The iPad App Helping Local Sports Clubs Manage Player Rotations And Statistics

To celebrate the global HYPE SPIN Accelerator program, Ministry of Sport has partnered with the University of Queensland (UQ) to deliver the 2019 Tech In Sport event at Victoria Park in Brisbane on July 10th.

The HYPE UQ SPIN Accelerator is a global program that was developed to champion entrepreneurship and sports tech innovation, whilst providing access to mentors and investors from around the world to fast-track promising local startups onto the world stage.

In the lead-up to the event, Ministry of Sport is interviewing the final 10 graduates about their cutting edge sports tech products, as they prepare their final pitches for the chance to win $25,000 and entry to one of AusTrade’s Landing Pad programs.

Founded in 2016, the Interchanger app provides coaches with concise and invaluable performance data, tracking each player’s time spent forward, midfield, defence and bench. Interchanger makes for simple player management, improving individual and team performance. For junior teams, it will greatly assist in the implementation of AFL Policy around player rotation and player game time.

Ministry of Sport had a chat with Murray Bird, Director of Interchanger, about the company and their involvement in the HYPE SPIN Accelerator program.

Q1: Why did you start this business?

In 2007 the Brisbane Lions came to us – requesting Status Sport (at that stage we were an athlete management company) to develop some software to manage their player rotations. We partnered with a Brisbane tech company www.flaik.com and within 5 years we had 12 AFL clubs and 25 state league clubs using our PRO software. In 2015 we launched our IPad app for community football – in 2019 we have over 1000 users

We have recently also launched our app www.netballstatistics.com – 100 users of Beta version

Q2: Is there another product like this in the market place? How is yours different?

There are competitors out there, but ours is cloud-based, data can be input via multiple devices, relay live scores, records injury time and produces injury reports.

Q3: What are some key lessons you have learned on the journey so far?

Stick to your core innovation – don’t chase butterflies, get revenue early.

Q4: What are your plans for the future?

2020 launch of a generic app for all sports – with the core functionality of Netball and AFL apps – called  fairgametime.com

– with the theme of “Keeping Kids in the Game”

Q5: What has your experience been like in the UQ HYPE SPIN accelerator program?

Highly recommended – fantastic insights

If you would like more information or to attend the Tech in Sport event, you can secure your complimentary ticket by clicking here, but be quick because tickets are limited.

About HYPE Sports Innovation

HYPE Sports Innovation is the largest global ecosystem in sports innovation. With over 30,000 members, including retail brands, sports clubs, federations, and academia. Together with over 10,000 startups, HYPE Sports Innovation has an unrivalled capacity for outreach to global partners across all sectors in this highly diverse field. The company’s business model is to leverage this platform to grow from the surging needs of the sports industry to innovate. Since its inception, the company has created and expanded unique offerings and services, all with unprecedented success and value added for investors, partners, and consumers. Among its clients are UEFA, Adidas, Spalding, Silicon Valley Bank, Asics, Google, and many more. The company’s mission is to impact people’s lives through the power of sports and innovation. Visit HYPE Sports Innovation at: www.hypesportsinnovation.com

About UQ and ilab

The University of Queensland’s ilab operates one of Australia’s most experienced accelerator programs having delivered 13 startup accelerator programs and whose startups have raised $62M of early-stage capital in the past 5 years. The 3-months HYPE UQ SPIN ACCELERATOR® Program will leverage UQ’s ilab expertise and UQ’s top 3 global ranking in sports science research.  While the majority of the program operates virtually allowing startups to participate from their home base, several residential modules will be delivered from its prime startup space in the heart of the picturesque University of Queensland. Beyond this, over $1B has been invested in UQ related companies through UniQuest, Australia’s leading commercialization entity specializing in the intellectual property of UQ.

The HYPE UQ SPIN Accelerator is proudly supported by Advance Queensland.