🚀 Upside Weekly Recap: Aivela Launches New AI Smart Ring, Sony Acquires STATSports; New SKUs Added to Database, Top Weekly Product Reviews: Hoolest, Kineon, Reco

As a reminder, in July 2025 we announced our new AI based product comparison tool (Interactive tables, Upside AI Assistant) which is part of our Upside Tech scouting platform which is being trusted by 100+ teams (NBA, NFL, MLS, MLB, NHL, WNBA, Premier League, NCAA, national rugby teams, Top 14, Calcio, laliga, pro tennis..).

At Upside, we’ve built one of the most comprehensive performance technology databases in sports and tech with the top 500 products and companies in performance tech. From GPS tracking and recovery systems to strength training solutions and biometric monitoring tools, our platform covers the products shaping athlete performance today.

But technology in sports moves fast—new SKUs, product launches, and price changes are happening constantly. That’s why our team updates the database every single week, so that teams, practitioners, and decision-makers always have access to the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Our brand-new Product Comparison Tool offers a comprehensive comparison of over 500 performance products and companies across a wide range of categories (AMS, GPS, hydration assessment tools, cognitive training, velocity training systems, video analysis, sleep tech, etc..). Whether you’re evaluating vendors for AMS platforms, velocity training, or other categories, this tool allows you to compare pricing, specifications, customer bases, capabilities, funding, and more—all in one place.

Picture: Upside Global, confidential, August 2025

Here is a screenshot of what our Upside AI assistant looks like:

Picture: Upside Global, confidential, October 2025

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📘 New Products Added this Week to the Upside Product & Company Database

This week we added the following new specs/pricing changes, and new SKUs and products below to our database of the top 500 performance tech products and companies.

Source: Upside Product/company Database, Confidential, October 2025

⭐ Top Product Reviews by Practitioners This Week

One of the most valuable parts of the Upside platform is the perspective from those on the ground—the practitioners who test, implement, and refine these technologies with athletes every day. This week, we’re featuring a new set of practitioner-led reviews that offer a behind-the-scenes look at how products perform in real environments:

Picture: Upside Global, confidential, October 2025

Here is a summary of the three reviews shown in the image above:

Hoolest

Rating: 4.5/5

Quote: “The Hoolest Pro has helped our players reduce their stress, and HRV. It also helped them improve sleep. We have tested many vagus nerve stimulators and it is one of the best vagus nerve stimulators out there. It is also backed by scientific evidence. I highly recommend the Hoolest Pro to any teams looking to give an edge to their athletes.” – Director of High Performance, Basketball

Summary: The reviewer highlights the Hoolest Pro’s effectiveness in reducing player stress and improving sleep and HRV. They praise its scientific backing and describe it as one of the best vagus nerve stimulators available, recommending it for teams seeking an athletic edge.

Kineon

Rating: 4.7/5
Quote: “We have tried a lot of red light therapy devices out there. The Kineon MOVE Pro LED is one of the best devices out there. It helped our players reduce their pain. It is also highly portable which is a great fit for us as we travel a lot for games. I highly recommend the Kineon MOVE Pro LED for any teams looking for effective pain management modalities.” – Athletic Trainer, Hockey

Summary: The reviewer commends the Kineon MOVE Pro LED as a top-tier red light therapy device, specifically noting its effectiveness in pain reduction. They also praise its portability, making it ideal for teams that travel frequently, and highly recommend it for pain management.

Reco

Rating: 4.5/5

Quote: “The RECO Tidal is not only a great massage gun but it is one of the most affordable massage guns out there. RECO also offers a wide range of devices such as compression boots, Cupping therapy devices, and so on. If you have a tight budget and are looking for great recovery modalities i highly recommend RECO.” – Director of Sports Science, Soccer

Summary: The reviewer praises the RECO Tidal as an affordable and effective massage gun. They note that RECO offers a variety of recovery devices beyond massage guns, such as compression boots and cupping therapy devices. They recommend RECO to teams with a tight budget looking for great recovery modalities.

These reviews go beyond specs and marketing—they capture how technology is actually being used, what works best, and where there’s room for improvement. By bringing practitioner voices directly into the scouting process, Upside makes it easier for teams and organizations to make informed, evidence-based decisions.

Join Today

All these features—the product comparison tool, Upside AI assistant, are available through flexible membership options, including monthly and annual plans. The practitioner community and product review sections are free for all practitioners. So if you are a practitioner who wants to join our online community of practitioners please contact us at julien@upsideglobal.co and we will create your online exec profile.

Interested in learning more? Contact us today to see a live demo, get pricing information and subscribe to our new Tech scouting platform. You contact us at julien@upsideglobal.co or click on the button below.

