Hitai has acquired acquire YC-backed gaming studio Quell to take its fight analytics from TV
screens to gyms.
Hitai is a movement‑intelligence platform for sports, and now it’s turning to gaming with the acquisition of the technology and intellectual property of Quell, a United Kingdom-based studio behind the dedicated fitness-gaming platform, the ‘Impact’, and its flagship high-intensity combat game, Shardfall.
The acquisition will enhance Hitai’s camera-based motion recognition platform via Quell’s
camera-less, patent-pending tech, built to run in real time on compact, low‑power devices.
The deal includes market-leading motion‑recognition models, the firmware and hardware
stack for Quell’s Impact console, and its Shardfall combat game.
The deal brings best-in-class motion recognition, patent-pending sensor tech and gamification to Hitai’s sports movement‑intelligence platform.
Hitai converts real-time combat sports video into high-accuracy movement and performance data. Quell’s sensor-based motion models and gaming technology will enhance accuracy and speed in environments with challenging camera placement, helping Hitai deliver increasingly engaging content for athletes, coaches and fans.
“This acquisition brings years of cutting-edge engineering in the field of human movement
recognition into the Hitai fold, with the backing of a team that knows how to ship,” said
Ismail Baran,CEO of Hitai, in a statement. “Quell’s technology allows us to build upon our video-first core to deliver exceptional products in a wide range of new spaces.”
Quell was founded by Lorenzo Spreafico, Cameron Brookhouse, Martin Tweedie and
Douglas Stidolph, and backed by blue-chip investors including Y Combinator, Khosla
Ventures, Tencent and Heartcore Capital.
“A core part of Quell’s mission was redefining what was possible in sports motion recognition,” said Cameron Brookhouse, CEO of Quell, in a statement “Seeing this technology carried forward at scale by HITAI is an exceptional outcome, and we’re excited to be a part of their
future.”
Hitai is building the movement-intelligence infrastructure for sports video. Its platform uses
computer vision and machine learning to convert existing training, event and broadcast
footage into structured movement and performance data.
Hitai is commercializing its platform first in combat sports before expanding into selected
additional sports. Its technology can support coaching, athlete analysis, live-event statistics,
broadcasting, automated content and sports-data services.