CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ActionStreamer, a wearable technology platform that can livestream point-of-view (POV) video off of athletes in action, has secured $1.88M in seed financing. The oversubscribed round was led by CincyTech and filled out by a syndicate of angel investors in the CincyTech network and around the country, with participation from Vine Street Ventures.
ActionStreamer pairs patented software and networking technology with ultra-lightweight hardware to deliver an engaging new source of content to live sports coverage: POV video from inside-the-game. The wireless system streams high-definition (HD) video from a miniature camera and other custom components embedded into a wearable outfit, such as a player’s helmet or referee’s hat, in congested, bandwidth-constrained environments like crowded stadiums.
“It’s a relatively simple thing to mount a camera to a helmet. The primary technical hurdle lies in transmitting data in real-time, in a crowded setting, with hardware that is virtually unnoticeable, even to the person wearing it,” said ActionStreamer co-founder & CTO Chris McLennan.
McLennan is an inventor and entrepreneur who founded Ilesfay, a cloud replication and data delivery company, in 2012 with lead investment from CincyTech. Ilesfay was acquired by Autodesk in 2014. McLennan was presented with the challenge to create the technology for ActionStreamer by NFL linebacker-turned-entrepreneur, investor, and media personality, Dhani Jones.
“While playing college and professional football, I always wanted fans to experience the exhilaration and intensity of the game from my perspective, to share in my biggest moments with me,” said ActionStreamer co-founder & Chief Strategy Officer Dhani Jones. “At ActionStreamer, we’re doing just that — bringing fans closer to the action than ever before.”
McLennan recruited Max Eisenberg, who led business development at Ilesfay, to form the founding trio, and returned to CincyTech for seed capital.
“Dhani's vision for changing the fan experience combined with Chris's technical creativity make ActionStreamer the company to watch in the sports & entertainment marketplace,” said Mike Venerable, president of CincyTech. “It’s great to work with two experienced founders and to see Max, one of our first Venture For America (VFA) fellows, take a leadership role in the company. We couldn't have scripted a better story for a startup.”
ActionStreamer recently debuted its technology in a partnership with former America Online (AOL) senior executive Ted Leonsis’s Monumental Sports & Entertainment. Monumental owns the Washington Wizards (NBA), Washington Capitals (NHL), Washington Mystics (WNBA), Washington Valor (AFL), Baltimore Brigade (AFL), and Verizon Center in Washington D.C. Over the last two months, live coverage of Valor and Brigade games have included POV footage powered by ActionStreamer’s proprietary technology and custom-built HatCams, which are being worn by coaches and referees.
“ActionStreamer’s innovative HatCams elevate our broadcast to another level, allowing fans to get closer than we've ever brought them before,” said Zach Leonsis, Vice President & General Manager of Monumental Sports Network. “Reliable, easy to integrate—and most of all, fun—the HatCams are a joy to share with fans of all ages.”
Given Jones’s background, ActionStreamer is rooted in football, but the platform is versatile, and the company is working on innovative integrations with strategic partners across a variety of sports, including baseball, hockey, and golf.
“Sports fans might not be anchored to their living room televisions anymore, but their desire to connect with their favorite teams is as strong as ever. Our technology arms our clients with premium content to captivate viewers on any platform,” said ActionStreamer co-founder & CEO Max Eisenberg said. “We’re thrilled to be developing it in a strong sports town like Cincinnati.”
ABOUT ACTION STREAMER
ActionStreamer is a wireless wearable live-streaming platform with a mission of bringing sports fans closer to the action than ever before. Our proprietary, patented system is facilitating a path to premium content and an unprecedented fan engagement model that's revolutionizing sports broadcast & coverage.
ABOUT CINCYTECH
One of the Midwest’s most active seed investors, CincyTech helps to transform innovation into high performing life science and digital companies in Southwest Ohio.
