Essen and Duisburg-based sports analytics platform Staige has raised €8.5 million in funding from the renowned football club Borussia Dortmund. With the additional cash, the company will boost its platform to make amateur sports more accessible and affordable.
The new funds will help boost the company’s expansion plans in Europe. The startup is also expected to benefit from the experiences of Borussia Dortmund professional players. The partnership will go a long way in helping Staige to develop better products for automated video production and video broadcasting.
Founded in 2017, the German startup which was earlier called Soccerwatch, is using AI to democratise sports analytics. The company claims to manufacture a camera which uses AI to autonomously record sports footage. It can then be used to stream live on the internet.
Staige CEO Jan Taube, said: “We have been working with Borussia Dortmund for a long time. The latest funding underpins our synergies in the sports sector.”
As of now, the cameras are mainly used in amateur sports. Along with an integrated coaching tool, clubs can use the technology to immediately conduct performance-oriented match and training analyses. Thus, it is democratising sports tech which until now was earlier only accessible by pros.
The technology can be utilised in any sport – whether individual or team-based. The company operates its own streaming portal, staige.tv, where over 50,000 sporting and cultural events are available live and on-demand. While sports are the focal point, the technology is also being used by churches and theatres. Hundreds of sports and other cultural events are added every weekend.
Carsten Cramer, managing director of Borussia Dortmund said: “Together, we are committed to supporting the foundation of our sport: the amateurs. The standard of our professionals should become feasible in all leagues.”
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