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AO Ventures (Tennis Australia's venture capital fund)

Corporate VC

Melbourne · Seed–Series A · 16 people tracked

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Investment thesis

AO Ventures backs technology-led founding teams tackling large, real-world global challenges within the sports, entertainment, media, and health (excluding medical) sectors. As the official VC arm of Tennis Australia and the Australian Open, it offers more than capital—leveraging Tennis Australia's events, media business, and networks to accelerate commercialisation and build portfolio companies' reputations. It prefers to invest at Seed and Series A stages, reserving follow-on capital, and typically participates as a strategic second or third-largest investor rather than leading rounds. The fund invests without geographic limitation and often pilots startups through its AO Startups program before investing.

Source: firm website, verified Oct 3, 2026.

Stage
Seed–Series A
Check
$300K – $1.5M
HQ
Melbourne, AU
Leads rounds
Follows
Instruments
Equity
Tracked investments
6

Team · 16 people

from the firm's website & public directories
Machar Reid· General Partnerin
Todd Deacon· General Partnerin
Adam Lindell· Independent Trusteein
Craig Tiley· Investment Committeein
Dana Settle· Advisor
Darren Pearce· Investment Committeein
Graeme Bradley· Investment Committeein
Hannah Brown· Investment Committeein
Katrina Blair· Investment Committeein
Mark Nelson· Investment Committeein
Nick Crocker· Advisorin

Founder mafia

3 people who came through AO Ventures (Tennis Australia's venture capital fund) went on to found or lead other companies.

What they invest in

from 5 of 6 portfolio companies

Sports Tech ×5AI & Machine Learning ×3SaaS ×2Wellness & Fitness ×2Consumer ×1Hardware ×1Impact & Social Good ×1IoT ×1

HQs:United States×2United Kingdom×1

Investments · 6 tracked

founders shown can be your intro path
Mindspringpadelmindspringpadel.com

Mindspring Padel funds the construction and installation of padel courts for tennis and sports clubs, covering up to 100% of court costs upfront in exchange for a flat fee per court hour booked over a five to ten year term.

Impact & Social GoodSports Tech

Padel Hauspadel.hausin

Padel.haus operates premium padel clubs in the United States, offering courts, locker rooms, and fitness areas along with programming such as clinics, tournaments, open plays, and private events.

ConsumerSports TechWellness & FitnessNew York City, US

Santiago Gomez(Founder)in

Co-investorsA-Force VenturesAmbush CapitalFJ LabsArchetypeFW CapitalLeft Lane Capital

PlayerDataplayerdata.co.ukin𝕏

PlayerData provides GPS tracking and performance analytics technology for sports teams and athletes.

AI & Machine LearningHardwareIoTSports TechWellness & FitnessEdinburgh, GB

Co-investorsDarco CapitalEuropean Super Angels ClubHiro CapitalTechstars

Ravencontrolsravencontrols.com

Raven Controls builds real-time incident management software for sports and entertainment venues such as stadiums and arenas, helping operations and safety teams coordinate command-and-control, track incidents, and manage response procedures.

AI & Machine LearningSaaSSports Tech

ScorePlayscoreplay.ioin𝕏May 2023

ScorePlay provides AI-powered media asset management software for sports organizations, automating the centralization, tagging, and distribution of photos, videos, and live broadcast content.

AI & Machine LearningMedia & EntertainmentSaaSSports TechNew York, US

Victorien Tixier(Founder)inXavier Green(Founder)in

Co-investorsSeven Seven SixKevin Durant20VCanother.vcCompanion M Gmb HFELIX CAPITAL+4 more

Other

Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.

Bolt6

Frequently asked questions

How many investments has AO Ventures (Tennis Australia's venture capital fund) made?
AO Ventures (Tennis Australia's venture capital fund) has 6 tracked investments.
What stage does AO Ventures (Tennis Australia's venture capital fund) invest at?
AO Ventures (Tennis Australia's venture capital fund) invests at the Seed, Series A stages.
What is AO Ventures (Tennis Australia's venture capital fund)'s typical check size?
AO Ventures (Tennis Australia's venture capital fund) typically writes checks of $300K – $1.5M.
What sectors does AO Ventures (Tennis Australia's venture capital fund) focus on?
AO Ventures (Tennis Australia's venture capital fund) focuses on Hardware, Healthtech, Media & Entertainment, SaaS, Sports Tech, Wellness & Fitness.
Where is AO Ventures (Tennis Australia's venture capital fund) located?
AO Ventures (Tennis Australia's venture capital fund) is headquartered in Melbourne, AU.
Does AO Ventures (Tennis Australia's venture capital fund) lead rounds?
AO Ventures (Tennis Australia's venture capital fund) typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
Who does AO Ventures (Tennis Australia's venture capital fund) co-invest with?
AO Ventures (Tennis Australia's venture capital fund) most often shares deals with 20VC, FJ Labs, Kima Ventures, among 13 tracked co-investors.

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