Copenhagen-based Jabbr.ai, an innovative player in the realm of AI analytics for combat sports, has successfully secured €4.3 million in a Seed funding round aimed at propelling its vision of becoming the essential operating system for the combat sports industry. The company’s mission is to infuse Silicon Valley-level artificial intelligence into an arena that, as they assert, remains tethered to technology reminiscent of the 1980s.
Leading the funding initiative is Buckley Ventures, helmed by Josh Buckley, alongside contributions from notable investors including Alexis Ohanian’s Seven Seven Six, Lyft co-founder John Zimmer, and Olympic champion Andre Ward. Early supporters like PSV Tech also played a significant role in this round.
“Jabbr is essentially a plug-and-play solution for live streaming and scoring in combat sports. We empower users to record and stream their matches and sparring sessions, complete with highlights, statistics, AI-driven scoring, and visual overlays. It’s akin to a professional television production—but far more cost-effective, reducing expenses by a factor of 100,” explains Allan Svejstrup, the CEO of Jabbr.
This Seed funding places Jabbr at the forefront of a burgeoning trend among European startups that are channeling AI, computer vision, and sports technology. Across the continent, a wave of funding rounds is materializing, including ReSpo.Vision’s €4.2 million aimed at enhancing football tracking and ScorePlay’s €12.5 million Series A dedicated to AI-driven media automation.
In addition, smaller yet noteworthy investments like SponsWatch’s €1 million Seed round in Sweden for AI-based sponsorship analytics, Sports Impact Technologies’ €650k pre-seed round in Ireland for impact detection wearables, and Model Health’s €800k pre-seed in Belgium for video-based movement analysis highlight the steady momentum in the sector.
Combined, these funding efforts underscore a robust investor confidence in AI-driven sports analytics and media automation across Europe. While many of these initiatives are focused on football and general sports performance, Jabbr sets itself apart by targeting the unique needs of combat sports, uniting automated video production, real-time scoring, and comprehensive analytics within a single platform.
With the support of tech and sports industry investors, Jabbr finds itself well-positioned at the intersection of technological advancement and an underserved market within sports technology. Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit and leader of Seven Seven Six, emphasizes the transformative nature of Jabbr’s mission: “I support founders who dare to overhaul outdated systems. Jabbr isn’t just disrupting the status quo; it’s fundamentally reshaping the art of fighting from the ground up.”
Founded in 2022, Jabbr is on a quest to redefine the future of combat sports. After years of meticulous research and development, the company launched DeepStrike, the world’s first computer vision AI dedicated to the nuances of combat sports.
DeepStrike delivers real-time tracking of every punch, block, and movement, producing automated highlights, reliable analytics, and transparent judging. Since its rollout, DeepStrike has earned the trust of global audiences by showcasing its distinctive stats and highlights on platforms like DAZN and TNT Sports.
Earlier this year, EU-Startups spotlighted Jabbr’s initial €685k Seed funding, signaling growing confidence in the company’s potential. Lyft co-founder John Zimmer, an advocate for technology that fosters accessibility, remarked, “This transcends mere statistics and video. It’s about leveling the playing field, enhancing accountability, and allowing fighters everywhere a fair shot at success.”
Just as other successful startups have revolutionized football by democratizing access to professional-grade streaming and analytics, Jabbr is laser-focused on bridging the €1.7 billion gap in analytics and content creation within combat sports. Their proprietary computer vision technology works like a coach, judging fights in real-time while automating streaming, highlights, statistics, scoring, and overlays seamlessly.
Josh Buckley, whose portfolio includes prominent early-stage bets like Applied Intuition and AI safety trailblazer Flock Safety, envisions a bright future for Jabbr: “It seamlessly combines hardware, software, and AI to introduce a new kind of experience in combat sports. Just as Twitch sparked a community-driven gaming revolution, Jabbr has the potential to redefine how fighters, trainers, and fans connect and engage.”
This latest funding round not only signifies Jabbr’s alignment with Silicon Valley’s tech elite but also highlights its growing presence within the combat sports domain. The company has quickly gained traction, especially after its technology went viral following controversial bouts, attracting millions of views and igniting discussions on fairness in judging.
“Jabbr is akin to Plaid for combat sports; their technology will power everything from automated broadcasts to betting platforms. We’re confident we’re backing the future leader in this space,” asserts Christian Dalsgaard, who recognized Jabbr’s potential early on when their first AI-generated fight metric demo captured widespread attention in late 2022.
