Israeli startup WSC Sports Technologies has closed a $12 million Series B financing round of financing led by Intel Capital, with participation from existing and new investors including the Wilf family (owners of the Minnesota Vikings), the ownership of the LA Dodgers, and Dan Gilbert (majority owner of the 2016 NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers). Intel Capital Director Uri Arazy will join the WSC Sports board. The investment brings WSC Sports’ total funding to $16 million and will help the company significantly accelerate growth and international expansion.
Based in Ramat Gan, the company has developed an automatic, real-time, customized video creation platform for sports broadcasts designed for amplifying sports content and value. WSC Sports was founded by CEO Daniel Shichman, VP business development Aviv Arnon, CTO Shmuel Yoffe, and COO Hy Gal.
WSC Sports’ customers, including the NBA, Turner Sports, Big East Conference, British Telecom the ELeague and others, are using the company’s platform to automatically generate customized highlights packages in near real-time and utilize the range of fan engagement products the platform has to offer; the generated video content is featured across multiple digital and social assets, ensuring fans around the world access to the best moments from every team and player they wish. Several other major deals with leading broadcasting and sports organizations are in the works, though still in stealth mode.
Shichman said, “WSC Sports is going through a rapid growth period, recently signing several significant commercial agreements. This financing round will enable us to further accelerate growth and strengthen our position as market leaders in our field. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the entire amazing team at WSC for making this rewarding journey a ton of fun.”
Intel Capital president Wendel Brooks said, “Technology is reinventing the way people consume and interact with sports, adding compelling new dimensions to the game. We see sports as a transformative area for investment. We’re pleased to work with WSC Sports as a leading innovator in generating new, large-scale video content to boost fan engagement.”
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on September 8, 2016
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