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FORM

FORM is a sports technology company with a simple mission: to break down the barriers between what swimming is and what it could be. We believe in putting swimmers first, so we work closely with them as we build our products—and beyond. We also believe in staying focused: shooting down good ideas so we can execute on great ones. Most of all, we believe in doing things nobody has done before. That’s kinda our thing.

Form is a company that produces innovative smart swim goggles and a companion swim app. Their Smart Swim one goggles allow swimmers to see their heart rate in real-time during their swim sessions by connecting to a compatible Polar heart rate sensor (sold separately). For open water swimming, the goggles can also display heart rate data when paired with compatible Apple or Garmin watches.

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FORM Smart Swim Goggles and Swim App

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Canada-based FORM is a sports tech startup specializing in the production of AR swim goggles for athletes. The company's latest product, Smart Swim 2 is priced at USD 250 (launched April 2024).

Technologies bringing about a new reality

Extended Reality

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Canada-based FORM is a sports tech startup specializing in the production of AR swim goggles for athletes. The company's latest product, Smart Swim 2 is priced at USD 250 (launched April 2024).The goggles display nine real-time metrics during swimming, such as distance, time, and stroke rate, tracked automatically, and comes with a 16-hour battery life. The company claims that it is the only manufacturer to provide AR swim goggles backed by ML algorithms to improve swimming performance. Furthermore, users can pair their swim goggles with Strava (a sports training app), Garmin, and Apple watches.Other notable device features include onboard sensors, Waveguide optics technology, integrated heart rate monitoring, and a digital compass named "SwimStraight," allowing swimmers to follow in-goggle directional heading. Further, the AR goggles offer a 15% size reduction compared to its predecessor (the Smart Swim 1, priced at USD 179), with a proprietary eye to fit contours of a wider variety of facial structures.The company also generates revenue through monthly subscription packages (priced at USD 15), which provides users with additional analytics and access to its HeadCoach digital swim coaching feature (launched in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/23262">October 2023</a>). HeadCoach evaluates swimmers' performance based on two metrics: Form Score, which measures overall swim efficiency, and HeadCoach Skills, focusing on specific areas such as head roll, pacing, and breathing. The app also utilizes machine-learning algorithms to generate personalized workouts to improve swimming performance.Other features include tailored educational resources, video content, and gamified exercises through the Form Swim App (launched in May 2022), accessible via a mobile phone.&nbsp;Key customers and partnershipsAs of November 2023, the company had over 450 reviews of its AR goggles.Competitors: None under coverage (FORM specializes in the production AR swim goggles for athletes)

Interplay Learning (Interplay) provides on-demand, interactive, and hands-on simulation learning courses for skilled trades, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, solar, and facilities maintenance, through VR, mobile, and desktop applications. The learning courses also include simulated walkthrough videos where experts lead users through procedure guides methodically, with knowledge testing features and additional learning material such as wiring diagrams, equations, sample system configs, and charts at the end of each lesson. The platform also enables managers to track user progress.The company operates a subscription-based model with monthly packages for individuals (USD 54) and teams (USD 229), alongside a custom plan for larger organizations.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/33810">September 2024</a>, the company acquired Industrial Training International (ITI), enabling the company to provide immersive simulation training solutions for crane and rigging operations across various job sites.Key customers and partnershipsNotable customers include Tesla and Rheem Manufacturing. Interplay’s customer usage rose by 445% YoY in 2020. As of February 2021, the platform had over 2,000 customers and 110,000 users across the US.