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📖 Upside Analysis of the Week

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🔍 Recent M&A Deals Of The Week

1. Houston Dash sale to RHC Group advances at ~$120M
   The NWSL’s Houston Dash are reportedly in advanced talks to be sold for around $120 million to RHC Group, founded by 24-year-old Richard Hsiao. (Source: Reuters)
   The deal excludes the Houston Dynamo and stadium rights. The NWSL is conducting rigorous due diligence, and league approval is required. (Source: Houston Chronicle)
   Upside Take: The prospective sale would mark one of the highest valuations ever for a women’s pro soccer team in the U.S. It underscores rising investor confidence in women’s sports brands as scalable commercial platforms. The risk, however, lies in scrutiny of Hsiao’s background and funding sources, given his father’s legal issues. (Source: Reuters)
   

2. Tucker’s Farm / Wonder Franchises acquires Soccer 5
   Tucker’s Farm Corporation’s subsidiary, Wonder Franchises, has acquired Soccer 5, a U.S.-based small-sided soccer facility operator. (Source: Business Wire)
   The Georgeson founders will retain meaningful ownership and remain in leadership roles.
   Upside Take: This deal is a clear play in the “sports infrastructure + grassroots” space. As soccer interest continues to build in the U.S.—especially with the 2026 World Cup looming—investing in facility ecosystems could yield strong demand tails. The franchising model also allows scale without centralized capital burden.
   

3. ENIC injects £100M into Tottenham amid takeover chatter
   Tottenham Hotspur’s majority owner ENIC has announced a £100 million capital infusion to strengthen the club’s finances and infrastructure. (Source: Talksport)
   This follows persistent takeover speculation involving Saudi and U.S. groups, which ENIC denies.
   Upside Take: The move reaffirms ENIC’s commitment and may deter bids. It also gives Spurs flexibility to invest aggressively in squad development and infrastructure without needing outside capital. Still, the optics of such infusions invite further acquisition speculation in elite European soccer.
   

4. Ari Emanuel launches MARI — sports + entertainment platform backed by $3B
   Ari Emanuel has launched a new venture, MARI, raising nearly $3 billion to target live experiences, sports, and entertainment. (Source: Financial Times)
   His vision: AI-driven productivity gains will free up consumer time, creating more demand for premium live content and sports.
   Upside Take: This is not a team sale, but part of a broader consolidation play in entertainment + sports. Emanuel already has assets like the Miami Open, Madrid Open, and Barrett-Jackson under his umbrella. MARI allows bundling and cross-leveraging of rights, events, and media. It also signals continued conviction in the live sports + experience economy thesis.
   

5. ENIC confirms capital over sale, but volatility persists
   In addition to the injection mentioned above, Tottenham’s ownership has formally dismissed takeover offers. (Source: Talksport)
   Upside Take: Rejection sets a tone of stability — though it may also leave the door open for more sophisticated capital-structure plays (e.g. minority recapitalizations) later. It’s a reminder that in elite soccer, capital injections can be as meaningful as outright takeovers in shaping growth paths.

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⌚ New Product / Initiative / Structural Moves

• Tag Heuer and New Balance team up for a limited edition smartwatch (Source: Wareable)

• Aivela Ring Pro delivers AI coaching and gesture control—without a subscription (Source: Wareable)

• Peloton overhauls it lineup with ‘Cross Training’ hardware and an AI coach (Source: Wareable)

• Helios raises $2.2M to scale hockey wearable (Source: SBJ)

• Warriors, equity management platform Carta ink sponsorship (Source: SBJ)

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⭐ Major Coaching / Practitioner Moves

⚾ Baseball (MLB)

• Skip Schumaker named new Texas Rangers manager
  The Rangers promoted Skip Schumaker to be manager, succeeding Bruce Bochy, who will not return after the 2025 season. Schumaker had been serving as a senior adviser in the club’s baseball operations. (Source: Reuters)
  Upside Take: This is a continuity hire from within, likely intended to keep organizational momentum rather than reset culture. Schumaker’s prior Manager of the Year credentials in Miami give him credibility, but he must now translate front-office familiarity into on-field results.
  

• Carlos Rodriguez departs Rays’ front office role
  After 15 years with the Tampa Bay Rays, Carlos Rodriguez, Assistant GM, is leaving the organization. (Source: DRaysBay)
  Upside Take: While not a field coaching move, the departure of a long-tenured decisionmaker signals potential shifts in scouting, player development, and international pipelines. This could precede deeper changes in the Rays’ baseball operations structure.
  

• Don Kelly gets contract extension with the Pittsburgh Pirates
  The Pirates announced a multi-year extension for Don Kelly, who replaced Derek Shelton midseason. (Source: CBSSports.com)
  Upside Take: The extension reflects internal confidence in Kelly’s ability to steady the ship after a turbulent period. It also suggests the Pirates are prioritizing stability over chasing a marquee external hire at this stage.

