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. 

Tipico Sportsbook Partners with ProhiBet to Enhance Sports Data Compliance Initiatives

Tipico Sportsbook Partners with ProhiBet to Enhance Sports Data Compliance Initiatives

Las Vegas, NV (December 13, 2023) — Tipico Sportsbook, a leading global sportsbook operator, and U.S. Integrity today announced an extension of their ongoing partnership that will integrate ProhiBet services into the Tipico platform. ProhiBet will play a pivotal role in preventing student-athletes, coaches, and staff from engaging in prohibited sports wagering on Tipico across the United States.

"At Tipico, we place profound importance on the integrity of the sports betting experience, and we are excited to continue working with U.S. Integrity to ensure that our online experience is fully secure and compliant," says Adrian Vella, Tipico Sportsbook CEO. "The addition of ProhiBet will further augment and reinforce Tipico’s commitment to wagering integrity as we exercise careful diligence amid the rapid growth of sports betting in the United States.”

Through their partnership with U.S. Integrity, Tipico will gain access to ProhiBet’s state-of-the-art technology to ensure that student-athletes, coaches, and administrative staff adhere to state-specific sports betting regulations. ProhiBet’s cross-monitoring and notification platform provides security and transparency for sports properties and operators nationwide.

“We are thrilled to partner with Tipico -- the combination of ProhiBet's state-of-the-art encrypted data transfer system and Tipico 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.

The Tipico partnership with U.S. Integrity and ProhiBet is part of its two-fold approach to solidify oversight surrounding sports betting and prohibited bettors.

Big East Conference Signs Comprehensive Partnership with U.S. Integrity

Big East Conference Signs Comprehensive Partnership with U.S. Integrity

Conference Expands Sports Wagering Integrity Initiatives

Las Vegas, NV (December 7th, 2023) — The BIG EAST Conference and U.S. Integrity today announced a partnership that will provide the Conference with monitoring software and tools that will play a pivotal role in protecting the integrity of competitions and educating student-athletes, coaches, and staff about the sports wagering landscape.

This partnership will see BIG EAST officials provided access to U.S. Integrity’s monitoring software and resources via its proprietary dashboard, which includes regular monitoring reports and sports gambling industry insights based on USI’s extensive analysis of wagering activity. In addition, U.S. Integrity will offer comprehensive educational resources to BIG EAST student-athletes, coaches, staff, and officials.

“Protecting the integrity of our competitions and those who participate in them is of utmost importance to the BIG EAST Conference, particularly as the sports wagering landscape nationally continues to accelerate," said BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman. “We look forward to taking advantage of U.S. Integrity's state-of-the-art services to provide additional protections to our schools through enhanced monitoring and educational programs.”

“With the expansion of sports betting jurisdictions that impact the BIG EAST Conference, it’s important for the BIG EAST and their respective teams to have integrity measures and tools to track, in real time.” says Matthew Holt, USI’s CEO & co-founder. He continued, “We’re excited to work with the exceptional team at the BIG EAST. All our partners are committed to the highest integrity standards, and they are no exception. These types of partnerships help ensure sports betting integrity and strengthen the unique & proprietary anomaly-detection tools we have developed at U.S. Integrity.”

U.S. Integrity Partners with Missouri Valley Conference to Increase Initiatives in Sports Wagering Monitoring

U.S. Integrity Partners with Missouri Valley Conference to Increase Initiatives in Sports Wagering Monitoring

Las Vegas, NV (November 30th, 2023) — The Missouri Valley Conference and U.S. Integrity today announced a partnership that will provide MVC with integrity monitoring software that will play a pivotal role in protecting the integrity of their Conference and each member institution’s athletic department.

“The partnership with U.S. Integrity is critical based on the rapidly evolving sports betting landscape,” says MVC Deputy Commissioner Jill Redmond.  “It reflects the commitment of the membership to protect the integrity of all Missouri Valley Conference sports.”

USI will provide integrity monitoring services via its proprietary dashboard to The Missouri Valley Conference. USI conducts analysis across dozens of data sets to proactively identify irregular contest-level, officiating & wagering patterns.

