A Miami-based startup transforming the way athletes and their coaches prepare for competition will expand into virtual gaming after closing a $5.2 million seed funding round.
StatusPro, a sports technology and gaming firm, uses real-time player data to power holographic experiences that give athletes the ability to simulate practice and game scenarios – all without the physical toll that comes with actually playing the game. Founded by former football players, StatusPro's seed round was led by Chicago-based venture capital firm KB Partners and TitleTownTech, a partnership between the NFL's Green Bay Packers and Microsoft Corp. that builds and funds early-stage, high-growth businesses.
"Securing this investment from partners who not only believe in our vision, but have the experience to help us execute at scale, will allow us to bring unique experiences to athletes, coaches, and fans worldwide and truly define the sports market for XR [extended reality]," said co-founder and CEO Troy Jones.
Other notable investors include New York venture capital firm Greycroft; Baskin Ridge, New Jersey-based Verizon Ventures; and 49ers Enterprises, an investment entity affiliated with the NFL's San Francisco 49ers.
StatusPro reports its proprietary technology is being employed by several NFL teams, including the Baltimore Ravens. The company plans to leverage its platform to expand into the fast-growing XR, virtual reality and augmented reality gaming markets, Jones said.
Status Pro is headquartered at 851 NE 1st Avenue in Miami's Overtown neighborhood. The startup has nine employees based at the office and 21 nationally. Almost half of its employees are former athletes.
Jones and co-founder and Chief Business Officer Andrew "Hawk" Hawkins said StatusPro's platform democratizes the experiences of professional athletes and creates authentic immersive experiences fueled by real-time player data. With that in mind, it partnered with NFL MVP Lamar Jackson to create the Lamar Jackson Experience, a series of first-person virtual reality products that include at-home and arcade games.
"As kids, most of us dreamt about being on the field alongside our favorite pro athletes," said Will Szczerbiak, a partner at Greycroft. "Imagine breaking a 20 yard scramble as Lamar or running a fast break alongside your favorite NBA player — we believe that StatusPro's games could become among the most sought after experiences in all of sports."
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