🏃 Chicago Sports Tech Run Club recap

Thanks to everyone who joined us at Oak Street Beach on September 23. It was a great night to go out for a run on the lakefront and meet more of the people building Chicago’s sports community. We’re looking forward to doing it again on October 28th. Come out and join us!

🗓️ Upcoming Events with Chicago Sports Tech

• Community happy hour: October 7th Join founders, teams, brands, investors, and operators for food, drinks, and conversation at PB&J in Fulton Market. Event details and tickets.

  

  Happy Hour

• Chicago Sports Tech Week 2027: Save July 19–22, 2027. We’ll share program and ticket updates as plans come together. https://chicagosportstechweek.com/

The Week in Sports Tech & Business

🏀 A major investment in UIC basketball. Chicago entrepreneur Omair Ahmed, founder and CEO of Goldfinch Asset Management, made a seven-figure gift to UIC men’s basketball—one of the largest philanthropic commitments in UIC Athletics history. The funding will support recruiting, player development, and the student-athlete experience. Ahmed will also serve as the Flames’ honorary general manager for the 2026–27 season, helping the staff identify talent and build the roster. Why it matters: It’s a striking example of a local business leader investing both capital and expertise in the future of Chicago sports. Read more.

🏟️ The United Center adds a technology partner behind the scenes. The arena announced a multiyear partnership with HYCU, whose data protection tools will support IT systems used in venue and team operations. The deal also includes arena signage. Why it matters: Sports tech partnerships increasingly reach beyond what fans see on game day. Reliable systems are part of running a venue that hosts the Bulls, Blackhawks, concerts, and other events. Read more.

🏀 The Nets are making technology part of the sponsorship. Alibaba Group is now an official technology and cloud partner of the Brooklyn Nets. The partnership will bring its tools into live replay, in-arena entertainment, and marketing. Why it matters: A sponsorship can do more than build brand visibility when it also improves the fan experience. Read more.

💰 MAGIC AI raises $11 million. The company behind an AI-powered fitness mirror closed a Series B to expand in the U.S. Its technology gives people real-time feedback on their form during at-home workouts. Why it matters: Personalized coaching continues to attract investment as companies look for ways to make it more accessible. Read more.

📱 College athletics apps are becoming more interactive. SIDEARM Sports and LiveLike are bringing fan engagement features to athletics apps, with the partnership already live at Michigan, Texas, and Texas Tech. Why it matters: Teams have more opportunities to connect with fans through their own channels—and give sponsors a role in those experiences. Read more.

🤝 Let’s connect. Raising capital? Launching something new? Have an update to share or an event you’d like to host with Chicago Sports Tech? Email and tell us what you’re working on—and who you’re hoping to meet. We’d love to help connect the right people across Chicago’s sports community. mike@chicagosportstech.com.

Always stay updated at ChicagoSportsTech.com

-Mike