A startup that accredits and verifies workers and volunteers in care, sport and community roles has signed a five-year deal with Tennis Australia as part of the Australian Open. Oho is one of five Australian startups among 12 for the annual AO Startups program, which runs during the grand slam tournament, integrating into the event.… Read more »
The Australian Open (AO) has rolled out facial recognition technology for all visitors under a new addition to its conditions of entry. By purchasing a ticket or entering Melbourne Park for this year’s competition, which runs January 6-26, visitors acknowledge security cameras “that may incorporate facial recognition technology” are used to “enhance security and patron safety”… Read more »
A who’s who of Australian investors have backed a new sports VC fund by Tennis Australia’s AO Ventures, committing around $49 million to its first close. They include Mark Nelson from Caledonia, Tanarra’s John Wylie, Melbourne-based businessman Mark Healey, Ashok Jacob from Ellerston Capital and Robyn and Victoria Denholm’s family office, Wollemi Capital Group. International… Read more »
AO StartUps, the incubator program by Tennis Australia, which nurtures tech companies in sport, has chosen seven ideas for its mid-year intake. Tennis Australia Head of Innovation Dr Machar Reid they had hundreds of applications from companies across the globe before having to choose just seven. “We were so impressed with the diversity and quality… Read more »
Tennis Australia’s AO Startups program has announced five of the seven startup involved in its pioneering new accelerator program. The startups were chosen from among 165 applications to the program, which is designed to help early-stage companies pilot cutting-edge technologies at the Australian Open (AO) and tennis more broadly. Tennis Australia Head of Innovation Dr Machar Reid said… Read more »
Tennis Australia will follow the lead set by US governing sports bodies such as the NFL and NBA and launch its own venture capital fund to back tech startups. Wildcard Ventures will invest in early-stage startups using technologies that benefit the sports, health and entertainment industries. The fund will also create a syndicate for investors… Read more »
US startup accelerator Techstars is coming to Melbourne with a focus on sport thanks to LaunchVic, Tennis Australia and Victoria University. The Techstars SportsTech Melbourne Accelerator will be based at Tennis Australia’s Melbourne Park HQ at its media centre. The mentorship-driven accelerator will run for 13 weeks programs, taking in 10 startups annually. Founded in… Read more »
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