For athletes who are continuously looking for ways to increase their performance, wearable technology has evolved dramatically in a short time. Today’s gadgets can track performance and integrate the real-time analytics into the cloud. Listed here are examples of companies that have signed formal agreements to have their products used in organized sports.
Athos
Headquarters: San Francisco
Key executives: Don Faul, CEO; Dhananja Jayalath, chief product officer and co-founder; Chris Wiebe, CTO and co-founder
Funding: Three rounds totaling $50.7 million, including investments from Golden State Warriors owner and CEO Joe Lacob.
The tech: Compression shirt, shorts, women’s leggings
Partners: Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Clippers, FC Dallas, NBA G League Santa Cruz Warriors, Ohio State athletics, Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns, Packers linebacker Clay Matthews and Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer
Blast Motion
Headquarters: Carlsbad, Calif.
Key executives: Michael Bentley, founder; Ryan Kaps, founder; Michael Fitzpatrick, co-founder and CEO; Roger Weingarth, COO; Donovan Prostrollo, senior director of marketing; Greg Sabella, senior director of sports marketing; Mike Woods, vice president of business development and strategic partnerships
Funding: Kortschak Investments, Knoll Ventures and Jaws Ventures are the leading investors
The tech: Bat, golf club sensor
Partners: MLB and 19 of its 30 clubs; National Pro Fastpitch and college softball programs at Washington, Oregon, LSU, Tennessee and Texas; Golf Channel Academy, Proponent Group, TaylorMade and college golf programs at USC, Georgia, Washington State, Texas A&M, Ohio State and Furman
Catapult
Headquarters: Melbourne, Australia
Key executives: Adir Shiffman, executive chairman; Barry McNeill, CEO Catapult Elite; Benoit Simeray, consumer CEO; Matt Bairos, CEO Americas
Funding: Public company
The tech: GPS device attached to lycra vest
Partners: FIFA; National Basketball League (Australia), Rugby Football League and Australian Football League; FC Bayern Munich, Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain; Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings; Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos and New York Giants; Philadelphia Flyers; LA Galaxy and D.C. United; dozens of soccer clubs around the world; Kentucky, Duke, Nebraska, Rutgers, Northwestern and Iowa athletic departments
Diamond Kinetics
Headquarters: Pittsburgh
Key executives: William Clark, founder; C.J. Handron, co-founder and CEO; Jeffrey Schuldt, chief commercial officer, Mike Ressler, CTO; Alex Bush, director of strategic partnerships
Funding: Four rounds beginning in 2014 totaling $6.5 million, including a $2.4 million investment last December
The tech: Sensors attached to bats for hitters; sensors embedded inside of baseballs for pitchers
Partners: More than half of MLB teams (during batting practice only), 52 NCAA programs, MiLB Gulf Coast League, Arizona Summer League, NCAA softball, Pony baseball and softball
Motus Global
Headquarters: Rockville Centre, N.Y.
Key executives: Joe Nolan, co-founder and CEO; Keith Robinson, co-founder and president; Ben Hansen, vice president and CTO; Brittany Dowling, director of research and validation
Funding: A $1.01 million investment last October
The tech: Compression sleeve worn by pitchers
Partner: MLB
Whoop
Headquarters: Boston
Key executives: Will Ahmed, co-founder and CEO; Aurelian Nicolae, co-founder and product development engineer; John Capodilupo, co-founder and CTO; Lucy McQuilken, CFO; John Sullivan, vice president of marketing
Funding: Five rounds beginning in 2013. The most recent was a $25 million influx in March that included an investment by the NFLPA and from former NBA Commissioner David Stern.
The tech: Wrist strap
Partners: NFL, MLB
Zebra Technologies
Headquarters: Lincolnshire, Ill.
Key executives: Anders Gustafsson, CEO; Olivier Leonetti, CFO; Jeff Schmitz, CMO; Tom Bianculli, CTO; Deepak Kaul, CIO; Michael Cho, senior vice president of corporate development; Hugh Gagnier, senior vice president of global supply chain
Funding: Two rounds totaling $2 billion; now a public company
The tech: RFID technology placed in players’ shoulder pads and game balls
Partner: NFL
