AI startup offers to enhance your tennis swing — and your racket
Summary
She now represents Norway at the ITF Masters World Championships.Originally from New Zealand, Pedersen moved to Oslo in 2007 and shifted her focus to startups.After spells at tech firms Opera and Airthings, she co-founded SportAI in 2023.SportAI can analyse video from mobile phones, cameras mounted at courts, or broadcast feeds.Through a combination of machine learning and computer vision, the system interprets the biomechanical data. Businesses can directly integrate the software with their coaching, equipment, and broadcast coverage.A fresh cash injection announced today could accelerate the uptake. The $1.8mn seed round was led by Skyfall Ventures, a VC firm based in Oslo.Further funds came from two sportsmen: Dekel Valtzer, a former tennis pro and now a startup founder, and Magnus Carlsen, the highest-ranked chess player of all time. Carlsen also led SportAIs pre-seed round and is an advisor to the company.With the new funds, SportsAI aims to accelerate the reach of sports analytics. The company also plans to soon announces its first commercial contract.SportsAI isnt ready to disclose the partners name, but Pedersen did offer clues.She describes the mystery business as a prominent global platform that connects over a million racket sports players and oversees thousands of courts.Through the collaboration, SportAI will provide AI-driven enhancements, such as personalised technique analysis and detailed match statistics.