Ireland tops Europe in sports tech venture capital investment ahead of historic NFL game in Dublin.
Ireland has emerged as Europe’s leading nation for sports tech venture capital investment on a per capita basis, according to a new report launched today (26 September) by Enterprise Ireland.
Since 2014, Irish sports tech start-ups have raised over €224m across 181 transactions. Notable funding rounds include Kitman Labs (€71.1m), Xtremepush (€18.6m), and Output Sports (€4.5m in 2025).
“These companies are making a significant impact internationally, working with global sports leagues”
The report, powered by PitchBook data, highlights the strength and global reach of Ireland’s sports tech sector, which includes companies working with elite organisations such as the NFL, NBA, NHL, PGA Tour, Formula 1, Olympians, and top-tier football and rugby leagues.
The report was unveiled ahead of the landmark NFL fixture between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings, set to take place this Sunday (28 September) in Dublin.
It reveals that Ireland is home to 93 VC-backed sports tech companies, including 40 homegrown global innovators. Among them are Orreco, Kitman Labs, and Output Sports, all of which are actively collaborating with NFL teams.
Orreco, a global leader in bio-analytics for professional athletes, also announced its support for the Harvard Football Players Health Study. Funded by the NFL and NFL Players Association, the initiative aims to advance research that could improve the health outcomes of current and former players.
Against the odds
The report shows that Ireland’s sports tech sector has defied the broader European downturn in venture capital activity since 2022. While VC deal counts across Europe fell by more than 30 percent in 2023, Ireland saw a 50% increase.
In 2024, Ireland’s deal count rose by a further 47.1%, contrasting with a 15.5% decline across the continent.
Year-to-date data for 2025 places Ireland seventh in Europe for total sports tech VC deal count, but first when adjusted for population size. Ireland has consistently ranked in the top four per capita over the past decade.
Enterprise Ireland has played a pivotal role in shaping the investment landscape. Since 2024, it has led the region in deal activity, with 19 sports tech investments – more than triple the number recorded by the next most active investor.
“The Irish sports tech industry has expanded rapidly over the past ten years, both in terms of the number of companies and the level of investment they have attracted,” explained Keith Brock, Senior Client Advisor for Enterprise Solutions at Enterprise Ireland.
“These companies are making a significant impact internationally, working with global sports leagues.”
He added: “Across Enterprise Ireland’s portfolio, there are 89 active or pending patents covering wearable devices, augmented reality, diagnostics, exercise equipment, and equine health. This reflects the strong level of R&D and innovation in the sector, which is accelerating progress across the global sports industry — from athlete performance to fan engagement.”
While Enterprise Ireland has been a key backer of the sector, the report also notes substantial international VC interest, with firms such as Octopus Ventures (UK), Partech (France), and Apex Capital (Portugal) investing in Irish sports tech companies.
Irish companies working with NFL teams
Kitman Labs’ Intelligence Platform (iP) is an advanced operating system for performance, health, and talent development, unifying data across medical, performance, coaching, and operational domains to deliver AI-driven, evidence-based insights. iP enables leagues, federations, and elite organisations to connect data, streamline workflows, and optimize athlete availability, development, and long-term success. Kitman Labs is used by the NFL, Premier League, MLS, WSL, NWSL, RFU, IRFU, and more than 2,000 organisations in 26+ countries.
Orreco is the global leader in bio-analytics solutions for professional athletes, combining expertise in sports science, data analytics and the development of AI-powered solutions to optimize performance, accelerate recovery, and extend playing careers. Orreco works with the NFL, NBA, NHL, EPL, PGA Tour, WNBA, NWSL, F1, and Olympians.
Wearable sensors & software to allow sporting organisations all levels to test, train & plan for strength & power. Currently support over 1,400 customers across all major sporting leagues including the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS, and WNBA.
Top image: Photo by Dave Adamson on Unsplash
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