators, to ensure that athletes, coaches, and league/school administrative staff remain compliant with the intricate web of state regulations that govern sports betting activities.

“We are thrilled to partner with the PFL -- the combination of ProhiBet's state-of-the-art encrypted data transfer system and the PFL’s dedication to upholding the integrity of sports will undoubtedly enhance the transparency and trustworthiness of sports betting activities,” stated Matt Heap, Managing Director of ProhiBet. Heap brings a wealth of experience in the field as the former head of the Colorado Division of Gaming’s sportsbook operations.

ProhiBet is a joint venture between U.S. Integrity and Odds On Compliance. U.S. Integrity offers wagering monitoring services to stakeholders across the sports wagering ecosystem while Odds On Compliance is a leading compliance technology and consultation firm in the sports betting and gaming industry.

Quintar Partnered with PGA TOUR and Apple to Launch PGA TOUR Vision on Apple Vision Pro.

Spatial Computing’s First Professional Golf Application Debuts Friday with Immersive 3D View at Pebble Beach Golf Links for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The PGA TOUR on Thursday introduced PGA TOUR Vision, a new app built from the ground up for golf fans to experience golf and follow PGA TOUR tournaments like never before. PGA TOUR Vision was developed for Apple Vision Pro, Apple’s revolutionary spatial computer that seamlessly blends digital content with the physical world and will be available to download from the brand-new App Store with the release of Apple Vision Pro in the U.S. this Friday, Feb. 2.

With PGA TOUR Vision, golf fans can transform their space into immersive, spatial golf experiences that bring them closer to the action. At launch, PGA TOUR Vision will debut with the iconic par-3 seventh hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links, site of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and expand to include additional holes each week leading up to THE PLAYERS Championship when all 18 holes will be covered.

“PGA TOUR Vision for Apple Vision Pro brings golf fans inside the ropes and directly onto the tee boxes and greens of the world’s most iconic courses, no matter where they are,” said Scott Gutterman, PGA TOUR senior vice president, Digital Operations. “The PGA TOUR is proud to be the first professional golf app on this revolutionary new device, offering fans an innovative and immersive way to watch professional golf, and our fans can look forward to more unique, spatial experiences as the FedExCup Season progresses.”

Users will be able to bring the best moments of the PGA TOUR in spatial reality through the Apple Vision Pro. (Credit PGA TOUR Vision)

PGA TOUR Vision displays key tournament information and video in 2D windows on top of a user's space, while 3D-rendered models generated by Virtual Eye map real-time trails from live shot data captured during the tournament. Within 2D windows, fans can view leaderboards, scorecards, course information, schedule and tournament details, as well as video highlights. Live shot data is provided by ShotLink powered by CDW and made available to the app using the PGA TOUR’s AWS infrastructure. PGA TOUR Vision is developed by Quintar, the Official Mobile AR and XR Developer of the PGA TOUR, with UX and design led by digital product company Work & Co.

“Harnessing Quintar’s powerful spatial experience platform from prototype to launch and beyond, we are excited to be partnering with the PGA TOUR to bring PGA TOUR Vision to life,” said Dr. Jeff Jonas, Quintar president and chief business officer.

Fans can immerse themselves in a 3D hole model of No. 7 at Pebble Beach as if they are standing on it in the physical world, then watch real-time shot trails for players currently playing the hole or replays of previous shots from earlier in the day or previous rounds. Whether watching from the tee box or right on the green, key information including shot distance, apex and speed are always available for overlay within the experience to provide context to each shot trail. Users can also live stream the CBS simulcast of the third and fourth rounds of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am inside PGA TOUR Vision, as well as future FedExCup events televised on CBS/Paramount+.

SeventySix Capital Invests in Boomerang’s $4.9M Funding Round

SeventySix Capital Invests in Boomerang’s $4.9M Funding Round

Drake, LightShed, athletes and music celebrities invest in Lost & Found platform as company scales its item recovery platform 

MIAMI – Jan 25, 2024 – Miami-based Boomerang, the leading Lost & Found platform, today announced it has secured $4.9 million in a new funding round, led by New York-based firm LightShed Ventures, with additional participation from GGV, GoldHouse, Harlo Capital, Dream Ventures, Lake Nona Fund, SeventySix Capital, amongst others. This new round brings Boomerang’s total funding raised to $7.7 million.

