Helsinki-based SportIQ is the leading smart ball company specialised in AI, machine learning and classical physics in sports. The company’s vision is to make every ball smart.
SportIQ just closed its $6.2 million Series A round across two tranches, with the latest $3.2 million led by KB Partners, alongside Koppenberg Management, Match Ventures, and a syndicate of high-net-worth individuals and family offices.
With this, the company’s total funding raised to date accounts for $12 million. However, SportIQ did not disclose the valuation to TFN.
The capital will support international expansion, deepen its proprietary technology platform, and accelerate the development of new applications for professional leagues and sports beyond basketball.
The raise follows a breakout year. Revenue climbed 150% year over year, powered in part by its partnership with Spalding and the launch of the TF DNA Smart Basketball.
A sensor inside the valve
At first glance, the ball looks like any other. Hidden inside the valve is a patented sensor that tracks shooting position, arc, power, and technique in real time. The data syncs with a mobile app, delivering immediate feedback and personalised coaching insights.
The value proposition is high-quality training without the cost barrier. The smart ball, bundled with a one-year subscription, costs roughly one-tenth the price of an average basketball coach.
Replying to TFN on the pain point that it addresses, the company stated, “The SportIQ app makes top-level game improvement more accessible for children of all ages, as hiring a local shooting coach can cost upwards of $2,000 annually, with top coaches costing as much as $350-500 per hour, democratising top-level coaching to children from all backgrounds.”
To date, SportIQ has tracked more than 25 million shots. Players who use the system consistently improve shooting accuracy by around 15%. The company holds over 25 patents covering its technology.
“SportIQ’s study showed that young players who receive real-time shooting feedback see significant shooting improvement in a short period of time. In addition to an up to 25% improvement in overall shooting, the data shows that players improve most by addressing the shot arc and release height. The study is based on data from more than 10,000 active users of SportIQ’s smart basketballs across all age groups.”
Tens of thousands of balls are sold annually, with the TF DNA Smart Basketball available online worldwide.
A founder’s frustration turned into a global vision
The company was founded by Harri Hohteri, the current CPO, in 2008. As per the company, “Hohteri got the idea for SportIQ while playing basketball professionally. He had a Master’s Degree in Computer Science, and was convinced that post-game video analysis was unnecessarily time-consuming and that better results could be achieved by developing basketball technology. Basketball was a natural starting point as a sport, but the technology.”
The other founding team members include CEO Erik Anderson, who leads overall strategy, fundraising, investor relations, and major partnerships, including Spalding, Wilson, and the NBA.
From driveway to pro league
SportIQ’s ambitions extend well beyond recreational training. After completing the NBA Launchpad accelerator, its tracking technology was tested during the NBA Summer League. The results demonstrated strong data accuracy and a seamless player experience.
At the same time, its professional analytics platform is being trialled in a professional league to enhance officiating accuracy and strengthen game integrity.
Disclosing its plans for the near future, the company told us, “In the next 12 months, SportIQ aims to complete the NBA’s validation process, while it’s actively testing and piloting its technology in other sports beyond basketball.”
What about diversity?
Shedding light on the diversity statistics, the company added, “SportIQ’s team is international, with about two-thirds of the team based in Finland, the home country of Harri Hohteri, and the rest are based in the US, where Erik Anderson is from.”
SportIQ’s smart ball sensor technology and analytics app hold over 25 patents and are currently utilised in the industry-leading Spalding TF DNA basketball. SportIQ technology helps players of all ages and skill levels improve their game by tracking shots, providing personalised coaching, and making training fun through gamification.
To date, the company has tracked over 25M basketball shots and sells tens of thousands of consumer basketballs in the US annually.
In 2025, SportIQ was selected for the NBA Launchpad accelerator program, where they will develop new on-court technology to enhance fan engagement and help officials make better decisions.
“This round allows us to scale what we know already works. We have strong consumer demand, proven technology, and growing adoption among professionals. These fresh funds will help us expand into new international markets, business models, and sports beyond basketball. Our new investors share our vision and understand how big the demand for our technology is, and we are ready to scale at speed,” says Erik Anderson, CEO of SportIQ.
“What SportIQ has built goes far beyond a ‘smart ball.’ It’s a full-stack platform that combines hardware, software, and analytics to make both training and play more engaging and effective. We’re proud to continue supporting the team and to double down as the company scales,” says Steve Ahern, Partner at KB Partners
“We are partnering with the biggest brands in sports to bring intelligence directly into the ball without changing how the game is played. Our in-valve sensor is completely invisible to athletes, which unlocks new consumer and professional applications that were not possible before. This is how every sports ball becomes smart,” says Harri Hohteri, CPO and Founder of SportIQ.