“We want to drive the integration of AI in all aspects of sports performance, management, and engagement”

What inspired you to co-found Stupa Sports Analytics in 2020, and how did your previous experience in technology and your husband’s coaching background influence the inception of the company?

The journey to found Stupa started sometime in 2017/18, when I was on a sabbatical. During this time, I started helping my husband, a former coach of the Indian table tennis team, in solving a specific problem. The problem he was facing at the time was providing performance analysis feedback to his players. So after I started working on the tech required to solve this problem, we realised that there is a great market for the application of tech solutions in sports. That is how Stupa was born.

Today, we are not just an analytics company and offer cutting-edge AI-driven solutions for federations, coaches, players, recreational athletes, clubs, academies and so on.

Stupa started with a focus on table tennis but has since expanded to other sports. What are some of the unique challenges and opportunities you’ve encountered in adapting your technology for sports like badminton, squash, and pickleball?

We are very excited to be expanding to other racket sports like badminton, padel and pickleball. Since all sports have their specific individual requirements, each of them present us with unique challenges.

For example, shot patterns, rally lengths, and movement patterns in badminton are completely different from padel. Therefore, incorporating AI-driven analysis to accurately capture and analyze such metrics requires extensive research and development.

Can you elaborate on how Stupa’s technology is influencing sports broadcasting and how it enhances the viewer experience? What feedback have you received from broadcasters and fans?

One of our products, Stupa Cast, is designed specifically for broadcasters and fans. By incorporating real-time analysis and immersive graphics, our broadcast solutions help enhance the depth and overall viewing experience during live events. By showcasing detailed statistics such as shot speed, rally counts, movement patterns etc, Stupa’s Cast solutions offer deeper insights into the game, and make the fan viewing experience more informative and engaging.

Modern day broadcasters appreciate real-time data analysis and other interactive features during live events. Such solutions help them attract and retain viewers by providing them with a unique experience. From a fan perspective, detailed stats and interactive features help fans feel more closer to their favorite teams/players. Gaining deeper insights into player performance and game tactics have been a big hit amongst viewers.

How does Stupa Sports Analytics plan to adapt and integrate its technology for markets like the US, UK, Australia, and the Middle East, and what strategies are you employing to ensure a successful global expansion?

We understand that each market has its own preferences and requirements. To address this, we are customizing our offerings to cater to popular sports in each region. For example, while table tennis and padel might be our focus in Europe, sports like pickleball and volleyball are more prominent in the US.

Additionally, we are also incorporating multi-language support into our platforms to ensure ease of use. This will ensure our products will be available in each region’s primary language, making our technology more user-friendly and widely adoptable.

Stupa recently secured a significant funding round. How do you plan to utilize this capital to fuel Stupa’s growth, and what areas will you prioritize for development and expansion?

We will be utilizing our latest funding round on acquiring top AI/ML talent, expansion to other sports, and product enhancement initiatives. Funds will also power Stupa’s ambitions to expand globally into markets like the US, UK, Australia and the Middle East, while expanding its existing presence in Europe.

Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals for Stupa Sports Analytics? How do you envision the role of AI in sports evolving in the next five to ten years?

Stupa’s long term vision is to leverage the power of AI to transform how sports are played, viewed and managed. We want to drive the integration of AI in all aspects of sports performance, management, and engagement. Over the next five to 10 years, we see AI becoming a crucial tool in the following:

Personalized training programs: AI will play a crucial role in providing personalized training programs designed to meet individual athlete requirements. By analyzing vast amounts of data on player performance and biomechanics, AI will allow coaches to craft customised training modules to maximize an athlete’s strengths and address their weaknesses.

Fan Engagement and Interactive Experiences: Through advanced analytics, fans will get a personalized viewing experience, including real-time statistics, virtual replays, and AI-generated highlights. This will strengthen fan engagement and create new monetization opportunities for sports organizations.

Injury prevention: In the near future, AI-powered tools will also play an important role in predicting and preventing injuries. By monitoring player workload, movement patterns, and physiological data, AI can identify early signs of potential injuries and recommend preventative measures.