Miami-based sports technology startup OnSport AI has raised $2 million in a pre-seed funding round led by owners of international basketball teams. The company will use its AI technology to help sports teams identify injury risks by analysing players’ movements and biomechanics.
OnSport AI uses player tracking data or video footage to study athletes’ movements and identify changes that could indicate a higher risk of injury. Its platform compares each player’s movements with their normal performance over time and provides insights that help coaches and medical staff make better training decisions.
The company initially focuses on basketball but is also expanding its technology into soccer and golf. It has been running a pilot programme with an undisclosed NBA team for more than a year and has also worked with international basketball and soccer teams.
OnSport AI was founded by three professionals with experience in sports, technology and biomechanics. CEO Brett Burman previously worked as an NBA scout for the Memphis Grizzlies and served as general manager of the London Lions. Technology lead Ahmad Ishaq has experience building businesses in the defence industry and serves on the board of StatusPro, an NFL-licensed virtual reality gaming company. Director of Biomechanics Adam Petway has worked with NBA teams, including the Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers, as well as professional basketball teams in Japan.
The idea behind OnSport AI came from Burman’s experience with the London Lions, where several former NBA players suffered non-contact injuries. Although the team could monitor fatigue and training loads, it lacked clear information about why injuries were happening and how to prevent them.
To address this problem, Burman and Petway spent more than a year studying sports footage, reviewing research and developing AI algorithms to identify injury-related movement patterns.
According to Petway, serious injuries such as ACL tears and Achilles tendon ruptures often involve identifiable movement patterns. By analysing these patterns over time, OnSport AI aims to help teams recognise potential risks earlier and take action before major injuries occur.
