Sportsbox AI, a tech startup based in Bellevue, Washington, gained recognition after golf superstar Bryson DeChambeau credited the company’s motion capture technology for his recent success at the U.S. Open tournament. DeChambeau used the app to analyze his golf swing data and make improvements that ultimately led to his victory. The company, founded in 2020, creates detailed 3D models of golf swings and measures hundreds of data points to help golfers identify areas of improvement.
Sportsbox AI has primarily marketed its app to coaches who use it during instruction with students, but it is also available for individual golfers to download and assess their own swings. The company aims to make the app educational and useful for all golfers, not just professionals. Sportsbox CEO Jeehae Lee, a former professional golfer and executive at TopGolf, sees the company’s role in DeChambeau’s success as a dream come true and hopes to expand the app’s reach to more golfers.
The app measures aspects of the golf swing such as chest turn and pelvis sway, providing data that can help instructors quickly identify issues and suggest improvements. The technology has been well received at indoor golf centers like Evergreen Golf Club near Seattle, where instructors use Sportsbox to coach golfers. While the app may have a learning curve for individual users, working with knowledgeable coaches can help simplify the data and turn it into actionable advice for improving one’s swing.
Sportsbox AI faces competition from other smartphone apps that offer similar AI-driven swing analysis features for golfers. However, the company has the endorsement of Bryson DeChambeau, who has invested in Sportsbox and joined the company after his U.S. Open win. DeChambeau believes in the power of data-driven decision-making and sees the potential for Sportsbox to revolutionize the future of golf with its technology.
More than 100,000 golfers and thousands of coaches are currently using the Sportsbox app, generating revenue for the company through subscription fees and partnerships with broadcasters and golf instruction centers. In addition to golf, Sportsbox is exploring applications for its technology in baseball and has secured investments from Elysian Park Ventures, a firm led by the owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The company was originally incubated at AI Thinktank, founded by tech veterans Mike Kennewick and Rich Kennewick, who previously founded Voicebox Technologies.
Overall, Sportsbox AI has raised over $9 million in funding, employs approximately 20 people, and aims to continue expanding its reach in the sports technology market. With the support of top athletes like Bryson DeChambeau and partnerships with key players in the industry, Sportsbox is well-positioned to drive innovation in sports performance analysis and help athletes of all levels improve their skills.