Boomerang has also attracted backing from high-profile individual investors, including superstar musicians Drake and Green Day’s Mike Dirnt; football greats Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk, and Green Bay Packers defensive end Kenny Clark; and Equinox founder Lavinia Errico. 

“The new round of funding will fuel Boomerang’s growth and investment in its team and platform. We’re growing fast, and this investment will help us scale to the demand,” said Skyler Logsdon, co-founder of Boomerang. 

“Boomerang will transform the sports and entertainment industry by reuniting fans with their lost items,” said Wayne Kimmel, Managing Partner of SeventySix Capital. “Our team is excited to be an investor and work alongside Skyler Logsdon and his team.”
— Wayne Kimmel

“The pervasive frustration of losing something and never seeing it again is an experience that is way too common not to have a great solution for today,” said Xavier Parkmond of LightShed Ventures. “Boomerang’s comprehensive platform solves this bothersome problem with sophisticated and cutting-edge technology, turning item recovery into a magical experience. Boomerang represents the future of technology to help people recover what matters most. The Boomerang founders have the experience, prowess, and strategic timing to revolutionize this often overlooked market.”

Logsdon, Philip Inghelbrecht, and Augustine Diep-Tran founded Boomerang in November 2021 to solve the challenge of Lost & Found. It’s a costly problem; U.S. consumers spend $5B annually replacing lost items. The overwhelming majority of these lost items are lost at businesses. “To solve Lost & Found, we must first help businesses – they need our help to efficiently and effectively get items back to their customers,” emphasized Logsdon.

Boomerang’s impressive roster of customers on the Boomerang Network includes Universal Studios, Cleveland Browns Stadium, Nissan Stadium, State Farm Arena, Margaritaville Resort, Encore Resort at the Reunion, The Dalmar, Savannah / Hilton Head International Airport, Syracuse Hancock International Airport, and many more. 

“I’m grateful for all the great companies who have joined the Boomerang Network to solve the Lost & Found challenge with us,” said Logsdon. “One of the biggest frustrations when losing something is the severe fragmentation of where your item may be. By consolidating all found inventory onto the Boomerang platform, every business can join us in solving the consumer fragmentation problem, allowing for a seamless recovery experience on Boomerang, the leading Lost & Found platform.”

U.S. Integrity Signs Comprehensive Partnership with American Cornhole League

U.S. Integrity Signs Comprehensive Partnership with American Cornhole League

LAS VEGAS, NV (January 23rd, 2024) – Today U.S. Integrity (“USI”) and the American Cornhole League (ACL) announced a comprehensive partnership, which will supply ACL team members with integrity tools and visibility on their future events starting in the spring of 2024.

U.S. Integrity will offer a complete suite of educational services to ACL athletes, officials, and other stakeholders within the cornhole community. These services, including access to USI’s digital education e-learning platform, will inform and alert everyone involved in ACL events to both the obvious and more subtle ways in which efforts to compromise the integrity of a match can occur.

In addition, as betting operators accept wagers on ACL events, U.S. Integrity will provide integrity monitoring services via its proprietary dashboard to ACL that will encompass data intelligence and fraud prevention. U.S. Integrity conducts analysis across dozens of data sets to proactively identify irregular contest-level & wagering patterns.

“As we continue to grow and offer our fans opportunities to bet on our sport, it is essential that we have the key educational and monitoring services in place to guard against any improprieties,” said ACL Commissioner Stacey Moore. “The league is very pleased to have a world-class organization like U.S. Integrity provide us with those critical protections.”

 “We’re thrilled to work and collaborate with the team at the American Cornhole League, as the timing of this partnership aligns perfectly with their 2024 season,” added Matthew Holt, U.S. Integrity’s CEO & co-founder. He continued, “U.S. Integrity’s mission is to provide conflict-free, best-in-class insights & compliance solutions to our clients and the team at ACL are now part of that mission.”

