10 Startups Providing Sport Equipment, Wearables and Smart Hardware

This post is part of a series covering the performance focused SportTech companies. You can view the full interactive map with more than 50 startups here.

This landscape highlights how software, hardware and AI are reshaping the way athletes train, how coaches work, and how clubs operate.

Sport Equipment, Wearables and Smart Hardware

What this category is about:

Includes connected devices that capture performance or assist training. Covers wearables, sensors, smart balls, smart apparel and hardware systems used on fields, courts, or training facilities.

Trends shaping this category:

Smart wearables are now standard in professional sport. Football players, for example, routinely compete with GPS and inertial sensors under their jerseys to track workload, positioning and intensity during matches.
These technologies are becoming accessible to amateurs. Prices have fallen, devices are simpler to use and many products now sync directly with mobile apps, which brings pro level tracking into everyday training.
Lower hardware costs open the door to smart equipment in almost every corner of sport. Sensors, smart balls, connected targets and instrumented apparel now appear even in niche disciplines that previously had no digital layer.
As more devices come online, training environments become more measurable. Teams and athletes rely on connected hardware to quantify technique, effort and repetition quality in ways that used to be available only in specialised labs.

10 Startups Providing Sport Equipment, Wearables and Smart Hardware

Playmaker

⚽️ Football -🇪🇺 Europe – 🇬🇧 UK – 💸 Series B+ – Hardware – Performance Analytics

What they do:

The product uses small motion sensors attached to a player’s boots to capture every technical and physical action during training or matches.
The system measures touches, passes, kicks, accelerations, decelerations, speed and distance, then turns these into clear performance metrics in an app.
Players and coaches can track development over time, spot strengths and weaknesses and set targeted training goals based on objective data.
Because the sensors sit on the boots, the system works indoors and outdoors without needing GPS, cameras or fixed infrastructure.
The platform serves individual players, academies and full teams that want reliable, repeatable insights into player development.

Company specificities:

High frequency sampling captures micro movements such as foot rotation, impact forces and subtle ball contacts which allows for very detailed analysis.
A foot worn design measures both technical actions and physical outputs which gives a more complete picture than traditional movement trackers.
Coach dashboards and benchmarking tools allow comparisons within teams or against external standards which supports talent identification and long term development.

Strive

🇺🇸 US – 💵 Seed – Hardware

What they do:

The company provides compression garments with embedded sensors that measure muscle activation, load, symmetry and fatigue in real time.
Data from training sessions and matches is processed into clear visualisations that show how each muscle group is working and recovering.
Coaches and athletes use the insights to understand internal load, refine training intensity and reduce injury risk through early detection of fatigue patterns.
Team dashboards allow staff to monitor multiple athletes at once which supports group training and performance planning.
The system is designed for elite teams but can also serve high performance individuals who want deeper insight into muscle activity.

Company specificities:

A garment integrated design removes the need for external lab equipment which makes muscle monitoring practical in everyday training.
A focus on internal load offers visibility into how the body responds to work rather than only measuring external workload.
The platform is built to manage data for full squads which suits professional clubs and university programs.
Versatile use cases across performance optimisation, load management and injury prevention make it applicable to many sports.

Nextiles

🇺🇸 US – 💵 Seed – Hardware

What they do:

The company develops smart fabrics that embed sensors and circuitry directly into clothing so garments themselves become data capturing devices.
Athletes wearing these garments generate real time biomechanical and biometric data such as force, pressure, stretch, angle and motion.
A companion platform receives the data via Bluetooth and visualises workload, joint stress, technique patterns and recovery indicators.
Products range from smart sleeves for arms and knees to fabric based force plates that can measure ground reaction forces and movement quality.
The technology supports professional athletes, rehab patients, fitness users and adaptive athletes who need detailed biomechanical insight outside a lab.

Company specificities:

A patented method for weaving sensors into fabric removes bulky wearable pods and creates a seamless experience for the user.
The system captures rich physical signals like force and pressure which go beyond what traditional motion only wearables can measure.
An open ecosystem with APIs and SDKs allows partners to build customised analytics for different sports, rehab workflows or research needs.
The technology is highly versatile with applications across many sports and health contexts which broadens its relevance and adoption potential.

Bearmind

🇨🇭 Swi – 🇪🇺 Europe – 💵 Seed – Hardware

What they do:

The company develops helmet integrated sensors that monitor head impacts in real time for athletes in contact sports.
The system captures force, direction and motion for every hit which helps teams assess impact severity and exposure history.
Staff receive immediate feedback when a potentially dangerous collision occurs which supports faster decision making around concussion protocols.
Athletes can log symptoms and wellbeing through an app which adds subjective context to the objective impact data.
Long term tracking allows teams to follow cumulative exposure across a season or career to support brain health management.

Company specificities:

Sensors are embedded directly inside the helmet foam which preserves comfort while turning standard protective gear into a smart device.
A compact data module manages recording and wireless transfer which keeps the system unobtrusive for players.
Automated risk assessment highlights concerning impacts quickly which reduces reliance on visual cues alone.
Academic origins and ongoing scientific validation strengthen credibility and support future medical certification pathways.