“We are thrilled to partner with The Missouri Valley Conference, as they continue their efforts in being proactive in an evolving integrity and sports wagering space.” says Matthew Holt, USI’s CEO & co-founder. He continued, “The team here at USI are thrilled to be working with Jill and the team at MVC. The collaboration and cohesive partnership through USI’s integrity initiatives will provide the best coverage and real time alerts to the Missouri Valley Conference.”

About Missouri Valley Conference:

The Missouri Valley Conference -- the nation’s second-oldest NCAA Division I conference -- continues to be a leader in college athletics and is one of the nation’s most progressive conferences, celebrating its 117th season in 2023-24.  The Valley brand remains very strong, both regionally and nationally, and the great athletic tradition of the Conference remains a compelling force in recruiting student-athletes and in marketing all the MVC programs.  League members have worked together to focus on common goals and objectives, placing a high value on league harmony, while continuing to invest in athletic programs to compete at the highest level.

About U.S. Integrity:

U.S. Integrity is a leading technology-driven sports wagering monitoring company, providing the highest level of protection against betting-related fraud and corruption. U.S. Integrity’s mission is to grow the legal, regulated sports betting market by providing solutions that ensure sports betting integrity in every play, every game, every sport. Supported by investors including Las Vegas Sands, SeventySix Capital and the New York Angels, U.S. Integrity partners with some of the largest professional sports leagues and collegiate conferences in the U.S., as well as licensed sports-betting operators and regulators. U.S. Integrity is based in Las Vegas and New York. For additional information, visit www.usintegrity.com.

Diamond Kinetics and Marucci Unveil First-Of-Its-Kind Fully Integrated Smart Bat

Diamond Kinetics and Marucci Unveil First-Of-Its-Kind Fully Integrated Smart Bat

The Marucci CATX Smart bat retails for the same price as the current CATX bat without the sensor.

• Newest Product From DK & Marucci Sets New Standard for Youth Baseball Innovation

• First Smart Bat to be Sanctioned & Approved by USSSA for In-Game Use

• Limited Release Available for Purchase December 6 with Wider Release in 2024

Baton Rouge, LA and Pittsburgh, PA (November 28, 2023) - Two of the most innovative companies in baseball, Marucci and Diamond Kinetics (DK), unveiled the Marucci CATX Smart, the first smart bat with an integrated sensor approved by USSSA for in-game use, setting a new standard for smart baseball equipment.

This limited-release alloy Marucci CATX Smart gives players the same clean, consistent swings they are accustomed to, but with a twist - the ability to gather and track performance data anytime, anywhere without having to attach a sensor. With a completely integrated Diamond Kinetics Bat Sensor, players can instantly 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, all within the DK mobile app. The Marucci CATX Smart is the first smart bat to be approved for in-game use as part of the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) bat standard, so any tournament, league, or organization that requires the USSSA stamp will allow this bat in-game play. 

“We can’t wait for athletes to get their hands on the new Marucci CATX Smart,” said Kurt Ainsworth, Co-Founder and CEO of Marucci Sports. “We believe this smart bat will be a game-changer for the sport and will provide athletes with the chance to personalize their development at practice, in the backyard, and in competition. Marucci and Diamond Kinetics are committed to innovation, developing supportive and responsible technology to grow the game of baseball and equip the next generation of players with tools to stay engaged, succeed on the diamond, and most importantly, have fun.”

The CATX Smart bat collaboration builds on a long-standing partnership between DK and Marucci and their shared commitment to grow the game of baseball by integrating thoughtful, proven technology to enhance the training experience for athletes to keep them engaged and connected to the sport. The Marucci CATX Smart takes full advantage of DK’s innovative approach to training that leverages state-of-the-art technology to gamify training with missions and challenges that reward participation. Each bat has a unique ID linked to the DK app so players can immediately personalize their development and unlock their potential while opening up a whole new world of hitting experiences. CATX Smart users can participate in guided hitting sessions where they are encouraged to swing like Marucci Athletes including Alex Bregman, Trea Turner, Austin Riley, Freddie Freeman, Anthony Rizzo, and Francisco Lindor, and access exclusive DK x Marucci challenges within the app.