Interplay Learning

Switzerland-based WayRay develops holographic AR technology and hardware for the automobile sector. Its technology is used in head-up displays (HUDs) that project images into a driver’s field of vision to assist with navigation. Although its initial focus was on developing HUDs that can be purchased and installed in any vehicle, it has since pivoted to producing embedded HUD systems (i.e., hardware built into vehicles). WayRay’s HUDs are considered to provide a wider field of vision and combine data (location and mapping information) with vision data to generate images by projecting a laser beam through a Picture Generating Unit (PGU) onto a Holographic Optical Element (HOE).&nbsp;In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18537">May 2023</a>, WayRay announced integration of its AR displays into Tesla Model 3's in Switzerland, with plans to follow shortly afterwards in the US. Previously, in September 2021 the company launched its deep reality system that replaces the traditional car dashboard. In addition, WayRay launched “The Holograktor” dubbed the first “metaverse on wheels”, which can be driven conventionally or using a remote control via a 5G and satellite connection (November 2021).&nbsp;The company’s founder and CEO, Vitaly Ponomarev, identified that its systems are more advanced, backed by more patents, and potentially 20x smaller than comparable devices in the market. WayRay’s HQ in Switzerland also acts as a product design and development hub, while its R&amp;D center and prototyping factory are based in Russia.&nbsp;Key customers and partnershipsThe company is backed by strategic investors such as luxury automaker Porsche, which highlighted the management’s expertise in space engineering, hardware, and software development as key reasons for its investment, Hyundai Motor Co., and Alibaba. It is also notable that these investors, particularly Hyundai, are looking at ways to potentially use WayRay’s technology to offer more services in the future. For instance, Hyundai believed that the technology could be used for smart cities and smart buildings, which are its new areas of interest.WayRay partnered with Karma Automotive, a producer of luxury electric vehicles, in December 2021 to support the implementation of its HUDs into their test fleet. Moreover, it partnered with a leader in designing and manufacturing specialty glass, AGP eGlass, in September 2021 to further proliferate its technology.&nbsp; Funding and financialsIt was reported in April 2021 that the company is considering a public listing at a USD 2 billion valuation via a SPAC, although no further updates on this have been announced as at January 2024.&nbsp;

WayRay

AmazeVR initially focused on developing VR technologies but pivoted to VR concerts in late 2019. The concerts are backed by proprietary 9K cameras and software that automate complex VR concert visual effects that run on more than 100 headsets simultaneously. Users join and hang out with other users as avatars while experiencing VR concerts. It intends to bring VR concerts by major artists to theaters and eventually, homes.AmazeVR rolled out its first commercial VR concert, which will feature 3x Grammy winner Megan Thee Stallion, in 2022. The artist is expected to tour select AMC Theaters across the US. It is also in the final stages of closing deals with its second and third artists. AmazeVR also revealed plans to release weekly content by 2024 in theaters and for at-home viewers.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20145">July 2023</a>, AmazeVR launched its official AmazeVR Concerts app, featuring an exclusive VR concert from Swedish pop star, Zara Larsson. The app is available on major VR app stores, and the exclusive Zara Larsson VR concert can be accessed for a year at a launch price of USD 6.99. AmazeVR also produces and monetizes VR content on a subscription basis.As of August 2023, the company was in the process of producing and releasing mixed reality concerts by overlaying virtual elements onto live, real-world video.Funding and financialsThe company’s most recent funding was in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13338">September 2022</a>, when it raised USD 17 million in a Series B funding round led by Mirae Asset Capital. The fresh funds were allocated to expand partnerships with artists, artist management companies, labels, publishers, and agencies.

AmazeVR

Dispelix, based in Finland, designs and manufactures single-layer, full-color waveguide displays, a thin (about 1mm) transparent element that takes in a projected image and relays it to the eye, using a nanophotonics-based approach catering to AR applications (e.g., smart glasses). It uses laser beam scanning technology to render laser-sharp images with a gamut of color palettes, which are displayed using beam-combiner technology. Its patented and proprietary approach includes diffractive surface relief gratings, which are elements used for high-power laser applications, fabricated on high refractive index glass wafers that enhance field-of-view and image quality.The company had a total of more than 40 granted or pending patent families as of November 2021. Its product line, Dispelix DPX, includes Dispelix DPX - Ohut, Dispelix DPX - Selva, and Dispelix DPX - Sade with a varying degree of field of view, form factor, and weight. According to Co-Founder and CTO Juuso Olkkonen, its displays are the lightest and thinnest in the market.Key customers and partnerships 1) Collins Aerospace: to integrate Dispelix's advanced AR displays into Collins Aerospace's products (November 2024)2) Foxconn and Pegatron: to create reference designs for AR glasses based on its Selvä waveguide display (October 2023)&nbsp;3) VividQ: created a “waveguide combiner” which accurately displays variable-depth 3D content in a user’s environment (January 2023)4) ColorChip and Maradin: To further Light Beam Scanning (LBS) solutions for AR glasses (October 2022)5) Jade Bird Displays: To develop multiple reference designs for AR devices (June 2022)6) AAC Technologies: To improve waveguide displays for the AR and MR industry (March 2022)7) OQmented: for the development and commercialization of MEMS-based LBS technology (November 2021)8) Coretronic: To develop a range of AR optical module solutions (December 2020)9) Hoya Corporation: To improve quality of waveguide displays (November 2020)Funding and financialsIn its most recent funding round (November 2021), Dispelix raised USD 33 million in a Series B funding round co-led by Atlantic Bridge, CCB Trust, and Flashpoint with participation from Lifeline Ventures, VTT Ventures, and 3M Ventures. The funds were allocated to product development. It revealed that several OEM customers were slated to integrate its technology into their consumer offerings by 2023.&nbsp;

