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A second group of start-ups pioneering new fan and event technologies has joined the innovative AO StartUps program.

The new cohort - Volta, Oho, INTIX, Foodini, Scala Sports, Lumi and exar.live - bring the 2025 AO StartUps portfolio to twelve companies, making it the largest intake since the program’s inception.

Announcing the additions, Tennis Australia Director of Innovation, Dr Machar Reid stated "our 2025 portfolio is arguably the strongest yet with a broad range of companies that are helping us drive innovation across all facets of our business.

“The companies unveiled today include new solutions to drive efficiencies in our event including digital ticketing, automated screening checks, production project management and AI powered personalised menus for anyone with dietary needs.

“We are also exploring new Flex leagues to increase tennis participation, driving fan interactivity with audience engagement software, and pushing the boundaries in performance analysis by harnessing 3D skeletal data in a spatial computing environment.”

The new companies joining AO StartUps are:

Volta (UK): Volta's technology transforms any stage, stream, or screen into a globally interactive experience, effortlessly integrating audience engagement into your app or website.

Oho (Australia): Australia's award-winning automation technology for initial and ongoing screening in care and community. It’s the smartest, fastest, and most secure way to screen, prevent compliance breaches, and strengthen safeguarding.

exar.live (UK): Redefining the entertainment viewing experience with its state of the art real-time data transport and display engine.

INTIX (Australia): Australia's largest independent provider of sports ticketing solutions with a product tailor-made for sport, whilst also supporting a diverse range of other events.

Foodini (Australia): A mobile app helping anyone with dietary needs, food allergies or personal food preferences to find the right food for them in a quick and easy way.

Scala Sports (Netherlands): Scala Sports builds innovative apps for racquet sports associations, focusing on increasing recreational player engagement and participation.

Lumi (Australia): Lumi.Media was founded by TV producers who knew there was a better way for teams to work together. Designed especially for the TV, entertainment and sports content industry, Lumi’s powerful visual software makes end-to-end production faster, easier and better.

Companies previously announced to have joined 2025 AO StartUps:

LILA (Malaysia): Developers of award winning Exogen wearable resistance suit combines cutting edge compression wear with the world’s first and only fully customisable, AI-driven microloading smart system.

Back Sync (Australia): Revolutionising spinal health with the SEG-B, the first in a line of innovative active therapy and mobility products.

New Stream (Israel): AI biomechanical analysis solution with cutting-edge motion capture product that includes an easy to use, smart and accessible elite-level assessment tool.

Electrokare (USA): Unlock peak performance and health with personalised electrolyte insights from existing wearable devices.

Grandstand (USA): AI-powered studio that helps athletes engage their fans and create new revenue streams by automatically tracking games and results, gathering relevant media, and generating prompts and highlights that make social media easy for athletes.

Previous companies to have joined AO StartUps include BatFast, 1080 Motion, Pendular, CAMB.AI, Prism Neuro, Trickshot, DVOX, Stringr, Straffr, Circular, PAM, Raven, Cape Bionics, Equidi, Calyx, MATCHi, Amperfii and YBVR.

AO StartUps is the latest step in Tennis Australia’s innovation and venture capital strategy which helps startup companies pilot their cutting-edge technology at the AO and other areas of Tennis Australia’s business.

Companies participating in AO StartUps are provided the opportunity to prove their business models in real time and directly access proprietary intel and exposure at one of the world’s largest sport and entertainment events. It has been designed to extract maximum value for the startup, streamline corporate processes that can often stifle innovating at speed, and provide an opportunity for investment via Tennis Australia’s venture capital fund, Wildcard Ventures.

The creation of AO StartUps follows the launch of Tennis Australia’s Venture Capital fund, Wildcard Ventures, and its multi-year partnership with global accelerator powerhouse, Techstars.

Click here to learn more. https://aostartups.ausopen.com  

Images: Foodini (top) and INTIX (below).

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