“The Marucci CATX Smart is a direct lens into the future of the game of baseball,” said CJ Handron, Co-Founder and CEO of Diamond Kinetics. “This new bat will help athletes get better insight into their game and make hitting experiences more fun with access to real-time swing metrics, guided hitting sessions, missions and challenges. There is no reason that every bat can’t be a smart bat, and we are thrilled to continue to drive innovation in the game in partnership with Marucci.”

More details the limited-release Marucci CATX Smart:

• Available for purchase on December 6, online-only via Marucci's website

• Priced at $299, the same as the current CATX Senior League bat

• Available in various lengths of -5, -8 and -10 USSSA Senior League

• No added weight or bulk, exact same barrel, end cap and performance as Marucci’s CATX bat, with the only difference being an integrated sensor in the knob

• Diamond Kinetics bat sensor is embedded, cannot be removed and does not need to be charged due to a permanent battery installation

• One-piece alloy made of AZR aluminum, a responsive and forgiving alloy designed for peak performance

• Connect the CATX Smart via Bluetooth to any Apple (iOS) devices, iOS 16 and newer, and store  100+ swings even when not connected to the app

• DK in-app features include access to swing metrics, four player profiles, a customizable clubhouse, access to introductory guided hitting sessions, missions and challenges, virtual home run derby and other games

• Ability to unlock even more features by purchasing a DK+ membership; can gain access to DK’s full library of over 100 DK experiences, including guided hitting sessions, missions, and challenges

• The CATX is one of the hottest and most popular bats on the market today, with the CATX BBCOR dominating the lineup of the 2023 College World Series Champion LSU Tigers

To purchase a Marucci CATX Smart, visit: https://maruccisports.com/catx-smart  

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, the business arm of the Major League Baseball Players Association - MLB Players Inc., and partners with organizations including PONY, Babe Ruth League, Ripken Baseball, USA Baseball and USA Softball to reach and engage today's youth baseball and softball players. For more information, visit www.DiamondKinetics.com

About Marucci

Founded in 2009, Marucci Sports is a leading manufacturer and distributor of baseball and fastpitch equipment under the Marucci and Victus brands, headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Marucci’s product portfolio includes wood and metal bats, fielding gloves, batting gloves, apparel, bags, accessories and protective gear. Today, Marucci and Victus are the top two most-used bats among Big League players. Marucci’s acquisitions of Baum & Lizard Skins reinforces its leading position in diamond sports and expands its presence into wood composite bats, hockey, cycling and esports.

Media Contacts

Diamond Kinetics: Gianna Arantes, gianna@androbin.co

FORTË CEO, Lauren Foundos was a featured speaker at TiE NY

FORTË CEO, Lauren Foundos, was a featured speaker at TiE NY Celebrates 25 Years Of Entrepreneurial And Community Impact

NEW YORK, NY – TiE New York (TiE NY), marked its 25th anniversary with a series of prestigious events that showcased its commitment to fostering entrepreneurship, mentorship, and community building.

A dynamic panel featuring leaders such as Micheal Hund, Lata Setty, Lauren Foundos, and Sara Hand discussed the future of entrepreneurship.

From Double Faults to Serving Success: Lucra Teams Up with TennisONE

From Double Faults to Serving Success: Lucra Teams Up with TennisONE

Tennis is freakin’ tough. Yet, 26 million Americans play recreationally, just as many as golf. And 90M Americans watch professional tennis. That’s one in four people! 

From McEnroe, Sampras, and Agassi to Billie Jean, Serena, and Coco, the US has dominated world tennis for decades. Of course, we'd be remiss to not mention The Big Three, Alcaraz, and so many other international stars that have won titles and gifted us with scintillating performances. 

What’s crazy though, is that until now, fans have never been able to challenge each other to predict player performances and outcomes. How many times have you sat in the stands or sunk into your couch, trying to guess who’s going to win more points, serve more Aces, or commit more double faults?