Dispelix

DigiLens is a developer of holographic waveguides, which is a clear, thin piece of glass or plastic, used for AR devices. In January 2023, the company launched ARGO, an XR smartglass designed for enterprise and industrial use, the first AR device to utilize Qualcomm’s SnapDragon XR2 platform. Other specifications included 6-degrees of freedom (6-DoF) tracking, a 30-degree field-of-view, spatial audio, a 48MP RGB camera, voice and gaze recognition, access to real-time data visualizations, and a 2,500-nits HD display.&nbsp;The company’s first product, the DigiLens Crystal was introduced in 2019, was a thin-film laser-etched photopolymer embedded with microscopic holograms of mirror-like optics. By projecting a micro display to one end of the lens and another set of optics working to guide the light wave toward the eye, this proved to be an ideal piece of hardware for AR devices, which are preferred with as little hardware as possible.&nbsp;It claims that its patented optical platform and photopolymer technology coupled with a holographic copy manufacturing process enable it to produce cheaper and more scalable solutions. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17598">April 2023</a>, the company announced the launch of SRG+, a surface relief gratings product that improves upon its waveguide technology.The company generates revenue by licensing its technology across a range of industries including the automobile, enterprise, consumer, avionics, and military sectors. DigiLens also offers a white-label solution for automotive companies whereby it creates holographic waveguides for windshields that could offer in-cabin experiences for drivers.&nbsp;&nbsp; Key customers and partnershipsKey partnerships include that with1) Phantom Technologies: - Phantom Technology: To integrate Phantom's CASSI Spatial AI assistant into the DigiLens ARGO glasses, providing features such as spatial search, a contextual assistant, and task management using voice commands (October 2023)2) Wisear: To integrate its neural interface-powered earphones with the ARGO smart glasses (May 2023)3) Mojo Vision: To utilize Mojo Vision's micro-LED technology to build improved AR glasses (May 2023)4) Taqtile: To integrate the company's ARGO smart glasses with Taqtile's AR work platform, Manifest (May 2023)5) OMNIVISION: To develop new XR product offerings (January 2023)Other partnerships include that with OMNIVISION (January 2023), a leading global developer of semiconductor solutions to develop new XR product offerings. OMNIVISION’s liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) panels allowed DigiLens to build LCOS/LED projectors optimized for its holographic waveguides. OMNIVISION's core camera technology provides DigiLens' devices with features such as visual odometry and six degrees of freedom.&nbsp;DigiLens also works with Taiwanese licensed waveguide manufacturer Young Optics, Chinese original design manufacturer and electronics supplier Malata, Korean display manufacturer Sekonix, international technology company Continental, Chinese optical elements manufacturer Crystal Optech, and Mitsubishi Chemical.&nbsp;Funding and financialsIn April 2022, DigiLens announced the second close of its Series D funding round (intiial close in November 2021) in which it raised USD 50 million at a valuation of USD 530 million. The funds were allocated for the development of DesignV1, its second-generation product.

DigiLens

Companies developing XR headsets and relevant sub-components (displays, sensors, and processors). Also includes complementary XR hardware (tracking devices, haptic vests, and gloves)

Companies offering engines that enable the development of AR/VR content, also includes companies offering capabilities to capture and create 3D images for immersive environments

Companies offering AR/VR solutions or toolkits for specific industry applications, including VR game developers

Companies offering location-based AR/VR experiences

AR/VR platforms offer remote assistance to field experts and headset manufacturers facilitate virtual work

Some solutions in the "content" segment are offered under a B2B SaaS model

Headsets and content segments provide the building blocks for the metaverse

AR, VR, and MR are the primary enabling technologies for the XR industry

Form is a company that produces innovative smart swim goggles and a companion swim app. Their Smart Swim one goggles allow swimmers to see their heart rate in real-time during their swim sessions by connecting to a compatible Polar heart rate sensor (sold separately). For open water swimming, the goggles can also display heart rate data when paired with compatible Apple or Garmin watches.The Form swim app provides valuable metrics to help swimmers track and improve their performance. It displays real-time pace data, calculated as the average time taken to swim 100 meters, motivating swimmers to hit their target times. In open water, pace tracking is available when paired with a compatible smartwatch. The app also shows stroke rate, measured in strokes per minute, helping swimmers maintain a consistent speed. Additionally, it counts the number of strokes taken per length, enabling swimmers to gauge and enhance their technique efficiency.Form's smart goggles and app leverage cutting-edge technology to provide swimmers with actionable data and insights, empowering them to elevate their training and achieve their goals.

