ShotTracker raises $10.4M round featuring former NBA Commissioner David Stern
May 16, 2018 | Bobby Burch
Merriam-based ShotTracker is fueling its global expansion via a large funding round featuring several high-profile investors.
The sports tech company announced Wednesday that it raised a $10.4 million Series A financing round led by Ward.Ventures, NBA commissioner David Stern and two-time National League home run champion, Ryan Howard. The round also includes Greycroft, Elysian Ventures, KC Rise Fund, Irish Angels and SeventySix Capital.
ShotTracker co-founders Davyeon Ross and Bruce Ianni.
The injection of new capital brings ShotTracker’s total funding to more than $21 million, which includes an investment by NBA legend, Earvin “Magic” Johnson.
ShotTracker’s TEAM system tracks multiple players with an array of sensors — secured to each player, within each Spalding basketball, and in the rafters — plotting the games’ shots in real time.
ShotTracker will use the funding for growth and scalability to increase installations in courts around the United States and to solidify global partnership opportunities, said Davyeon Ross, co-founder and COO of ShotTracker.
“This additional funding allows ShotTracker to execute on its vision and accelerate the proliferation of our product across the market,” said Ross. “Whether you’re a fan, a player, a coach, a broadcaster or a market maker – ShotTracker is changing the overall experience of the game. There are significant changes happening in sports and ShotTracker is poised to capitalize on those industry changes with its real-time data.”
In March, the company released its new ShotTracker fan app for the Division 1 NAIA basketball tournament. The app combines real-time analytics with augmented reality in a first-of-its-kind fan engagement tool that displays game and player information on fans’ smartphones.
ShotTracker recently earned a bronze Edison Award in the category of “Digitized Data.” The tech is being used by the University of Kansas, the University of Oklahoma, TCU, Baylor and several other top collegiate basketball programs.
ShotTracker was co-founded by Ross and Bruce Ianni. To learn more about the firm, check out the video below.
2018 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Meet the five area startups partnering with KCMO to drive innovation
A quintet of startup firms are working with the City of Kansas City, Mo. as part of its Innovation Partnership Program. Launched in 2015, IPP pairs area startups with city departments to not only identify new efficiencies but also offer the firm a chance to earn business with the city. After being designated a department…
KC entrepreneurial leader Wullschleger becomes new WeWork director
Before its doors even open, WeWork is making significant inroads to the area entrepreneur community. The international coworking giant — which announced plans to create a 40,000-square-foot space in Kansas City in March — has hired Erik Wullschleger to become its community director. Most recently the director of LiveKC and previously general manager of the…
Wide Ruled: The future of Kansas schools with education commissioner Randy Watson
Editor’s note: In partnership with the Wide Ruled podcast hosted by Brainroot Light and Sound, Startland News hopes to offer its audience more avenues to learn about innovators in Kansas City. Opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Wide Ruled is a Kansas City-based podcast focused on equality in education. Each episode showcases a…
ScaleUP! KC welcomes 16 new entrepreneurs to the program
On Wednesday ScaleUP! KC welcomed 16 new entrepreneurs into its incubator program’s sixth cohort. To qualify, ScaleUP! companies must be in business for at least two years, generate annual sales of between $150,000 and $750,000 and have the potential to reach to $1 million in sales. Startups from the latest cohort represent industries such as…