U.S. Integrity Partners with LIV Golf for Sports Gaming Monitoring, Compliance and Education

U.S. Integrity Partners with LIV Golf for Sports Gaming Monitoring, Compliance and Education

New York, NY and Las Vegas, NV (January 18, 2024) — U.S. Integrity and LIV Golf today announced a formal partnership for gaming integrity monitoring, compliance and education. The partnership also provides LIV Golf with access to ProhiBet, an innovative technology that detects prohibited gaming behavior, developed in collaboration with Odds On Compliance.

“This partnership with U.S. Integrity is critical as we enhance our presence in the sports gaming space,” said LIV Golf Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Burian. “Establishing the highest standards in all aspects of our competition processes and operations is of primary importance to LIV Golf. Similar to many top sports leagues, working with industry-leading partners like U.S. Integrity demonstrates our commitment to ensuring gaming integrity within our sport.”

U.S. Integrity partners with some of the largest professional sports leagues and collegiate conferences in the U.S., as well as licensed sports-gaming operators and regulators. The organization conducts meticulous analysis across a myriad of data sets, enabling the early detection of irregularities within contest-level activities, officiating decisions, and wagering trends. The insights garnered from this data monitoring drive the creation of detailed reports, effortlessly accessible through a fully customized online dashboard, providing real-time access to essential information for leagues, regulators and operators.

"We are excited to collaborate with LIV Golf. Combining ProhiBet's cutting-edge encrypted data transfer system with LIV Golf's commitment to preserving sports integrity will enhance the transparency and reliability of their sports betting operations," expressed U.S. Integrity Founder and CEO Matt Holt.

Designed to safeguard sports integrity and ensure adherence to state-specific regulations, U.S. Integrity and ProhiBet will play a pivotal role in preventing prohibited sports wagering. ProhiBet’s cutting-edge technology provides a secure and transparent method for sports properties, both professional and collegiate, and sportsbook operators, to ensure that athletes, coaches, and league administrative staff remain compliant with the intricate web of state regulations that govern sports gaming activities.

LIV Golf is owned and operated by LIV Golf Investments whose vision and mission are centered around making holistic and sustainable investments to enhance the global golf ecosystem and unlock the sport’s untapped worldwide potential.

Lucra Sports - Earnings+More Startup Focus

Startup Focus – Lucra Sports

Worth a Luc: The company’s two founders Dylan Robbins, CEO, and Michael Madding, COO, met 10 years ago when they both worked at Goldman Sachs. They spent their free time together watching and playing sports, keeping a running note on their phones of their friendly side bets. 

  • But, says Madding, “we wanted instant settlement of our bets, we wanted complete control to customize the odds and spreads, and we wanted a lifelong scoreboard (to see who had ultimate bragging rights on and off the [golf] course).”

So, in 2019, they started Lucra, which now employs 15 people remotely across the US. 

  • “Lucra is a social-gaming product where friends can challenge friends on the professional sports they watch and the recreational games they play,” explains Madding. 

  • They launched the product in 2021 and achieved 50k active customers and ~$15m in handle.

  • Everything on Lucra is user-generated. “Pick the player or game to compete on and set the terms of the wager.”

  • As a skill-based game, Lucra can operate in 44 states, covering 95% of the US population.

  • “Last summer, we evolved the business from B2C to B2B2C, and built a SDK (software development kit) that allows enterprise clients to integrate our technology and offer natively it to their customers inside their existing platform,” Madding adds.

Lucrative: In Mar22, they raised $10m via a Series A, led by Raptor Group, SeventySix Capital and Victress Capital, as well as Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry, professional tennis player John Isner and NFL Pro Bowl wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders.

Luc out: “There is a unique market opportunity in the B2B software space within the wagering ecosystem,” Madding claims. With the “intense focus” from the market leaders on D2C, it “leaves an open door for Lucra to differentiate itself from the competition.” 

