Peripheral Labs Raises $8.7 Million for 3D Sports Video Technology

Toronto-based AI firm Peripheral Labs has secured $8.7 million in new seed funding, bringing its total financing to $12.3 million. The company is applying technology derived from self-driving cars to create immersive 3D video experiences of live sports events.

The AI-powered "spatial intelligence" system allows viewers to watch sports clips and replays from virtually any angle, similar to video game camera controls. The technology is based on the previous work of co-founders Kelvin Cui and Mustafa Khan in autonomous vehicles. According to Cui, the system can track up to 65 points, down to the finger joints of players, enabling detailed analysis and an interactive viewing experience.

Peripheral Labs aims to engage younger audiences, such as Gen Z, who tend to watch less traditional sports broadcasting. The company has already collaborated with the NBA's Toronto Raptors to create social media content and plans to launch a consumer-facing, browser-based replay system later this year.

The seed funding was led by investors including Inovia Capital, Deloitte Ventures, Khosla Ventures, and Entrepreneurs First. Peripheral Labs intends to integrate its technology directly into live broadcasts and team-specific applications in the future.