Founders: Roy Hotrabhvanon and Hayden Ball (PlayerData); Victorien Tixier and Xavier Green (ScorePlay)

AO Ventures, the venture arm of Tennis Australia and the Australian Open, has invested in Edinburgh wearables company PlayerData and New York media platform ScorePlay, taking its portfolio to six. Terms were not disclosed.

PlayerData builds elite-grade performance analysis at a grassroots price. Founded by former international archer Roy Hotrabhvanon and computer scientist Hayden Ball, its platform pairs miniaturised wearable sensors and connected smart balls with 8K, 190-degree video to track players and the ball far more cheaply than incumbent systems.

The company makes money selling its EDGE GPS hardware units alongside a subscription analytics app, a model that scales from professional clubs — it has worked with the USA Men's National Team at this year's FIFA World Cup — down to academies and community teams.

With wearables spreading into grassroots sport, the fresh capital is aimed at capturing that widening market. PlayerData's backers include sports-focused VC Hiro Capital, Bolt Ventures, Pentland Ventures and former Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy.

ScorePlay is an AI-powered media and digital asset management platform that centralises, tags and distributes photos, video and live content for sports organisations.

It sells software on subscription to more than 200 teams, leagues and federations, has grown roughly threefold year-on-year and was profitable at its last raise.

Tennis Australia trialled the platform across the Australian Open 2026 before AO Ventures exercised its investment option, with funding earmarked for continued international growth.

Founded in 2021 by Victorien Tixier and Xavier Green, ScorePlay's US$13 million Series A was co-led by 20VC and Alexis Ohanian's Seven Seven Six, with APEX Capital and angels including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Alex Morgan, Nico Rosberg and Australian Test captain Pat Cummins.