  • There has been “overwhelming positivity and interest in the B2B vertical”, he says. with seven deals signed in three months, including with Major League Pickeball and TennisONE (see below); six-figure to multi-million-dollar upfront fees; massive market demand for what we are building; and a pipeline of 600 names and growing.

  • “Each deal will generate $1m+ of revenue over their 2-3-year deal length,” he adds.

Luc to the future: The company says revenue last year increased 5x to $500k. Over the next 1-2 years Lucra’s goals include becoming “ubiquitous as the white-label software provider for real-money gamification”.

Growth company news

Acing it: The TennisONE app has added real-money contests to its offering in time for the 2024 Australian Open, which got underway yesterday. Thanks to a new partnership with Lucra (see above), fans will be able to bet against each other without the need for a bookie.

  • “It will be a game changer for tennis fans,” said Lucra investor and former tennis pro John Isner.

Quintar Partners with AR Glasses Provider XReal for At-Home 3D Video Projection

Quintar Partners with AR glasses provider XReal for at-home 3D Video Projection

Quintar, a provider of augmented reality experiences in sports, has partnered with AR glasses provider XReal to deliver 3D video projection into a fan’s home. The collaboration, which was announced at CES, will enable users to render spatial video with personalized data displays on a coffee table or other flat surface. XReal also unveiled its latest hardware called the Air 2 Ultra, which it says can compete with the forthcoming Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3. Quintar, a standing partner of the PGA Tour, was named one of SBJ Tech’s 10 Most Innovative Sports Tech Companies in 2023.

Epoxy.ai was Named a Partner of Kambi's ‘Kambi Engage’ Program for Top-Tier Bettor Engagement Tools and Services.

Kambi Unveils 'Kambi Engage', a Third-Party Supplier Ecosystem for Partners

Epoxy.ai is focused on making every experience unique to the end user. Epoxy's market leading products put player engagement at its heart, boosting acquisition and retention on a global scale.

Jason Angelides, President of Epoxy.ai , said: “We are extremely honored to be a key part of the inaugural group of partners to the Kambi Engage ecosystem. We share a common vision of creating and enabling the next generation of gaming services and technologies and we look forward to continuing to pave new ground together.

ProhiBet Partners with Circa Sports®

ProhiBet Partners with Circa Sports

Las Vegas, NV (January 9, 2024) — Circa Sports and ProhiBet have announced a partnership for the utilization of ProhiBet’s advanced fully encrypted decentralized cross-monitoring and notification platform. Designed to safeguard sports integrity, ProhiBet will play a pivotal role in preventing specific individuals, such as athletes, coaches, league officials, and administration, from engaging in prohibited sports wagering.

ProhiBet’s cutting-edge technology provides a secure and transparent method for sports properties, both professional and collegiate, and sportsbook operators, to ensure that athletes, coaches, and league/school administrative staff remain compliant with the intricate web of state regulations that govern sports betting activities.

"We are excited to partner with Circa Sports. The fusion of ProhiBet's encrypted data transfer system with Circa’s commitment to sports integrity will elevate the transparency and credibility for both existing and upcoming bettors,” said Matt Heap, ProhiBet's Managing Director. Heap is a seasoned expert in the field, having previously led sportsbook operations at the Colorado Division of Gaming.

ProhiBet is a joint venture between U.S. Integrity and Odds On Compliance. U.S. Integrity offers wagering monitoring services to stakeholders across the sports wagering ecosystem while Odds On Compliance is a leading compliance technology and consultation firm in the sports betting and gaming industry. Following this strategic partnership, the two firms have announced their plans to merge, bringing all of these services under one banner.

Lucra and TennisONE Launch CrowdRIVAL, Real-Money Skill Gaming for Tennis Fans

Lucra and TennisONE Launch CrowdRIVAL, Real-Money Skill Gaming for Tennis Fans

Minneapolis, MN - The TennisONE App, the most comprehensive and fastest-growing app on the market for tennis fans, is expanding its offerings to include real-money contests for all fans in time for the 2024 Australian Open. TennisONE’s global user base of nearly 1 Million tennis fans already has access to live scores, stats, interactive draws, and exclusive content daily. By partnering with Lucra, TennisONE’s new CrowdRIVAL platform gives users a whole new way to engage in the game they love.

