Tyneside sports tech firm secures six-figure investment for international growth

A North Tyneside-based tech sports training system has received a six-figure investment which it will use to expand overseas.

Okkulo uses vision and light science to help improve reaction times in athletes, using statistics to improve performance for sports professionals in football, baseball, cricket, boxing and rugby.

The concept, which has been developed over the last 20 years, has secured the investment through a debt and equity fundraise which will see the business scale overseas.

Founder Mel O’Connor has created a board of North East entrepreneurs to help oversee its growth, including Owen McFarlane, former chief executive of CAV Aerospace, Peter Atkinson from Teesside Indus-trial Controls, and Abu Ali, partner in Williams Ali Corporate Finance.

Okkulo recently opened its first academy at the Blue Flames sports centre in Benton, North Tyneside.

Mel explained: “In professionals of the highest standard, the ability to save crucial milliseconds, ounces or millimetres on their performance can be absolutely career-changing, and Okkulo has developed the means for them to do that.

“Players and clubs around the world are contacting us, on the strength of the reputation we’ve created in a really short time, backed up by evidence-based statistics and data which demonstrate the difference that can be made in even one session with us.

“To see the impact it’s having on everyone from local school players to international professionals is phenomenal. I’m lucky to be working with some fantastic and supportive entrepreneurs who have themselves grown businesses. This investment will help get Okkulo to the next level of growth.”

Abu Ali added: “Okkulo has the potential to be one of the most exciting businesses the North East has produced in recent years.

“By securing this investment, Okkulo has more capability to get out there and ensure it fulfils its potential to make the huge impact on the world of sport we know it can.”