BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Sportsbox AI, an AI-powered technology company that brings 3D AI Coaching to mobile applications, announced today that professional golfer and 2014 U.S. Women’s Open champion Michelle Wie West has invested in the company. Michelle is also the first touring professional to officially join the Sportsbox 3D Golf’s Product Advisory Group.
“Michelle is a global icon in the game of golf and has always been a thought leader in the space,” said Jeehae Lee, CEO and Co-Founder of Sportsbox AI. “To have her endorsement as a player and investor is a huge achievement and win for our mission as a company to help every golfer improve faster and perform their best with accurate 3D motion analysis and personalized coaching.
“We’re excited to have Michelle as an advisor as we’re building out a completely revolutionary product that will democratize game improvement and provide an effective practice and training tool essential for all levels of golfers who want to improve.”
Michelle began making international headlines when she was 10 years old and became the youngest player to qualify for a USGA championship. Since then, she has continued to break records and act as a role model for athletes around the world. After turning pro at 15, Michelle has won five LPGA titles, including two while she was enrolled as a full-time student at Stanford University.
More recently, Michelle has contributed as an analyst and on-course commentator for Golf Channel and CBS, including the 2019 Masters when she became the first woman of color to work the broadcast at the storied Augusta National. In 2020, Michelle gave birth to her daughter Makenna Kamalei Yoona West and returned to competitive golf earlier this year. She launched the Hoodie Project with the LPGA to promote and help diversify women’s golf and getting more girls of color not only to start playing, but to stay in the game, as well.
“As a competitor, I’m really looking forward to being able to use data to drive my practice and make measurable improvements,” said Wie West. “I love that I can use the Sportsbox 3D Golf app while I’m working on my game on the practice tee, as well as on the golf course -- the ability to compare my numbers in different environments and settings is a gamechanger.
“What’s more, Sportsbox is lowering the barrier for entry for both coaches and golfers to have access to 3D data. Facilities used to have to spend tens of thousands of dollars to install a 3D Motion Capture system, and students would have to pay hundreds of dollars for a specialized lesson. Now, with Sportsbox, we’re democratizing the process and cost, so we can provide more athletes with this type of experience and information.”
Michelle joins her longtime coach David Leadbetter as an investor and advisor.
“I’ve spoken at length with David and he really believes Sportsbox is going to revolutionize golf instruction and make golfers better and more efficient. With David being my coach all my life, that means a lot and speaks volumes about the potential of the product and it’s a project I’m excited to put my name on.”
With Sportsbox Golf, coaches and golfers have the ability to take a single 2D video from a mobile phone -- with no markers and sensors -- and turn it into a full 3D avatar that can be viewed from six different angles, as well as provide 3D biomechanical measurements in inches, degrees, linear and angular velocities. The app enables golfers to:
- 3D Motion Capture: Use of a mobile phone camera to create a detailed 3D model of an athletic motion from a single 2D video -- without any markers using over 30 key points
- Highly Accurate 3D Kinematic Measurements: Kinematic parameters and sequences relevant to measuring and analyzing the body movement in sports - in full 3D
- Seamless Coaching Live and Remote: 3D data and visualization tools whether you’re with the student or remote; communication, CRM, and payment tools, as well as video editing tools for visually impactful lesson notes integrated for an all-in-one coaching platform
- Drills and Guided Personalized Practice Plan to Improve Your Outcome Goal(s): Guided practice and training roadmap tailored to your needs and goals
Sportsbox plans to work with a broad spectrum of elite instructors who believe in the power of 3D measurements -- agnostic to swing methodology. The AI Coach will be built using the data collected on what creates optimal outcomes for different golfers based on their skill level and biomechanics.
To learn more, visit sportsbox.ai, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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About Sportsbox.ai, Inc.
Founded in 2020, Sportsbox.ai, Inc. is an AI-powered technology company that develops AI Coach mobile applications in sports and fitness using patent-pending 3D Motion Capture and Kinematic AI technology. Through our unique technology that can capture, measure and analyze complex athletic motions in 3D, combined with the knowledge and experience of the world’s leading instructors in each sport, Sportsbox AI brings real-time corrective feedback to help athletes achieve their goals in sports and fitness.
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Media Contact:
Stephanie Wei
VP of Comms & Co-Founder
stephaniew@sportsbox.ai
+1 917.617.7183
