€1m investment could be a game changer for sports analytics start-up

9 Mar 2015

Sligo sports science data player Orreco has raised €1m in a funding round and has strengthened its board and executive leadership team with executives from Amazon, Glanbia and Nike.

The Sligo-headquartered analytics and sports science data specialist specialises in game-changing analysis that helps elite athletes to achieve peak performance. It employs 11 people and hopes to double its workforce this year.

The company recently raised US$1m in a funding round that will be invested in further building its software infrastructure and targeting increased the huge US market where clients include Nike Running, New Balance, an NBA team and Major League Baseball franchises.

Investors in Orreco include golfers Graeme McDowell and Padraig Harrington.

Game changing analytics

Orreco, which is led by sports scientist and co-founder Dr Brian Moore, has developed unique bio-marker technology that analyses blood and other data in an elite athlete’s body.

The information helps them avoid over-training, fatigue and even avoid injury. Orreco uses the data to help coaches and teams achieve peak performance, giving them that extra edge in sports where winning margins are tiny.

A stunning application of this technology in action was apparent in Padraig Harrington’s recent victory at the Honda Classic. The win came during five straight weeks on tour testament to the strength and conditioning program of Dr Liam Hennessy which Orreco’s analytics support.

The company has appointed Niall Bruton from Nike where he was global club business manager for Premier League club Manchester United.

Orreco has also added new board members including former VP of technology at Amazon.com Tom Killalea and the former managing director of Glanbia John Maloney who will also chair the board.

Golf image via Shutterstock

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com