AO Ventures, the venture capital arm of Tennis Australia and the Australian Open, has announced two new investments, continuing to back technologies shaping the future of sport and entertainment.
As investment into the global sports technology sector continues to grow, AO Ventures has completed investments in Scottish wearable technology company PlayerData and sports media platform ScorePlay, taking the fund's portfolio to six companies.
The investments build on AO Ventures' model of combining venture capital with the commercial platform of the Australian Open and Tennis Australia, enabling startups to validate and scale their technologies with one of the world's leading sporting organisations.
“Investment into the global sports industry has continued at pace throughout 2026, with billions of dollars flowing into sports technology, infrastructure and emerging leagues,” Tennis Australia Director of Innovation and General Partner of AO Ventures Dr Machar Reid said.
“Since launching AO Ventures, we’ve experienced a significant jump in the amount of inbound interest from founders, investors and strategics attracted to our differentiated model of providing both capital and becoming a cornerstone client.”
“As a result, we’ve turned our eye to early planning for a second, larger AO Ventures fund, alongside the potential launch of a dedicated opportunity fund focused on the rapidly growing padel market.”
The fifth company to join the AO Ventures portfolio, PlayerData is one of the fastest-growing businesses in sports performance technology.
Originally established in football, the company works with leading clubs and national teams, including the USA Men's National Team at this year’s FIFA World Cup.
PlayerData has developed an integrated performance analysis platform that combines miniaturised wearable sensors, connected smart balls and ultra-high-definition 8K, 190-degree video. The platform delivers highly accurate player and ball tracking at a significantly lower cost than traditional systems, making elite-level performance analysis increasingly accessible across professional, academy and community sport.
With wearable technology becoming standard across elite sport and rapidly expanding into grassroots participation, AO Ventures believes PlayerData is well positioned to capture a growing share of this global market.
Joining PlayerData is ScorePlay, one of the fastest-growing media and digital asset management platforms in world sport.
Demonstrating the AO Ventures model in action, Tennis Australia deployed ScorePlay throughout Australian Open 2026 after securing an investment option the previous year. This allowed the organisation to evaluate both the technology and its operational impact before completing the investment.
“ScorePlay transformed how quickly our teams could find, manage and share media during the tournament. That kind of efficiency is exactly what modern sports organisations need, and it's why we're excited to deepen the partnership,” Tennis Australia Chief Content Officer Darren Pearce said.
“We've been genuinely impressed by ScorePlay - both the technology and the team behind it. Backing one of the fastest-growing platforms in world sport is a natural next step for us, and we're looking forward to what we build together.”
Following the successful implementation and ScorePlay's continued international growth, AO Ventures exercised its investment option, further strengthening the relationship between the two organisations.
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AO Ventures portfolio
ScorePlay is a leading AI-powered media and digital asset management platform built specifically for the sports industry. Used by more than 300 sports organisations globally, ScorePlay enables teams, leagues and federations to centralise, organise and distribute photos, videos and live content, helping rights holders streamline media workflows, empower athletes and partners with instant content access, and unlock new commercial opportunities through their media assets.
scoreplay.io
PlayerData is a sports performance technology company that provides an integrated athlete tracking and analysis platform for teams at every level of sport. Combining wearable GPS sensors, connected smart balls, video analysis and intuitive performance software, PlayerData delivers elite-level performance insights at an accessible price point, helping coaches improve performance, reduce injury risk and make better data-driven decisions. The company is also a FIFA Preferred Provider for Player Tracking.
playerdata.com
A global leader in AI-powered officiating, broadcast and data services, Bolt6 has delivered the electronic line calling system at the Australian Open since 2025. The company now supports tournaments across the ATP and WTA Tours and works with major sporting organisations including the PGA, NASCAR, LIV Golf, World Volleyball and the America's Cup. Beyond officiating, Bolt6 also supports innovations across video review, live statistics, LED integration, broadcast production and fan engagement.
bolt6.ai
Padel Haus is the leading premium indoor padel operator in the United States. With demand for padel expected to grow rapidly over the coming decade, the company is expanding a network of premium indoor clubs across major metropolitan markets.
padel.haus
Mindspring Padel finances and delivers technology-enabled padel court infrastructure, enabling clubs and operators to expand without significant upfront capital investment. The company has become the world's largest purchaser of padel court infrastructure, with projects across Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia.
mindspringpadel.com
Raven Controls provides a real-time incident management and operational coordination platform for major venues and events. Tennis Australia has deployed the technology at the United Cup over the past two years, following Raven's participation in the AO Startups program. Globally, the platform is used by organisations including ASM Global, Liverpool FC, Wembley Stadium, UEFA, LIV Golf and the Toronto Blue Jays.
ravencontrols.com
About AO Ventures
AO Ventures is the official venture capital arm of the Australian Open and Tennis Australia, investing in early-stage companies transforming sport, entertainment, media and health.
The US$40 million fund combines investment capital with the global reach, commercial platform and industry networks of one of the world's most recognised sporting events, helping founders accelerate product development and international growth.
Supported by leading investors from Australia and around the world, AO Ventures expects to invest in approximately 20 high-growth technology companies.
Visit AO Ventures for more information.