Singapore-based sports intelligence startup Aiko has raised $1.5 million in a pre-seed funding round from a group of private investors, as it looks to expand its real-time product for broadcasters and interactive entertainment companies, the company said on Wednesday.
Aiko, which is headquartered in Singapore and has a subsidiary in London, said the new funding will be used to speed up product development, expand commercial deployments and support its international growth plans.
The company develops a real-time intelligence layer for live sports, turning licensed match statistics into contextual insights, automated narratives and personalised highlight reels aimed at improving fan engagement and helping commentators and analysts during live coverage. It also offers multilingual delivery for broadcasters targeting wider global audiences.
The fundraising comes as the sports media industry faces growing demand for more interactive and data-driven viewing experiences, particularly around major global events such as the 2026 FIFA Club World Cup, which will feature 32 clubs across multiple time zones.
Founder and Chief Executive Vaibhav “Vebz” Panchal said live sports required more than raw data, with audiences and media companies needing real-time intelligence that could make fast-moving action more relevant and understandable. Panchal previously held leadership roles at Microsoft, where he worked on sports, gaming, media and entertainment initiatives across global and EMEA markets.
Aiko said it is backed by strategic technology partnerships with Microsoft, AMD and Verizon Business, which have helped shape its enterprise-focused architecture and performance capabilities.
Business News Asia