These real-money contests will be available for ATP, WTA, and Grand Slam tournaments and will kick-off in TennisONE on January 9th, the start of the qualifying rounds for the Australian Open. US-based TennisONE App users can leverage their tennis knowledge for daily matchups to choose who will have the most games won, points won, aces, winners & more. Fans set the terms, TennisONE will handle the rest!

CrowdRIVAL is a peer-to-peer feature, where fans challenge other fans to real-money games. The feature is offered in two tiers, “Free-to-Play '' and “T1+”, and presents a new opportunity for fans, giving them all the tools to make informed skill-based gaming decisions on top of TennisONE’s existing features.

T1+ Subscription:

  • Play unlimited contests

  • Deposit match of 10% on your first $100 deposited

  • No video pre-roll ads and no banner ads

  • Push notifications for 2 recommended head-to-head match showcases per day

  • Daily matchup preview video shorts with TennisONE’s stats expert sharing data insights and analyses on the showcased matchups

  • Weekly CrowdLIVE events with TennisONE’s tennis gaming influencers to discuss tournaments ahead and players to watch

Free-to-Play:

  • Play unlimited contests

  • Deposit match of 10% on your first $100 deposited

“We’re thrilled to bring these exciting new skill games to our TennisONE fans,” said Founder and CEO of TennisONE, Kristin Geer. “It will allow TennisONE App users to play against other fans for real cash as they follow tournament matches in real-time. No casino or bookies needed!”

TennisONE has partnered with Lucra to bring the new technology to the TennisONE App. With a portfolio of supporters that includes former professional tennis player and current Miami Open Tournament Director, James Blake as an investor, and recently retired former world no. 8 John Isner as an investor and members of its Advisor Committee, breaking into tennis has been a vision for Lucra.

"I'm very excited about the partnership between Lucra and TennisONE, as I think it will be a game changer for tennis fans nationwide.” said John Isner, “CrowdRIVAL will now allow users to compete with each other for cold hard cash! Pick your favorite player, predict their performance, and get in on the action! Double down on US players down under!"

Dylan Robbins, CEO of Lucra, expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating, "This collaboration with TennisONE will serve tennis enthusiasts nationwide. Our technology is set to transform the way fans experience the sport, providing an unparalleled opportunity for users to engage in friendly competition with one another."

About TennisONE The TennisONE App is the award-winning global app for all things tennis, engaging nearly 1M users with fast live scores, stats, streams, content, and social gaming. The TennisONE App has served as the “Official App” of dozens of global ATP and WTA tournaments, including the majority of the U.S. Open Series and other prestigious events such as the Miami Open, the Mubadala Citi DC Open, and Hall of Fame Open. The TennisONE App’s CrowdLIVE Interactive platform was named a 2023 “Streaming Product of the Year” by the National Association of Broadcasters and was shortlisted for “App of the Year” by the 2023 Sports Tech Association. For more information, visit https://tennis.one.

About Lucra Lucra is the leading technology provider of real-money gamification services. Their B2B and Direct-To-Consumer technologies facilitate real money contests on partner platforms or within their own app, available on iOS and Android. Lucra's white-label Software Development Kit (SDK) provides partners with a comprehensive, turnkey solution to embed gamification technology directly into their platforms. This innovation offers features previously unavailable to enterprise clients, including real-money peer-to-peer contests within their platforms. For more information, visit www.lucrasports.com.

ShotTracker Announces Partnership with Cincinnati Basketball Programs

ShotTracker Announces Partnership with Cincinnati Basketball Programs

The partnership will provide the University of Cincinnati Basketball program with rich performance data for player development

CINCINNATI – ShotTracker, a revolutionary sports technology that captures rich performance data via sensors and provides real-time statistics and analytics, announces a partnership with the University of Cincinnati's basketball programs for the 2023-2024 season.

