This Black Woman-Led Sports Tech Company Helping Athletes And Recruiters Alike Has Closed A $500K Angel Round
Former Division I athlete Nyla Pollard is now innovating in the sports world as a founder.
Ballin AI
In 2023, Pollard, along with a team of coaches, evaluators, and seasoned AI engineers, launched Ballin AI, a sports technology company that helps high school and college athletes assess their performance and serves as a recruiting resource for coaches, its website mentions.
Through the platform, athletes can gain insight into how they are playing as well as how college coaches view their game. Players upload their film, which is then analyzed by a nationally recognized evaluator and scored across key criteria such as defense, shooting, rebounding, scoring, transition, ball handling, and finishing. This platform was a three-year effort led by Ballin AI Chief Development Officer Tenishia Benson, Pollard mentioned on LinkedIn.
“Our report gives you an in-depth look at your skills, shooting, defense, and IQ to show you where you’re thriving, but also where you need to improve,” Pollard said in a video shared on the company website.
Furthermore, each athlete will receive a personalized development plan aimed at boosting their visibility with coaches, along with the option to join the company’s AI-powered ranking system to see how their performance stacks up against other athletes. As for coaches, Ballin AI will make it easier for them to vet players who align with their team through its compatibility insights.
“We’re literally giving you a roadmap,” Benson explained in the video. “Parents, this is a great way to invest in your child’s future with clear insights on how to help them make it to the next level. We can help you get more playing time, get noticed by college, and ultimately secure scholarships.”
$500K Angel Round
Ballin AI’s vision has recently been supported with a $500,000 boost in an angel round, Pollard confirmed on LinkedIn. Slauson & Co., Oregon Sports Angels, ACT House, and FBomb Angels Investment Club participated in the round.
“Ballin AI has officially closed our $500K angel round. We’re backed by an incredible group of early believers fueling our mission: to make recruiting faster, smarter, and data-driven for both athletes and coaches,” she wrote on the platform.
