Volley—the first AI-powered assessment and training system for racquet sports—is the only racquet-focused finalist in the 2024 SFIA Start-Up Challenge.
“We are beyond thrilled to be recognized as a finalist, and we look forward to introducing Volley’s game-changing story to the SFIA judges,” said John Weinlader, co-founder and CEO of Volley. Volley isn't just an incremental improvement in training – it represents a complete reimagining of what’s possible in racquet sports. Leveraging breakthrough AI and Vision technology, Volley is the first system to deliver a fully immersive, real-time feedback loop that personalizes training like never before. “With over 100 million racquet sports players worldwide, there is a growing demand for smarter, more engaging ways to practice. An astounding 82% of players say they wish they could play more, and Volley is answering that call by offering unprecedented access to high-level training whenever and wherever they want.”
Where traditional ball machines and ball tracking softwares fall short, Volley bridges the gap by combining the power of AI and vision systems to create a seamless training ecosystem. The system doesn’t just simulate shots; it maps the court, tracks every movement and ball with pinpoint accuracy, and adapts to the player’s style in real time. This makes Volley more than just a machine – it's an intelligent training partner that “plays” like an actual opponent across tennis, padel, platform tennis, and pickleball. Paired with a cutting-edge ball trainer and backed by cloud infrastructure, Volley’s system offers a one-of-a-kind, data-driven approach tailored to each player's individual game.
Since launching in 2024, demand for Volley has skyrocketed, with installations in over 80 clubs nationwide (tennis, pickleball, platform tennis, tennis) in just six months. The platform is rapidly becoming the go-to system for both professional and recreational racquet sports players who want to elevate their performance.
The first part of the SFIA competition will take place on Thursday, September 26, 2024, with the Virtual Q&A Session. At the conclusion of the Q&A session, the top three finalists will be selected to move on to compete for the chance to be the Challenge Champion at the Start-Up Challenge Main Event on October 29, 2024, at Babson College.
To experience how Volley is revolutionizing training for pros, programs, and players, visit https://getvolley.com.
About Volley Volley is the first assessment and training system built for racquet clubs. Across pickleball, padel, platform tennis, and tennis, Volley objectively measures every player’s game, shows them what to work on, and runs personalized drills to get them there—turning underutilized court time into a smarter way to train and a new source of club revenue. For more information, visit getvolley.com.
About SFIASFIA is the premier trade association for more than 700 sporting goods and fitness brands, manufacturers, retailers, governing bodies, and sports leagues in the industry. Representing over 3,000 business locations, plants, and distribution centers, our members employ more than 375,000 people and generate $150 billion in domestic revenue wholesale sales. SFIA’s goal is to support our member companies and promote a healthy environment for the sporting goods industry by providing access to thought leadership, advocacy and public affairs, research, and member services.
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Media Contacts:
Tebe Williams
tebe@getvolley.com
Lisa Futterman
lfutterman@sfia.org