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Sweden's PlayReplay targets MENA expansion after new $12M investment

Sweden's PlayReplay targets MENA expansion after new $12M investment
  • Swedish sportstech PlayReplay has raised $12 million in a funding round led by Alfvén & Didrikson.
  • The round included participation from Centre Court Capital, ExM Investment Partners, Charbe Partners, Crimson Sports Capital, and a fund managed by LionTree.
  • Founded in 2019 by Hans Lundstam and Mattias Hanqvist, PlayReplay develops AI-powered systems for racquet sports, offering real-time electronic line calling, coaching tools, and match analytics.
  • The company plans to expand into the Middle East, identifying Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Egypt as key target markets.
  • PlayReplay has partnered with Söderhub to support regional partnerships and investment opportunities across MENA.

Press release:

PlayReplay, an AI-powered intelligent court system for racquet sports, announced an investment from Alfvén & Didrikson (A&D). Leading this fundraise, A&D invests a total of $12 million alongside other investors, including Centre Court Capital, ExM Investment Partners, Charbe Partners, Crimson Sports Capital, and a fund managed by LionTree.

PlayReplay offers real-time electronic line calling (ELC), coaching tools, and analytics, enabling players to access advanced technology previously reserved for the highest professional tier. The technology is transformational, bringing fair play to tennis while making the game more data-driven and interactive. Players and federations worldwide appreciate the solution for its potential to drastically improve the sport and increase participation.

The investment will support PlayReplay’s continued international expansion and the further rollout of its technology across global markets. As part of this growth strategy, the company is also exploring an expansion into the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Egypt identified as key markets.

To support these efforts, PlayReplay is partnering with Söderhub as its local partner in the Middle East to support investment opportunities and partnerships with regional institutions.

“PlayReplay technology is already proven and making waves in markets such as the US and Canada. We believe the Middle East represents a strong long-term opportunity, where ambition, investment, and appetite for next-generation sports infrastructure are accelerating,” said Magdy Shehata, Founder and CEO of Söderhub.

The investment will also support PlayReplay’s expansion into new sports and the further rollout of its technology across global clubs and federations.

“PlayReplay is one of the fastest-growing companies we’ve invested in, operating in a massive market with more than 250,000 courts in the U.S. alone. Hans, Mattias, and the team have built impressive technology with strong execution, and we’re excited to support them in the next phase of growth,” says Måns Alfvén, Co-founder of Alfvén & Didrikson.

"This investment marks a significant milestone on our roadmap to redefine the tennis experience for every player on the planet. The strong interest from investors serves as proof of our product's value and the traction we are gaining in the market. We are incredibly grateful for the resources, advice, and practical support that A&D has already provided, and we foresee a tremendously supportive collaboration,” says Hans Lundstam, CEO and Co-founder of PlayReplay.

“Seeing the technology we’ve built make a real difference for players, coaches, and federations is what drives us. This investment gives us the opportunity to bring that to many more courts and sports worldwide,” adds Mattias Hanqvist, CPO and Co-founder of PlayReplay.

About PlayReplay: PlayReplay aims to democratise tennis tracking, making it accessible to all. PlayReplay’s advanced technology promotes fairness across every level of competition and equips coaches with critical data to better support their players. PlayReplay is the only tracking solution that has achieved ITF silver-level classification for “real-time” and “review” ELC for indoor/outdoor use, respectively. To date, PlayReplay has been utilised in approximately 350,000 matches, generating ~ 150 million accumulated line calls. For more information, visit www.playreplay.io 

About A&D: Alfvén & Didrikson is an active and long-term backer of passionate entrepreneurs and teams with international growth ambitions. Since 2010, the firm has invested a total of more than SEK 3 billion ($317 million) in fast-growing Northern European companies such as Trustly, Quinyx, and Acast. A&D is an investment company with FAM (Wallenberg Investments), AP4, AltoCumulus, and Qarlbo as its largest external investors. For more information, visit www.alfvendidrikson.com 

About Söderhub: Söderhub is a Swedish boutique consultancy focused on connecting Nordic innovation companies with business opportunities across the Middle East and North Africa. Founded by serial entrepreneur Magdy Shehata and venture builder Aurore Belfrage, the company is led by entrepreneurs and investors with experience in the AI, gaming, and green transition sectors. Söderhub specialises in market entry, strategy, capital raising, and talent acquisition. The company supports businesses expanding into new markets through its regional expertise and network.

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