With the real-time statistical data and video available in the custom app, the Bearcats gain immediate insights, enabling powerful player development conversations and enhanced scenario planning, changing the way teams play the game.

"The availability of real-time analytics in practice and in game is transformative for our training program," Maggie McKinley, Cincinnati's Deputy Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator, said. "ShotTracker's unique insights about line-up, shot selection and possessions will be instrumental in understanding our game-day performance versus other highly competitive teams. The platform's detail is genuinely exciting, transforming our approach to player skill enhancement and in-game tactics."

The ShotTracker system places sensors in the arena, on athletes and inside the ball, and has been adopted by the Big 12 Conference. ShotTracker generates insights in game that not only empower coaches with integrated video for tech on the bench, but also create a more dynamic fan experience in venue and through broadcast with scoreboard integrations, games and experiential activations.

In addition to the numerous sensors surrounding the lower level concourses, fans will also notice the illuminated ShotTracker ball racks pregame.

"We're honored to partner with the Cincinnati Bearcats and welcome them to the ShotTracker Nation. The University of Cincinnati administration and coaching staff has been tireless in their efforts to deliver innovative solutions in support of its student-athletes," Davyeon Ross, Co-Founder and President of ShotTracker, said.

ABOUT SHOTTRACKER
ShotTracker, a product of DDSports Inc, was co-founded in Overland Park, Kansas by basketball and technology experts Davyeon Ross and Bruce Ianni. ShotTracker's innovative system delivers 70+ unique and completely autonomous basketball stats and insights to teams, broadcasters and game partners with sub-second latency. ShotTracker is currently being utilized by over 60 men's and women's college basketball programs spanning 12 conferences. Its partners include Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Spalding and Wilson. For more information, visit ShotTracker.com.

Diamond Kinetics and Marucci Utilize Analytics in new Smart Bat

Diamond Kinetics and Marucci Utilize Analytics in new Smart Bat

Data and analytics continue to be a driving force in baseball. While we see it at the major-league level, it doesn’t start there.

Marucci and Diamond Kinetics teamed up to create its newest product: The Marucci CATX Smart.

Imagine combining a sweet bat and the numbers behind a comfortable swing to show what you’re able to perfect. “Most importantly, for us, the ability not just to create data, but then it’s, ‘What do you do with that data?'” CJ Handron, Co-Founder and CEO of Diamond Kinetics, told The Comeback.

It’s a first-of-its-kind bat with a limited release. What makes it unique?

Well, the performance alone of the bat gives the hitter a smooth swing, but with a little bit of extra incentive: An ability to gather performance data all within the DK app. It’s also the first smart bat to be sanctioned and approve by the United States Specialty Sports Association for in-game use.

The app itself hopes to show data that will “visualize swing metrics across aspects of power, speed, quickness, and control, as well as monitor their progress from practice swings to live in-game at-bats, and enjoy interactive games and training content.”

This isn’t the first time Marucci has introduced data into their product. “Marucci leverages data from various sources to inform the design and construction of our bats, to ensure our products are at the forefront of innovation and performance,” Marucci Sports CEO & Co-Founder Kurt Ainsworth told The Comeback. “We gather data and analytics from the field, our in-house test lab, and our Baseball Performance Lab. This diverse, widespread collection allows us to design for different levels of play, bat compositions, performance certification limits, and hitter types.”

Those using the end cap won’t notice a difference, either — making the measurements more accurate. There’s no added weight or bulk. They don’t discredit the eye-test, however, but this data could enhance that. It enables certain strategic decisions for a player. “We’ve been at this for some time, and we’ve worked from the highest level of the game with MLB teams, a number of college programs, scouting and recruiting,” Handron said.

“We’ve experienced this where, if you are working closely with a coach who, you know, maybe is interpreting data for you, they’re using data to try to develop a personalization plan for you or identify a weakness and try to put either some awareness to that weakness in front of the player or more interestingly, a set of drills or a development plan,” Handron added.They appreciate an additional resource, as well.

The bat was available for purchase on Dec. 6 through the Marrucci website with a wider release in 2024.