Hexoskin is a company that manufactures smart clothing, specifically smart shirts that monitor various health metrics. The Hexoskin smart shirts are embedded with textile sensors that can track heart rate, breathing rate, minute ventilation, blood oxygen levels, steps, calories burned, and sleep patterns. The shirts connect to the Hexoskin Connected Health Platform, which collects and transmits the health data securely. Users can view their data in real-time on the Hexoskin app via Bluetooth connectivity.
Hexoskin's smart shirts have been extensively used in scientific research, with over 100 publications featuring them. They are particularly valuable for research in the fields of cardiac, respiratory, activity, stress, cognitive, and sleep studies. Renowned organizations like NASA, SpaceX, and the Canadian Space Agency have employed Hexoskin's technology for research purposes, with the company's Astroskin product receiving the 2022 International Space Station Research Innovation Award for Human Health in Space.
In terms of product offerings, Hexoskin's smart shirts are machine-washable and come with a connected device that provides up to 36 hours of battery life and 100 days of recording capacity. The company's shirts have found applications in various industries, including healthcare, sports and fitness, military and defense, industrial, and entertainment.

Hexoskin

Athos is a technology company that has developed a patented system for smart clothing that measures muscle activity using electromyography (EMG). The Athos garments, which include shirts and shorts, are embedded with sensors that detect the electrical signals produced by muscles during exercise. These signals are transmitted to a core unit that connects to a mobile app, providing real-time feedback on muscle effort, fatigue, and imbalances.
The Athos system is designed to help athletes of all levels optimize their training and performance. By visualizing muscle activation patterns, users can identify areas of weakness, correct form issues, and monitor progress over time. The app includes a library of exercises and leverages AI to provide personalized insights based on the user's muscle data.
Athos was founded in 2012 by Christopher Wiebe and Dhananja Jayalath, two electrical engineering students who recognized the potential of EMG technology to revolutionize fitness tracking. The company's mission is to empower athletes with unprecedented insights into their body's movement and performance, enabling them to train smarter and more effectively.
In October 2020, Athos Group, the parent company of Athos, reported significant growth and expansion in the off-duty law enforcement market through its subsidiary companies, including Summit Off Duty Services and RollKall. RollKall, a comprehensive off-duty staffing solution acquired by Athos Group in May 2020, had powered over 1.97 million hours of off-duty jobs across the country as of October 2020.

Athos

Atavus is a leading sports technology company specializing in tackling education and player safety solutions. Their flagship product, the Atavus Tackle System, offers a comprehensive training program that focuses on developing proper tackling techniques aimed at improving performance and reducing the risk of injuries. This data-driven approach emphasizes shoulder-led tackling, which eliminates unnecessary head contact during tackles, thereby minimizing the likelihood of concussions and other head-related injuries.
The Atavus Tackle System provides coaches with an extensive online library of coaching resources, including drill videos, practice plans, and detailed tackle plans tailored to help players master the shoulder-led technique effectively. By prioritizing fundamentals and skill acquisition, Atavus empowers coaches to instill safe and efficient tackling habits in their athletes from the grassroots level.
Atavus initially started as a rugby skills platform in 2011 before transitioning into the football domain, where it has gained widespread adoption among professional, collegiate, and high school programs. Notable early adopters of the Atavus Tackle System included the Seattle Seahawks, the University of Washington, and Ohio State University football teams. In 2019, Atavus was acquired by Phoenix Sports Partners, a sports technology and data investment fund.
Under the leadership of Kerry Carter, a former professional football player who assumed the role of CEO in January 2024, Atavus has expanded its offerings to include a software-as-a-service model, making its tackling education platform accessible to a wider market. The company has also forged strategic partnerships, such as the one announced with Hudl in April 2024, to combine Atavus' player safety expertise with advanced performance tracking technologies.

