Wearable tech firm nets £750k

Edinburgh-based wearable tech start-up Playerdata has secured a £750,000 investment round, with former Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy among a group of prominent private investors from the Scottish and UK business scene to participate.

Playerdata said the capital will support market entry and its next phase of growth, enabling it to fast-track the launch of its sports team and individual athlete products.

Playerdata Edge is a dual hardware and software offering that allows teams and individuals to access performance data and transform the way they train by tracking speed, distance covered and positioning on the pitch. Version two is set to kick off later this year, with additional application for use in more technique-based individual sports.

Edge, which is currently applicable to a number of team sports, is said to be gaining ground in football and was trialled at the Homeless World Cup in Mexico in 2018. It lets coaches assess training and matches, see real-time stats, track and compare performance, adapt load and intensity, and reduce injury risk. It claims to be able to boost overall team performance and has helped players perform up to 50 per cent better.

Chief executive and cofounder Roy Hotrabhvanon said: “We went to market with Edge six months ago and have already signed up a series of sports teams including football clubs from grassroots to professional level across the UK. The next 12 months will see the team expanding our reach in football with some exciting announcements in the pipeline as we bridge the technology gap for amateur and elite athletes alike.”

Playerdata was co-founded by University of Edinburgh computer science graduates Hotrabhvanon, a former international archer, and Hayden Ball in 2017.

The pair began developing wearable tech prototypes while studying informatics.