KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
In a world of data coming to your fingertips and wristbands, necessity still became the mother of invention for budding entrepreneur and equestrian rider Abdulla AbuEbeid. Riding on the back of a horse, he wanted data-based feed to back him up while pursuing excellence and deriving the best out of himself and the mount.
And so he devised glasses which relay real-time information useful for him, a device which has opened eyes of those who value innovation and business potential.
Likeminded innovators and changemakers are now trying to make the most of initiatives such as Ethara 1TW Innovation Hub (E1H), an incubator for sports startups.
AbuEbeid’s company Vital Athletics AI, or VIAI, was among five start-ups selected for the second cohort of E1H. It has won many awards and featured already in the recent Make It in The Emirates exhibition in Abu Dhabi last month. VIAI and others received mentoring and presented pitches for their artificial intelligence-driven platforms addressing various gaps in the market as they perceived.
Investors, executives and stakeholders from the sports, entertainment and business sectors attended the pitch event at Yas Conference Centre, where the founders presented their business models following six weeks of mentoring and strategic support.
The mentoring showed in how confidently the entrepreneurs handled live queries from the audience about competition, valuation, market potential, funding purpose, growth plans and so on. For instance, AbuEbeid was asked how his glasses differ from smart bands which are common.
“Competition is good. In fact, they complement my product, because the smart bands lack what I am addressing. While involved in a sport, you need to shift your gaze to the band and the hand may be in motion. When I am riding, the horse knows even the slightest movement of the hand.
“In fact, it is trying to take the cue and can get confused if I start looking at the band. That can also be small size and not the right for someone with glasses,” said the bespectacled AbuEbeid.
His VIAI company imports glasses from France and pairs them with the data chips and technology based on 22 different metrics. He has evolved the data integration to accommodate 10 sports so far. More are being planned. “Golf is one such where players like to refer to their swing data after having focused on the shot,” said AbuEbeid.
For AbuEbeid and others, participation in the programme represents another step in the development of a home-grown technology business seeking to capitalise on growing demand for data-driven performance solutions across professional sport, fitness and wellness sectors.
Among the startups, some ideas revolved around the realm of actual sporting action, too. There were two twin sisters who want to address waste management during sporting events. One founder tried to address injuries and recovery processes emanating out of it.
Another tried to devise a simple but new sport from scratch based on the emerging trend of phygital sports. And finally, one UK-based lady founder looked at the transient human capital needed at sporting events.
E1H is a sports and entertainment incubator established by Ethara and sports investment firm OneToWatch. The programme is aimed at accelerating entrepreneurship by connecting founders with industry expertise, commercial opportunities and investment networks.
Guillaume Dufond, Strategic Development Executive Director at Ethara, said how the company is “constantly looking for new ways to elevate live entertainment experiences for fans, clients and partners. E1H reflects our commitment to supporting the entrepreneurs and founders building the next generation of solutions for the industry.”
Across the two editions, the incubator has now supported 12 start-ups. The event also featured a discussion on sports investment and showcased progress made by businesses from the inaugural cohort such as The Mettelset and Roblox.
Jamie Cunningham, founder of OneToWatch, also announced how E1H is also improvising with corporate mentors and collaborations with some such as the City Football Group are being lined up. “It reflects the diversity of the UAE sports ecosystem and the untapped potential still waiting to be discovered,” Cunningham said.
Cohort 2 start-ups
VIAI Technologies (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
Co-founded by Emirati entrepreneur Abdulla AbuEbeid, VIAI has developed an AI-powered human performance platform that analyses biometric data to provide real-time insights focused on health, performance optimisation and injury prevention.
Bilqis GreenTech (UAE)
Founded by sisters Safi and Sarah Fomba, the company specialises in sustainability solutions for events and venues. Its technology enables real-time waste tracking and reporting, helping organisations improve recovery rates and operational efficiency.
Blastball (UAE)
Created by former Sky strategist Charlie Bloxham, Blastball is a sports gaming platform that uses live ball-tracking data to measure player performance based on speed, power and skill, creating a globally competitive experience.
RCVR (UAE)
Founded by Neil Bhattachary, RCVR focuses on athlete rehabilitation. The platform combines recovery tracking, personalised insights and community support tools to assist injured athletes during their return-to-play journey.
The People Agency (UAE)
Led by founder Leanna Newman, the recruitment technology company uses talent intelligence, skills accreditation and workforce development pathways to connect professionals with opportunities in the sports and entertainment sectors.