AO crowd
Events

Tennis Australia is using facial recognition at the Australian Open to monitor fans

- January 17, 2025 3 MIN READ

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 »

Australian Open, Rod Laver Arena
Topic

Tennis Australia’s VC fund aces first close with nearly $50 million from blue chip investors

- January 13, 2025 2 MIN READ

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 »

Tennis
Accelerator

Here are the 7 sports startups chosen for Tennis Australia’s innovation program

- August 24, 2023 2 MIN READ

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 »

Australian Open, Rod Laver Arena
Accelerator

AO Startups serves up 5 companies for its Australian Open accelerator program

- January 25, 2023 4 MIN READ

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
Funding

ACE IDEA: Tennis Australia launches its own VC fund

- July 22, 2021 2 MIN READ

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 »

Tennis
Topic

Tennis Australia and LaunchVic are backing a sportstech accelerator for Melbourne

- July 25, 2019 2 MIN READ

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 »