Wearable Tech Startup Output Sports Secures €4.5M to Drive U.S. Expansion
Dublin-based HealthTech company Output Sports has successfully raised €4.5 million in a pre-A funding round aimed at fueling its growth in the United States and further developing its cutting-edge technology. The round saw new investments from Apex Capital, Uni.Fund, and Dopamine Sports, with continued support from existing backers Elkstone, Atlantic Bridge, and Enterprise Ireland. The round also included notable angel investors, such as Jim Kelliher of Drift and LogMeIn.
Founded in 2020 as a spin-out of University College Dublin (UCD), Output Sports provides more than 800 sports organizations, including over half of the clubs in the English Premier League, with comprehensive data tools that help improve athletic performance. Among its prominent clients are the New Zealand All Blacks, the England national football team, and the Colorado Buffaloes. CEO Dr Martin O’Reilly described the company’s mission as one committed to offering “data-driven insights that support coaches and athletes,” emphasizing how their technology delivers practical value to top-tier teams around the globe.
At the core of its innovation is an all-in-one wearable sensor that enables laboratory-grade data collection from anywhere. Built on a decade of research conducted at UCD, the device allows sports professionals to collect and analyze athletic data, supporting a wide range of sports such as football, swimming, basketball, and golf. Applications of the tool include velocity-based training, reactive strength assessments, and power development aimed at maximizing on-field performance.
In 2024, Output Sports’ platform recorded 30 million measurements from athletes worldwide, playing a pivotal role in several standout performances at the 2024 Olympic Games. Notable successes include Daniel Wiffen’s gold medal in swimming for Ireland and Zheng Qinwen’s historic tennis gold for China. The technology also supports several championship-winning teams in major U.S. leagues, including the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS, and WNBA.
To meet the growing demand for sports tech, the company recently opened a new office in Boston, expanding its efforts to support not only professional leagues but also high school and college-level sports programs across the U.S. Performance coach Spencer Tatum, who works with professional golfer Jon Rahm, praised Output Sports as being among the few companies excelling at addressing critical performance issues. “With their cutting-edge technology, they have successfully translated the science of sports into practical applications for the field,” Tatum remarked.
The global sports technology market is currently valued at €13.1 billion and is projected to grow by 20.5% by 2030, driven by advancements in biometric tracking, AI, and virtual reality applications. With this latest funding, Output Sports plans to expand its U.S. operations and hire new talent in sales, marketing, product development, data science, and customer support to further establish its presence in the market.
Speaking on behalf of Apex Capital, Koen Bosma, Head of Venture Capital, highlighted the importance of off-field performance measurement for success, stating that Output Sports has positioned itself as “best in class” within this essential part of the sports technology ecosystem. Elkstone’s Head of Venture, Niall McEvoy, expressed confidence in the company’s growth trajectory, emphasizing the founders’ ability to secure key clients within the sports industry.
Board Director and Partner at Atlantic Bridge, Dr Helen McBreen, emphasized the company’s solid foundation in research-based innovation. Since their initial investment in 2020, Atlantic Bridge has worked closely with Output Sports to facilitate access to international markets and top-tier co-investors. “As the company continues scaling, I am optimistic about its ability to improve performance outcomes for athletes across key markets,” McBreen said.
With plans to record 100 million exercise repetitions by 2025, Output Sports aims to solidify its role as a trusted resource for strength, power, and movement assessment in the global sports industry.
