Kairos targets US growth after joining accelerator programme

Belfast-based sports technology company Kairos is preparing for growth in the US market following its acceptance on to the US Techstars Sports Accelerator programme.

The three-month programme will end in September with a demo day that showcases the project’s progress to investors around the world, with more than 500 investors expected to take part.

The accelerator is the latest move for Kairos, which closed a £1.5 million (€1.75 million) investment round earlier this year.

Founded in early 2018 by former Irish and Ulster rugby professional Andrew Trimble and entrepreneur Gareth Quinn, the company helps elite sports teams and athletes better manage their schedules.

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The solution allows them to easily keep track of training sessions, meetings and physio/medical appointments, as well as providing communication channels. The platform is currently used by clubs in every tier of English football, a number of Euro 2020 international sides, Premiership and Pro14 rugby sides, as well as sports teams in North America and Southeast Asia.

"Over the past 18 months we have developed the platform to be the most complete solution on the market and have already onboarded some of the biggest sporting names in Europe, " said Mr Trimble.

“Ongoing investment in growing out a world-class team has enabled us to continually enhance the platform and embark on this next phase of our growth journey, which will see us expand our client base to include elite sports teams globally.

“We are both proud and excited to be part of the 2021 Techstars cohort and confident that this incredible opportunity will help us to continue growing at significant pace in the coming months and years.”

Mentors

The accelerator will also give the companies the chance to work with almost 200 mentors within the sports industry, refining market strategies, understanding their customers and accelerating their progress.

"The Techstars Sports Accelerator, powered by Indy, leverages our unique relationship with the leading sports properties in Indy – Pacers Sports & Entertainment, NCAA, Indiana Sports Corp, Indianapolis Colts and IMS/Indy 500 – and incredible group of 150-plus mentors, who are leaders in the sports, tech and venture communities, to back and support top start-ups from around the world that are innovating in the broadly-defined sports space," said Jordan Fliegal, managing director at Techstars.

"We are thrilled to have Kairos, out of Belfast, in our 2021 class, and proud of the strong progress they have made already in the short time we have worked together.

“Kairos is innovating in their space with dozens of clients already, by providing a valuable communication app that helps sports teams stay better connected and informed, so that the players can focus on what really matters – their performance on the field and court.”