Gaming, VR and digital coaching amongst the companies leading ‘Innovation from Inception’.

Today the STA Startups, part of the Sports Technology Awards Group, in conjunction with Presenting Partner, Sportradar, revealed its 2019 winners. In keeping with the nature of the sector, the emerging star line-up was revealed by video stream across a series of global channels.

Facing fierce international competition, as well as the scrutiny of a 20-strong panel of industry-leading judges, including Gfinity’s Amanda Lawson, UEFA’s Daniel Marion, the LMA’s Richard Bevan and the FEI’s Stéphane Schwander, the eventual winners were:

Deal of the Year – Vald Performance’s Acquisition of ForceDecks

Best Seed Funded Business – Guided Knowledge: the Next Generation of Wearables

Best Crowdfunded Business – Incentive Games

Series A Funded Businesses – Adrenaline Hunter

Series B Funded Businesses – LiveLike

Best New Concept – Danu Analytics: a Smart Injury and Performance Analysis System

Rebecca Hopkins, CEO of the Sports Technology Awards Group, said: “The Startups serve a highly exciting and dynamic part of the sports technology sector; our aim is to create valuable, third-party endorsement for young companies, which gives winners a tangible commercial edge in a competitive industry.

“The judges observed that this year’s entries were as diverse as they were exciting and global, and we look forward to great things from them all.”

Adam Azor, Sportradar’s Director of Product Marketing, added: “We believe startups and their evolution are the future of our industry, so we are committed to staying closely aligned to them.”

For more information about the Startups or the STA Group, visit sportstechgroup.org or follow @SportTechGroup on Twitter. For more information about Sportradar, visit sportradar.com