Until today, fans were restricted to handshake wagers, transacted via Venmo, or bet a “I’ll buy you a beer” that never was paid out. That offline behavior is being brought online.

We are thrilled to announce Lucra’s partnership with TennisONE App, who will integrate our technology to propel its mobile platform to new heights, allowing fans to challenge each other to real-money contests on ATP, WTA, and Grand Slam tournaments! TennisONE is the global hub for all tennis fans, serving nearly one million fans across the world. 

By leveraging Lucra's technology, TennisONE will expand its functionality, allowing US-based users to participate in real-money contests related to their favorite tennis tournaments and players. Lucra will help TennisONE to foster social connectivity, strengthen customer loyalty, and unlock new revenue streams.

With this announcement, Lucra is also officially launching its professional sports Software Development Kit (SDK) to provide enterprise partners a secure and trustworthy real-money gamification engine. This innovative SDK will revolutionize the sports industry by allowing fans to compete against each other for real money inside platforms familiar to them. 

First stop? The Australian Open. While the water may spin backwards there, we’re looking forward to riding the waves of this Grand Slam with a splash of skill and a sprinkle of luck.

For more information, you check out the press release below (linked) or shoot us a message!

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231116436253/en/Serving-Success-Lucra-Partners-With-TennisONE-to-Facilitate-Real-Money-Gamification-for-All-Tennis-Fans

Sports Business Journal names Quintar a Power Player in Fan Experience Technology

POWER PLAYER: QUINTAR

Sankar Jayaram
Chief Executive Officer
Jeff Jonas
President

Quintar
Sankar Jayaram and Jeff Jonas are longtime veterans of extended reality and noticed a clear opening in the space: A demand for quality content that had both utility and entertainment value. Jayaram and Jonas, both formerly of Intel Sports, developed Quintar as a way to boost the in-venue fan experience by providing a second-screen experience to go along with live action. Quintar’s partnership with the PGA Tour, which has incorporated Quintar’s software development kit into the tour app, allowed the company to support 12 events this year by letting fans see shot-tracking views through their mobile devices. Quintar also partnered with AT&T for an XR experience in the G League that gave fans a stat-centric view that they could customize to their preferences.

Power Players: Fan Experience Technology
The biggest movers and shakers in Fan Experience Technology

The connection between teams and their fans has far transcended the days of ushering people to their seats so they can cheer for their favorites. With so many touchpoints to create a well-rounded fan experience, professional sports organizations have learned to cater to their loyalists — both in-venue and afar — through an arsenal of technology tools and partners to continue fostering that ongoing relationship.Sports Business Journal recognizes 41 people spanning 26 organizations who continue to push game day into new and exciting phases. The list includes companies that boost in-person attendance with augmented reality. Others enhance the digital presentation with data-infused productions or create more personalized activations. They bolster the mobile experiences that fans enjoy while engaging with their teams and turn venue navigation into a more streamlined (and pleasant) place for consumers. They are also the sports leagues themselves, tending to their most valuable assets to keep them returning.

Content by Ethan Joyce, Joe Lemire, Bret McCormick and Rob Schaefer 

U.S. Integrity and NCAA Commissioner Charlie Baker featured on CBS Mornings

U.S. Integrity and NCAA Commissioner Charlie Baker featured on CBS Mornings

NCAA President Sounds Alarm on Gambling

Las Vegas tech firm, U.S. Integrity, works to combat illicit college sports betting: "How much bigger do we get than a starting quarterback?"

BY JIM AXELROD, KERRY BREEN / CBS NEWS

WATCH HERE: https://youtu.be/YA7u2oYWrQA?feature=shared

It's impossible to watch sports on television or online today without seeing ads for online gambling. Betting on sports has become a huge business, with the American Gaming Association saying that more than $93 billion was spent on sports gambling just last year.

As that number continues to grow, so do the scandals. A string of incidents in college sports this year is raising questions about the impact of gambling on college athletes' integrity. 

