Australia – AO Ventures, the venture capital arm of Tennis Australia and the Australian Open, has invested in Jump, an enterprise AI platform built for professional sports organisations. The move forms part of its wider backing of technologies shaping sport and entertainment.
Jump becomes the seventh company to join the AO Ventures portfolio in the fund’s first 15 months. The announcement did not state the size of the investment.
Founded by Jordy Leiser, Alex Rodriguez, and Marc Lore, Jump brings ticketing, fan data, marketing tools and branded mobile applications together in a single AI-powered platform. The company has designed the system specifically for sports organisations.
Behind the deal, AO Ventures says it sees a significant opportunity for sports bodies to use AI to create more personalised fan experiences. It also expects such tools to help them build stronger, year-round relationships with their audiences.
“Sport is entering a new era where AI will fundamentally reshape how organisations engage with fans, operate commercially and deliver experiences,” Tennis Australia Director of Innovation and General Partner of AO Ventures Dr Machar Reid said.
“We’re particularly excited by businesses that sit at the intersection of fan engagement and operational efficiency, helping rights holders better understand and serve their audiences while creating new commercial opportunities,” Reid added.
“As one of the world’s leading sporting events, the Australian Open provides us with a unique perspective on the evolving needs of fans. We believe technologies like Jump will play an increasingly important role in helping sports organisations build deeper, more meaningful relationships with their audiences,” Reid continued.
On the customer side, Jump already has a relationship with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Its chief executive, meanwhile, spoke to the company’s ambitions beyond its home market.
“Every sports organisation will be rebuilt around AI,” Jump Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Jordy Leiser said.
“Jump’s platform puts AI to work, purpose-built for sports, across ticketing, sales, service and the fan experience, with measurable results. AO Ventures sits at the centre of one of the world’s biggest sporting events. Their backing validates and accelerates our push to bring modern technology to rights holders well beyond the US,” Leiser concluded.
Looking ahead, Jump says the funding will support the expansion of its enterprise AI capabilities. The company says those tools help professional sports organisations automate workflows, increase revenue and enhance the fan experience.