Action 24/7 Partners with ProhiBet to Ensure Regulatory Compliance

Action 24/7 Partners with ProhiBet to Ensure Regulatory Compliance

Las Vegas, NV (December 19th, 2023) — Action 24/7 and ProhiBet today announced an innovative partnership for the utilization of ProhiBet’s advanced fully encrypted decentralized cross-monitoring and notification platform. Designed to safeguard sports integrity, ProhiBet will play a pivotal role in preventing specific individuals, such as athletes, coaches, league officials, and administration, from engaging in prohibited sports wagering.

"In the fast-paced world of online sports gambling, there's nothing more important than having trustworthy and innovative partners in compliance, like Prohibet," stated Tina Hodges, Action 24/7’s President.

ProhiBet’s cutting-edge technology provides a secure and transparent method for sports properties, both professional and collegiate, and sportsbook operators, to ensure that athletes, coaches, and league/school administrative staff remain compliant with the intricate web of state regulations that govern sports betting activities.

“We’re thrilled to partner and collaborate with the fantastic team at Action 24/7 -- the combination of ProhiBet's state-of-the-art encrypted data transfer system and Action 24/7 dedication to upholding the integrity of sports will undoubtedly enhance the transparency and trustworthiness of current and future prohibited bettors,” stated Matt Heap, Managing Director of ProhiBet. Heap brings a wealth of experience in the field as the former head of the Colorado Division of Gaming’s sportsbook operations.

ProhiBet is a joint venture between U.S. Integrity and Odds On Compliance. U.S. Integrity offers wagering monitoring services to stakeholders across the sports wagering ecosystem while Odds On Compliance is a leading compliance technology and consultation firm in the sports betting and gaming industry.

Asensei Adds Cloud Coach, a Potent Tech Tool for Connected Fitness

Asensei Adds Cloud Coach, A Potent Tech Tool for Connected Fitness

Fitness companies can use Cloud Coach to analyze workout videos, enabling form-tracking and rep-count solutions.

Asensei, a tech company specializing in technique coaching and skill-based learning for sports and fitness brands, has introduced Cloud Coach to enhance the capabilities of sports and fitness videos and bring advanced solutions for connected fitness companies.

The Cloud Coach leverages Asensei’s software development kit (SDK), which debuted an extended reality (XR) extension this year.

While Asensei has laid the groundwork for fitness and health developers to bring virtual (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experiences to consumers, its latest tool looks to tackle fitness and sports footage with leading methods — and create new opportunities.

Connected Fitness Solution

Cloud Coach offers an easy solution for quickly processing video uploads, effortlessly managing multiple feeds from several cameras on a game field or court, with the ability to splice footage to remove extraneous content. The new Cloud Coach can generate real-time data insights for sports broadcasts, but can also be highly useful in a connected fitness context.

Asensei’s movement recognition processor can detect multiple movements in video footage at unspecified times. Connected fitness companies can use Cloud Coach to analyze videos, annotating them with metadata that indicate which specific exercise is being performed and timestamps when the exercises start and stop, which can power form-tracking and rep-count solutions. This is especially helpful for connected fitness brands with large content libraries.

For fitness or sports activities that don’t require real-time feedback, the Cloud Coach can provide mid-practice or post-practice analysis, providing coaching insights to players or coaches after a simple video upload. A training journal capability is also available, where users can upload videos to receive comprehensive post-workout feedback on performance and progress.

Asensei allows connected fitness companies to pilot its capabilities without integrating the software kit by uploading video to its Computer Vision Processor Input for post-workout analysis.

Fitness Brands Tap Asensei

The tech company recently partnered with Centr, the health and wellness platform founded by actor Chris Hemsworth, to create artificial intelligence-driven connected fitness experiences using computer vision that recognizes human movement. Asensei’s technology will help develop a new product for the health and wellness platform.

Asensei’s movement-capturing, VR/AR and connected fitness innovations have also attracted other fitness clients such as Vertimax, PowerBlock, Litesport, Fittar, Bhout and Alter. 

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