Atavus

Rank One is a company specializing in sports team management applications for K-12 athletic directors, certified athletic trainers (ATCs), and coaches. The company's flagship product, Rank One Sport, is a FERPA-compliant platform used by nearly 2,000 K-12 schools across Texas and over 1,000 schools in 25 other states. Rank One Sport offers a comprehensive suite of features designed to meet the needs of Athletic and Fine Arts directors, including schedule management, roster access, student information management, and form handling.
In September 2018, Rank One expanded its offerings with the launch of Rank One Health, a mobile application integrated with Rank One Sport. Developed in collaboration with the Children's Health Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, Rank One Health aims to standardize student-athlete injury documentation nationwide and reduce risk for schools. The app provides a secure communication system between ATCs, team physicians, healthcare providers, and school administrators. It improves reporting and tracking of student-athlete injuries for sports medicine professionals in K-12 school systems. Rank One Health's injury documentation software is based on nationally recognized standards and evaluation methodology recommended by the Children's Health Andrews Institute.
Key customers and partnerships
Rank One's primary customers are K-12 schools, with a strong presence in Texas and 25 other states. The company collaborated with the Children's Health Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine to develop Rank One Health, leveraging their expertise in pediatric orthopaedics and sports medicine. This partnership aimed to implement a standardized, user-friendly mobile application for managing sports-related injuries in school settings.

Rank One

TeamSnap is a leading provider of sports management software and the online community for everything related to youth sports. Its platform serves as a comprehensive solution for sports organizations, teams, coaches, players, and parents, offering a suite of integrated tools to simplify and streamline various aspects of managing sports programs.
The company's core offering, TeamSnap for Business, is designed to help sports organizations support and grow programs for families and athletes. It provides a centralized workspace where administrators can manage registration, collect signups, organize and collect program fees, launch websites, update content, create and share schedules, communicate with members, source sponsorships, and organize tournaments. This solution caters to organizations of all sizes, from small clubs to large associations.
TeamSnap also offers TeamSnap for Teams, a web and mobile application tailored for coaches, administrators, players, and parents to manage team activities, communication, and logistics. This user-friendly platform simplifies administrative tasks involved in managing a sports team, such as scheduling, communication, and tracking player availability.
Furthermore, TeamSnap for Brands is an innovative suite of products that revolutionizes how brands can engage with families through youth sports. It combines TeamSnap's digital audience of over 25 million youth sports parents, players, coaches, and administrators with its network of sponsorable leagues and tournaments. This offering allows brands to run digital, physical, national, and local campaigns at scale, reaching over 25 million parents, coaches, and athletes, representing more than USD 2.4 trillion in spending power.
In November 2022, TeamSnap acquired LeagueSide, America's leading community sports sponsorship platform, further enhancing its ability to connect brands with youth sports communities both online and in local communities.

TeamSnap

Technology solution providers for sports venues, which includes solutions for stadium management, connectivity and entertainment, and video assistant referee (VAR) technology

Platforms and devices that aid the training process and/or measure player statistics and other metrics, such as health and movement data, to improve player performance

Platforms that assists the management of teams, leagues, tournaments, and other sporting events

Providers of sports data for other sports-related platforms

Online media platforms that distribute sports-related content

Online sports betting platforms and platforms where virtual teams composed of proxies of real players of a professional sport compete based on player performance in actual games

Companies that develop apparel products equipped with technology to track and improve performance

Platforms that enable fans to engage with sports brands and other fans, and developers of solutions such as audience behavior and sentiment analytics, and audience engagement

Some solutions in the "team and league management platforms" segment operate a B2B SaaS model

Used by platforms to simulate real game scenarios in training

Used by platforms to spot trends in tactics, athlete performance, and training

Some stadium tech solutions and training support/performance analytics solutions offer a certain level of personalization

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

<div>
 Canadian company FORM has launched its second-generation smart swimming goggles, Form Smart Swim 2, priced at $250. The firm has also updated its HeadCoach smartphone app to include machine-learning algorithms for personal workout suggestions to enhance swimming performance.
 The device's key features comprise onboard sensors, Waveguide optics technology, integrated heart rate tracking, and a digital compass named "SwimStraight", which provides in-goggle directional guidance to swimmers. The goggles are smaller in size by 15% compared to the previous model, with a proprietary eye fit to adapt to a wide range of facial structures.
 The goggles also offer real-time swim coaching and guided workouts via the HeadCoach smartphone app and are approved for use in races by major triathlon bodies worldwide.&nbsp;
</div> Analyst QuickTake: 
 FORM launched the first edition of its AR swimwear goggles in <a href="https: 
//www.formswim.com/blogs/media/press-release-form-announces-swim-goggles"> July 2019 </a> , after which the company raised USD 12 million in a Series A funding round ( <a href="https: 
//www.formswim.com/blogs/media/press-release-form-series-a"> April 2020 </a> ) with part of the proceeds used to develop new products and services. Since then, the company announced numerous product developments, including integrating its smartphone app with endurance training software TrainingPeaks ( <a href="https: 
//www.formswim.com/blogs/media/fitness-technology-company-form-announces-highly-anticipated-integration-with-trainingpeaks"> August 2023 </a> ).

FORM

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