Verizon dials into ShotTracker’s 5G potential, leading $11M financing round for veteran startup
January 15, 2021 | Tommy Felts
One of Kansas City’s most celebrated startups is getting a boost as a new $11 million financing round led by Verizon Ventures and Evertz Technologies Limited takes the court.
Funding is expected to support accelerated product deployment across NCAA basketball conferences and expand remote live sports production in the cloud with 5G enabledtech for venues, clubs, leagues, and sports rights holders, the company said in a press release.
“The impact of tying the cameras to the ShotTracker sensors, in cost savings and in the quality of unique content which then can be delivered, will be dramatic and literally game changing for the sports world,” said Davyeon Ross, co-founder and COO of ShotTracker.
Click here to read more about Verizon Ventures and Evertz.
ShotTracker is one of Kansas City’s Top Venture Capital-Backed companies. The funding from Verizon Ventures and Evertz puts the startup at nearly $40 million in funding, according to company reporting and Startland News tracking.
ShotTracker gets backing from Verizon in $11 million financing round. Terrific future with great partners @VerizonVentures @EvertzTV @KCRiseFund proud investor https://t.co/hCfaY5DlIt
— Darcy Howe (@darcyhowe) January 16, 2021
Patented tech behind ShotTracker delivers deep data and analytics as well as video, scoreboard and broadcast integration to more than 63 Division I men’s and women’s basketball programs and a growing relationship with Learfield IMG College and its partner schools.
How does it work? The platform tracks data in three parts: a ShotTracker-enabled ball, sensors on players’ jerseys, and court sensors that map the court in 3D. Data is processed through the company’s proprietary algorithm displayed on the ShotTracker app and dashboard and will also be integrated with Evertz cloud based live production solutions.
ShotTracker’s partnership with Evertz is specifically designed to deliver automated camera operations to reduce staffing needed to control cameras at live events. Such a move would allow editors, storytellers and producers to be remote amid the ongoing pandemic.
ShotTracker display at the Computer History Museum
The innovative tech was saluted by the Computer History Museum during the traveling exhibit’s 2019 stop in Kansas City, which highlighted key milestones in the development of the metro’s entrepreneurial community.
But ShotTracker isn’t just a piece of Kansas City’s past — it’s a catalyst for changing the tech game, said Michelle McCarthy, managing director of Verizon Ventures.
“As real-time data tracking and analytics become critical components for coaches and players, instantaneous and interactive delivery powered by 5G is critical,” McCarthy said. “ShotTracker’s real-time sports data will transform fan experiences, athletic performance, sports broadcast and more. We’re proud to invest in a team of industry veterans as they pave the way for data capture in game play to improve all areas of the sport.”
In addition to Verizon Ventures and Evertz, ShotTracker’s partners include Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Spalding and Wilson.
The company is led by Ross and Bill Moses, CEO, with headquarters in Johnson County.
Ross and co-founder Bruce Ianni — who left the startup in April 2020 — were inducted in November into the Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City’s Hall of Fame for their work with ShotTracker. The company was named one of Startland News’ Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2019 and Ross was honored in 2019 as Tech Connector of the Year at the KC Tech Council’s inaugural No Coast awards.
Watch Ross and Ianni’s remarks from the Junior Achievement induction below.
This story is possible thanks to support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a private, nonpartisan foundation that works together with communities in education and entrepreneurship to create uncommon solutions and empower people to shape their futures and be successful.
For more information, visit www.kauffman.org and connect at www.twitter.com/kauffmanfdn and www.facebook.com/kauffmanfdn
Featured Business
2021 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
BacklotCars parks another $25 million in Series B round led by NY-based investor
KC-fueled BacklotCars will further its mission to disrupt the wholesale automotive space, thanks to the close of a $25 million Series B funding round, the company announced Monday. Led by New York-based growth equity firm, Stripes, the round brings BacklotCars — which seeks to ease pain points for automotive wholesalers — to $38 million in…
ModRN Health aims to break down primary care with $35-a-month membership model
ModRN Health is injecting life into a decaying healthcare system through holistic approaches, said CaRessa Hutchinson. “[Patients practically need] a medical degree to be able to navigate the healthcare system. It’s ridiculous,” said Hutchinson, co-founder of the Overland Park-based healthcare platform dedicated to ‘filling in the gaps” for patients. “People are just so overwhelmed and…
TEDxYouth@KC invites teens into pressing, real-world conversations, event emcee says
Including teens in conversations about real world issues is the key element that will set Kansas City’s TEDxYouth@KC apart from other TED-branded conferences, said Kyra Colbert. “We’re going to be the future and if we don’t get involved now and we don’t get informed about what’s going on, how are we going to know what…
New Black & Veatch accelerator bent on changing the world, powered by LaunchKC
A new accelerator powered by LaunchKC is Black & Veatch’s attempt to “create the world that we want,” said Hyleme George, director of the freshly announced IgniteX CleanTech program. “It’s a world that we want to invest in to accelerate the adoption of sustainable infrastructure,” George continued. “What that means is a world where there’s…