AISpotter - Artificial intelligence for sports production
AISpotter Oy is a company originating from the University of Oulu. The artificial intelligence algorithm finds predefined game situations from video recordings automatically.
Anri Kivimäki is co-founder and CEO of AISpotter. When Anri was proposed to participate in the Research to Business (R2B) project combining video analysis and sports, she joined the team bringing in her own business expertise.
Before the project, Anri had worked in various companies, as well as a researcher and project leader in information systems science at the University of Oulu.
AISpotter’s journey in the R2B project
Video analysis had been studied at the University of Oulu for years, but what was new in this project was linking the analysis to sport fields. According to Anri, since the first moments of the idea, its commercial potential has been recognizable.
In 2016, Sami Huttunen, co-founder and current CTO of AISpotter, applied for Business Finland's R2B funding to help develop the research into business. Funding was granted and the project was ongoing until 2018. In the same year, the company itself was also found.
During the year and a half of funding, the project actively sought business opportunities, for example by conducting market analysis and participating in international fairs and corporate accelerators. The key, according to Anri, was to determine whether there is demand for the business and its product. The size of the AISpotter team was small, so sparring assistance was also sought outside the project.
As one of the highlights of the project, Anri mentioned participating in a technology startup competition called TechCrunch Battlefield in 2017 in Berlin. “When presenting our ideas on the main stage of the event, we got confirmation that there is interest and demand for what we are doing” said Anri. AISpotter is one of the two Finnish companies that have performed on the main stage of the TechCrunch event.
The access to R2B funding as well as the first paying client have also been meaningful breakthroughs in the startup's journey. Success encourages further progress, as Anri says. Startups have their own challenges and the journey can be compared to ultra-distance running.
AISpotter uses artificial intelligence in video analysis
In the early stages of the project, the business idea was to produce automatically compiled compilation videos for sport teams to analyze matches and avoid manual and slow work. However, the pandemic was pushing the original plan for new arenas towards sports production and streaming.
Today AISpotter is still focusing on sports, especially football. Using artificial intelligence, the algorithm taught by the company searches predefined game situations, such as goals and corner kicks automatically and quickly from the field. The technology then compiles the collected items from the original video into short match compilations.
What kind of know-how does a tech startup require?
As far as expertise is concerned, a strong technological background is important when working with artificial intelligence, for example. “With your research on a strong basis, you can also build a business on top of it”, Anri said.
However, a successful business also requires an understanding of the customer's needs. What added value does your product or service give to the customer?
For commercialization and sales, Anri encourages allocating resources. In this regard, product-market fit is also extremely critical. With your team, you need to know where you are heading and where your potential customers are.
According to Anri, it is worth investing in advance for preparations of the project before starting the business itself. Services can also be purchased outside your own team to increase your skills in sales and marketing.
AISpotter received considerable assistance through its participation in international business accelerators. In accelerators you meet new contacts, such as other entrepreneurs, various companies, as well as potential investors. In addition to useful networks, you can also receive mentorship to develop your own idea forward.
Anri also encourages those who are now reflecting on the business potential of their own idea to fairly experiment and talk with potential customers. Otherwise, no goal will be scored either.
AISpotter’s game field now and in the future
Currently, AISpotter is developing sales of its product and looking for potential new financing. The look is turned outside Finland and the team heads back to the international technology fairs.
The European Women's Football Championship was played in July 2022 and the company was involved in the Games in cooperation with Yle. Producing games live tracking and compilations for Yle was AISpotter's handwriting.
At the same time, the company's horizon also includes other sport fields besides football. We will stay to see where AISpotter’s AI analysis will head next!
More information about AISPotter can be found here: AiSpotter - Create automated video highlights.
Emilia Hoikkaniemi
Yliopistoharjoittelija // Intern
+358 50 346 9906
emilia.hoikkaniemi@oulu.fi
Innovaatioviestinnän harjoittelija kesällä 2022, blogitekstit, uutiset, sosiaalinen media, tapahtumaviestintä.
Innovation communications intern in Summer 2022, blog posts, news, social media, event communications.