Accelerate Ventures

Why should sports teams care about AI in injury prevention? Why should coaches embrace AI-powered analytics? And why should athletes be excited about AI wearables? This week, Senior Analyst Raef Jackson explores the AI revolution in sports performance and monitoring, off the back of the excellent SportsPro AI conference in London. Artificial intelligence is reshaping sports, from using digital twins to prevent injuries to AI-driven coaching tools that deliver real-time insights. With wearables offering hyper-personalized performance tracking and data-driven talent identification, AI is transforming how athletes train, recover, and compete. So, how will AI revolutionize sports performance for teams and athletes? https://lnkd.in/eaAMYdxS #vc #venture #venturecapital #AI #sports #performance #technology #innovation #digitaltransformation #sportsanalytics #wearables #injuryprevention #coaching #startups

Why should Manchester United take their official club app seriously? Why should New York Knicks care about Instagram? And why should Wimbledon be interested in VR?    This week, Analyst Daniel Bacon looks at the importance of digital fan engagement for sports clubs and rights holders.    The way that sports fans interact with their favourite clubs has changed drastically over recent years, with a significant shift towards digital interaction. From social media to mobile apps to emerging technologies, the modern sports fan engages with their club in many different ways.    So what does this mean for sports clubs? https://lnkd.in/e9YagNHM #vc #venture #venturecapital #sports #football #digital #engagement #technology #startups 

Many recognise the “Moneyball” story of the Oakland Athletics as the trigger of the modern shift in data-driven recruitment across major sports, but how widespread has the data-driven revolution truly become? And which platforms are clubs making use of? In our latest article by Samuel Nelson, we dive into the recent evolution of Athlete Recruitment Platforms. Whether you’re a sports fan, an industry insider, or just curious about this booming market, our analysis offers valuable insights into the latest trends and developments. Discover which sports have been the slowest to take the Major League Baseball (MLB)’s lead, and what the future might look like for both established and emerging Athlete Recruitment Platforms. Curious about the details? Click the link to explore the full story! https://lnkd.in/enAgnCqi #Moneyball #OaklandAs #TampaBayRays #MLB #Wyscout #Hudl #Sportradar #Recruitment #Scouting #NFL #NBA #Premierleague #LiverpoolFC #ManchesterCity

With the 2024 Esports World Cup Foundation in Riyadh wrapping up this weekend, the esports industry is buzzing with excitement and opportunity. In our latest article, Gigi Triplitt dives into the explosive growth of esports, from the rise of mobile gaming to the massive investments shaping the future. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer, an industry insider, or just curious about this booming market, our analysis offers valuable insights into the latest trends and developments. Discover how the US is racing ahead, why Saudi Arabia’s investments are game-changing, and what makes esports fans a unique audience. Dive into the world of esports and see why it’s one of the most dynamic sectors out there! Curious about the details? Click the link to explore the full story! https://lnkd.in/eWxNCPBJ #esports #esportsworldcup #Riyadh #growth #sportsbusiness #sportstech #sports #vc #venturecapital

Have you been paying attention to Angel City Football Club and what it means for women’s football?   In our latest analysis, Raef Jackson delves into the evolving landscape of the Women’s Super League (WSL) and its quest to compete with the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in the US.   Women's football is experiencing unprecedented growth, with record-breaking investments, rising valuations, and increasing sponsorship and broadcast revenues, particularly in the United States. Can England and its WSL teams catch up with their US counterparts?   As the WPLL steps in to manage the WSL and Women’s Championship, the body must navigate challenges like securing impactful broadcast deals, controlling costs, and fostering sustainable growth.   The future of women's football in England may depend on how well the WPL and WSL can rise to these challenges. https://lnkd.in/eP8R_Qwt #sportsbusiness #sportstech #sports #vc #venturecapital #womensfootball #NWSL #WSL #AngelCity #WPLL #NewCo #growth

Did you notice the fitness trackers worn by every other athlete at Paris 2024?   In our first of a new series of thought leadership pieces, our Analyst Daniel Bacon digs into the sports wearable devices market.   Wearable devices represent one of the most exciting areas of today’s sports industry. Usage is becoming increasingly mainstream at both the elite and amateur levels, quality of devices is improving rapidly, and promising new market players are continuing to emerge.   The winners in this space will have clear strategies to cater to the unique characteristics of casual users, fitness enthusiasts, and elite athletes. Firms should also prioritise continued product quality improvements and community features, while tackling fundamental issues of lacklustre user retention and market saturation.   Balancing all of the above is one of the market’s most promising emerging players: WHOOP. https://lnkd.in/eajzxxtR #sportstech #sports #vc #venturecapital #technology #innovation #olympics #wearables

We're #hiring a new Associate/ Senior Associate. Super exciting opportunity to join the team. If you are looking for a stimulating and rewarding career in Sports Venture Capital, we would love to hear from you.

Following an intense 6 months to start the year, we are pleased to announce 2 major updates here at Accelerate Ventures to kickstart our Summer.   1. 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲! We are now actively looking to invest in Seed and Series A rounds of startups in the Sports and Sports Technology sectors, with a ticket size of £500k - £2.5m. If you are looking for funding, or know anyone who is, please reach out to us and we would love to chat.   2. To support the fund launch, our new website is also now live. You can check it out below to find out more about us and what we do.   We'll hopefully be posting here a bit more frequently moving forward so watch this space for our thoughts on the market and investment updates.   If you have any questions for our team, please get in touch on our website, or drop us a message in the comments below. https://lnkd.in/dwSr6bcN

We're looking for new analysts to join our growing team in London. If you are passionate about Venture Capital, Sports and Technology then we've got a scope of fantastic projects lined up in 2024 and this is a great opportunity to join a dynamic team at the beginning of our journey. If you are interested in applying or keen to find out more, please reach out on our website accelerateventures.co.uk #hiring #venturecapital #sport