When the Iowa Hawkeyes took on the Iowa State Cyclones in September, it was five players not taking the field who made some of the biggest headlines. All five, including Iowa State's star quarterback, were sidelined and dealing with criminal betting charges. Some had even bet on their own teams — something that Matt Holt, the operator of Las Vegas-based tech firm U.S. Integrity, said "just can't happen." 

U.S. Integrity has been retained by all the major college conferences and nearly every sports league in the country. It's the watchdog guarding against illicit betting on games and making sure everything is done fair and square. 

"I think Iowa and Iowa State was a huge eye opener," Holt said. "How much bigger do we get than a starting quarterback?" 

However, this wasn't the first time U.S. Integrity realized something was amiss. Months earlier, the company had noticed something fishy about the bets placed on a University of Alabama baseball game. Holt alerted state regulators, and in May, the school fired its baseball coach because he allegedly helped an associate make bets against his team, in a game he was coaching. That, Holt said, was a "five-alarm fire." 

U.S. Integrity Chief Operating Officer Scott Sadin has a background in the hedge fund world, where he analyzed Wall Street transactions to root out suspicious deals. Now, he does the same with sports data, watching "everything that has regulated sports wagering available on it" for anything alarming. The company focuses on betting lines, odds, social media posts and more to try and spot suspicious behavior. The company's most common concern is gamblers trading on inside information. If they find something alarming, they alert leagues, state regulators and the NCAA. 

"Around 15 to 20 notifications go out to sports book operators and regulatory offices a month," Sadin said. There are 363 Division 1 teams in college basketball alone, 10 times as many as in the National Football League or National Basketball Association, meaning that Holt, Sadin and their teams have their hands full. 

College sports have had gambling scandals over the decades, but the spread of online gambling makes them even more prevalent. One Division 1 athletic director told CBS News that he and his colleagues are "on pins and needles" and "scared to death" because of the recent scandals.

NCAA president Charlie Baker described the threat to the integrity of college sports as "extremely prevalent." 

"The fact that it is now, you know, on your phone, you don't have to go somewhere to bet, you can do it anytime you want, I think it's a real challenge, not just for us, but for student athletes," Baker said. 

Holt said that he hears such sentiments often. 

"They could have happened anywhere," Holt said. "How could I ever say that I don't think it's happening? Because the proof recently shows someone dug in that well, and there was water." 

Natural Pilates Partners with FORTË to Elevate the Natural Pilates TV Virtual Offering

Natural Pilates Partners with FORTË to Elevate the Natural Pilates TV Virtual Offering

November 2023

Laura Wilson’s vision for Natural Pilates includes an athletic approach to classical Pilates, heavily attuned to attention to detail and form-focused strengthening techniques. With studios in Los Angeles and New York City, the partnership with FORTË allows her to stream any instructor from anywhere, accessed by her members at any time.

FORTË is a fully automated end-to-end white label solution that helps fitness operators seamlessly produce live and on-demand fitness classes. They provide software and hardware - including cameras and lighting - and facilitate the entire installation process.

Laura is thrilled to partner with FORTË: “Working with such a highly skilled and efficient team has been wonderful. Our site looks amazing and gives our subscribers a great user experience.”

FORTË CEO, Lauren Foundos, says “We are so excited to work with Natural Pilates. From coast-to-coast they are such a highly regarded and beautifully executed brand. We are thrilled to be partners with Laura and her incredible team.”

About Natural Pilates

Laura Wilson opened her first Natural Pilates location in 2005 in Beverly Hills, CA. Since then, this one-woman operation has grown to 50 employees working in five studios on both coasts. Laura’s unique approach to understanding and teaching the Pilates repertoire inspired her to create the Natural Pilates Comprehensive Teacher Training Program and many accredited continuing education workshops for Pilates Instructors. For more information about the studio, please visit https://naturalpilates.com/. To join Natural Pilates TV, please visit https://online.naturalpilatestv.com/.

About FORTË

FORTË is a female founded and led technology company. Launched by Lauren Foundos in 2015, FORTË's white label streaming platform helps boutique fitness studios, big box gyms and health clubs create premium live and on-demand fitness experiences for members. The FORTË solution is proprietary & turn-key. The company provides hardware and software, and facilitates the entire installation process. By removing complexities associated with production, FORTË's fully-automated streaming solution allows fitness operators to focus on what they do best - create world-class content and deliver it to members wherever they are.