SportImpact

🇪🇺 Europe – 🇮🇪 Ire – Hardware – PreSeed

What they do:

The company provides a small wearable worn behind the ear that monitors head impacts in real time during matches and training.
The system sends immediate alerts to staff when a significant impact occurs which supports rapid concussion checks.
A full history of impacts is recorded for each athlete which helps teams monitor cumulative exposure across the season.
The lightweight design aims to work across many sports without requiring helmets or specialised equipment.
Clubs at amateur and professional levels can use the product to strengthen safety protocols and improve athlete welfare.

Company specificities:

A discreet placement behind the ear allows use in helmeted and non helmeted sports which broadens applicability.
Real time detection and alerting reduce reliance on visible symptoms and enable faster intervention.
Detailed impact logs give medical and performance staff objective information for return to play decisions.
Active deployment in multiple sports and recent funding signal momentum toward broader market adoption.

Hytro

🇪🇺 Europe – 🇬🇧 UK – 💵 Seed

What they do:

The company provides wearable blood flow restriction garments that athletes use to enhance training, recovery and rehabilitation.
The gear allows users to create meaningful muscle stimulus with low load exercise or even during passive recovery.
Athletes experience faster recovery through improved circulation and reduced soreness after intense sessions or matches.
Teams and individuals can use the product anywhere which makes structured strength and rehab work possible without heavy equipment.
The solution supports performance development, in season conditioning and return to play programmes.

Company specificities:

Patented BFR technology is built directly into wearable garments which removes the need for bulky or complex machinery.
The product is validated for unsupervised use which makes BFR accessible to a broader range of athletes and settings.
Versatility allows the same system to support strength training, rehab, active recovery and passive recovery.
Adoption across professional and semi professional teams demonstrates real world effectiveness and ease of integration.

Spivo

Racket Sports

What they do:

They offer a tennis training aid that helps players improve technique, spin and shot consistency through real time feedback.
The device attaches to a racket and produces an audible signal when the swing and contact generate proper motion and spin.
It supports players at all levels so beginners can learn correct mechanics while advanced players can fine tune topspin, slice or flat shots.
Regular use helps players build muscle memory and repeat effective stroke patterns without needing constant coaching oversight.

Company specificities:

Feedback is immediate and easy to perceive since the sound cue lets players know when their mechanics are correct.
The product is patented and built with durable materials that withstand frequent and powerful swings.
No sensors or complex setup are required which makes it simple to use with any standard racket.
The tool is accessible for recreational players yet useful enough for more competitive athletes who want to refine advanced shots.

Scolia

🇪🇺 Europe – 🇭🇺 Hun – 🎯 Darts – Computer Vision – Performance Analytics

What they do:

They provide an automated scoring system for steel tip darts that uses cameras and image processing to detect where each dart lands.
The platform converts impact location into accurate scores which removes manual input and keeps gameplay continuous.
It supports solo training, local multiplayer, online matches and organised tournaments which makes it suitable for casual and competitive use.
Players receive detailed analytics such as heatmaps, precision metrics, averages and checkout performance to track progress.

Company specificities:

Camera based throw detection and automated scoring is uncommon in darts which makes their system one of the first widely adopted solutions of its kind.
They offer versions for home players as well as more robust models for pubs, clubs and commercial venues which broadens their market reach.
Automated scoring allows players to focus fully on technique and rhythm which improves training quality and consistency.
Strong online features turn the system into a connected community where players can compete and interact globally.

Form

🇨🇦 Can – 🏊‍♀️ Swimming – 💰 Series A

What they do:

They offer smart swimming goggles paired with an app that track and analyse pool and open water sessions automatically.
The goggles display real time metrics such as pace, distance, stroke rate, stroke count and heart rate while swimming.
Users can follow structured training plans and coach designed workouts or create custom sessions tailored to their goals.
After each swim the app provides detailed analysis so swimmers can review trends and measure improvement over time.

Company specificities:

Built in sensors and an augmented reality display give swimmers instant feedback without the need for external devices.
The system serves beginners, fitness swimmers and triathletes by offering flexible plans and advanced analytics.
Interoperability with popular training platforms allows athletes to integrate swimming into broader multisport programs.
The combination of hardware, software and guided training creates a complete swim tech ecosystem rather than a standalone gadget.

Mantis X8

🇩🇪 Ger – 🏹 Archery – Performance Analytics

What they do:

They offer a motion tracking sensor for archery that attaches to any bow and measures the smallest movements during the shot cycle.
The sensor sends data to a mobile app which analyses each shot in real time and provides feedback on form, stability and release quality.
After every shot the user can review detailed metrics such as bow angle, tilt, release timing and pre release movement.
The system tracks long term trends which helps archers understand strengths, recurring issues and overall progress.

Company specificities:

The tool turns subjective feeling into objective data which makes technique improvement more precise and measurable.
It works with almost any type of bow using a simple universal mount which makes it flexible for archers with different setups.
The sensor is small and light so it does not affect bow handling which allows use during regular practice or competition like training.
Focus on fine movement analysis helps beginners build good habits and gives advanced archers a way to chase small but meaningful performance gains.