Eight Queensland startups were selected to showcase their technology to the NRL and rugby league fans as part of a program designed to boost fan engagement, athlete performance and overall accessibility of the sport.
The NRL Magic Round Tech Showcase featured innovations in immersive technology, artificial intelligence and micro-wearable sensors, and followed a 10-week tech sprint that gave the innovators direct access to NRL experts.
Two companies — Imagine Realities and Crowd Canvas — were selected from the group to debut their products with fans at Suncorp Stadium over the weekend.
Imagine Realities gives fans the chance to become NRL players as an avatar, with participants able to dodge tackles and score tries with motion sensors picking up their movements.
Crowd Canvas’ fan platform provided an interactive light show that allowed fans to use their mobile phones to activate colours and torches in synchronisation with music.
Other startups featured at the showcase included Cool Beans Underwear, one of four finalists for the Disrupter of the Year at the 2024 InnovationAus Awards for Excellence. Cool Beans manufactures scientifically designed performance garments that enhance athletes’ health, wellness and performance.
Performance enhancing athlete wear was a key theme of the showcase, with startups including:
- WearOptimo, which has built an AI-enhanced micro-wearable sensor platform to monitor athlete hydration
- Talk All Sport, a voice activated scoring touchpad communications vest for officiators
- Australian Armour Company (Fempro Armour), which makes “game changing” protection vest for NRLW athletes
Other fan engagement solutions demonstrated at the showcase include Myriad Studios, which produces Hollywood Blockbuster technology for NRL superheroes to enhance NRL fan engagement and athlete performance.
Accessibility technology was represented by Cerge, with content management platform designed to support venue accessibility for people with disabilities.
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