For more information, please visit http://www.goforte.fit or contact the company at partnerships@forte.fit.

Web3 Pro Closes New Funding Round in Further Sign of Digital Ads Upheaval

Web3 Pro Closes New Funding Round in Further Sign of Digital Ads Upheaval

PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As privacy concerns and weakening marketing performance erode traditional online advertising, Web3 Pro, a leading MarTech SaaS company built around targeted opt-in marketing, closed a substantial round of fresh funding from P101, one of the largest European venture investors, bringing the total raised to date to almost $10MM, with a post money valuation of $57MM.

Marketers are moving quickly to retool their efforts now that Google is planning to eliminate third-party tracking cookies in its dominant Chrome browser in 2024. The decreasing advertising effectiveness of social media has further increased urgency.

"There is a seismic shift towards engaging, 1-1 marketing experiences that consumers enjoy and brands find extremely effective," says Christian Ferri, Web3 Pro's founder and CEO. "We're delighted that our enterprise-grade platform has found such success with marketers and now has the strategic support of P101 and its vast network of European enterprise brands."

After years of building bespoke marketing campaigns for companies including Lamborghini, Juventus, RM Sotheby's, Showtime Sports and Ducati, and others, Web3 Pro recently launched the Hub, a platform that gives companies self-serve access to some of the most powerful marketing tools available anywhere, all for a low monthly SaaS fee.  

"As the leading investor in Web3 Pro's venture round, we are delighted to support their revolutionary marketing SaaS solution designed for enterprises", said Andrea Di Camillo, founder and managing partner of P101. "In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, harnessing the power of web3 technology is paramount. Web3 Pro has showcased a remarkable ability to merge innovation with practicality, offering a transformative solution that aligns seamlessly with the future needs of businesses. We commit to support Christian Ferri and the Web3 Pro team to develop the European market and those industries that are well established here."

P101 currently manages over $400 million in assets across 4 funds, and has backed companies including Fatmap (acquired by Strava) and Musixmatch, which completed a successful exit in 2022. P101 is one of the largest investor groups in southern Europe.

Existing investors of Web3 Pro include Sumitomo Corporation's CVC arm, Presidio Ventures, Seventy-Six Capital, River Capital Group, Ripple, and VU Ventures. Among its notable advisory board are Young Sohn, former President of Samsung Electronics and Gaetano Sciuto, former CEO of Giorgio Armani.

Based in Palo Alto, Calif., Web3 Pro provides a white-label SaaS MarTech solution that helps companies drive higher engagement, retention, and conversion, outperforming today's sub-par ads and loyalty programs by 3 to 5 times.

Proceeds from the new investment will be used to grow the sales and marketing division, including the expansion into Europe, MENA and APAC, which are centers of growing demand for new marketing engagement models.

Asensei is Building the Future of AI Fitness

Asensei is Building the Future of AI Fitness

Artificial Intelligence has dominated Qualcomm Snapdragon Summit 2023 this week in Maui, Hawaii. The event has seen the chipmaker reveal next generation chipsets and platforms, and the experiences they will enable.

In the Wednesday Keynote, Qualcomm reveal an AI based fitness demonstration developed by Litesport and powered by ASENSEI.

The experience leverages a latest generation Snapdragon powered mobile phone, Snapdragon® AR2 based Augmented Reality glasses, and Snapdragon® W5 equipped smartwatch to provide a seamless “conversational fitness” experience for the user powered by ASENSEI AI.

Highlights include:

💡 Real-time content provides adjusted trainer responses based on your performance.

💡 Integration with ASENSEI software captures the motion of users and analyzes their movement in real-time, enabling personalized health and fitness experiences and form corrections by the trainer with personalized form corrections in the moment.

💡 Augmented Reality enhances the real-world environment of the user by overlaying digital information onto the user's view of the physical world. In the demo, AR brings a personal trainer into your physical world to provide an interactive and effective training experience.