• Rocco Baldelli to exit as Twins manager
  The Minnesota Twins announced that Rocco Baldelli will not return as their manager for 2026, ending a seven-season tenure. (Source: MLB.com)
  Upside Take: His dismissal comes after a disappointing season and likely reflects impatience from ownership and front office. The Twins will now search for a leader capable of shepherding a rebuild or retooling phase.
  

• Bob Melvin fired by San Francisco Giants
  The Giants have terminated Bob Melvin, despite having picked up his 2026 option earlier. The team cited inconsistent performance and underwhelming results as key factors. (Source: ESPN.com)
  Upside Take: This is a performance-driven shakeup. The Giants seem ready to pursue a new direction in leadership and culture. Coming off an 81–81 season, they’ll want a manager who can consistently deliver winning baseball.
  

• Ron Washington and interim manager Ray Montgomery will not return to Angels in 2026
  The Los Angeles Angels have confirmed that they will not pick up Ron Washington’s contract option for 2026; interim manager Ray Montgomery also will not return. (Source: New York Post)
  Upside Take: The Angels are clearing the deck for a fresh start, likely seeking a full-time hire who can handle roster rebuild and cultural reset. Washington’s health earlier in the year may have complicated matters, but the move clearly signals change.

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⚽ Pro Soccer: Management / Front-Office Changes

• Al-Ittihad appoints Sérgio Conceição as head coach
  The Saudi Pro League champions named Portuguese coach Sérgio Conceição to a contract through 2028. He replaces Laurent Blanc, who departed in late September. (Source: Reuters)

• Manchester United to hire new Director of Football Operations
  United is set to bring in Ameesh Manek (currently Brentford’s COO) to become their Director of Football Operations starting in 2026. He’ll oversee operations including both men’s and women’s teams, training facilities, travel, security, and infrastructure. (Source: The Busby Babe)

• Atlético de Madrid appoints Mateu Alemany as Director of Men’s Professional Football
  Atlético formalized a front-office restructuring by bringing in Alemany, who has a strong track record (Barcelona, Valencia, Mallorca), to oversee sporting operations for both the first team and the Atlético Madrileño side. He reports to both the club’s sporting director and CEO. (Source: Into the Calderon)

• Tottenham Hotspur ownership and executive leadership evolution
  The Lewis family trust (majority shareholders) injected £100 million of equity. This comes with leadership changes: the departure of longtime chairman Daniel Levy, a more active role for the Lewis children (Vivienne and Charles), and CEO Vinai Venkatesham being elevated in influence. (Source: The Times)

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🏉 Rugby / Union / League

• St Helens part ways with head coach Paul Wellens
  Longtime club legend Paul Wellens will not have his contract renewed following a semi-final playoff exit. He had been in the head coach role for three seasons. (Source: Sky Sports)
  Upside Take: Saints are looking to pivot after falling short of their championship goals. While Wellens is deeply respected, the club evidently concluded that a fresh voice is needed to push them back into finals contention.
  

• Munster CEO pledges full backing to new head coach Clayton McMillan
  Following criticism from former player Conor Murray regarding resource allocation, Munster’s CEO Ian Flanagan publicly affirmed support for Clayton McMillan, committing to fund his vision. The Sun
  Upside Take: The early vote of confidence is important amid high expectations. McMillan now has formal backing to pursue investment in squad strengthening, recruiting, and long-term planning. The pressure will be on results.
  

• Matt Ferguson linked with coaching role for England A / All Blacks XV fixture
  Matt Ferguson is reportedly being brought into the England A coaching setup to prepare for an upcoming fixture against an All Blacks XV side. Quins
  Upside Take: The move highlights how unions are bolstering depth and experiment with cross-border coaching assignments in high-profile exhibition matches. It signals emphasis on tactical alignment and exposure for rising coaching talent.

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🔍 Big Picture / Significance

• MLB has experienced a wave of major managerial changes: veteran managers are exiting, internal promotions are being favored, and front offices are shifting personnel. The transitions may reshape team identities heading into 2026.

• In rugby, coaching turnover is driven by performance expectations and ownership pressure. What’s notable is the rapid decisiveness by clubs (Saints) and the immediate institutional support for new hires (Munster).

• Beyond the headline hires/firings, staffing moves in baseball operations (e.g. Rodriguez departure) suggest that rebuilding and systemic shifts are underway in many organizations.

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👀 Things to Watch

• Atlanta Braves’ next manager — With Brian Snitker stepping down, names like David Ross have surfaced as potential successors. The Times of India

• Who’s next in MLB’s managerial turnover cycle? Betting markets are already pointing to names like Aaron Boone and Rocco Baldelli again. BetMissouri.com

• Saints’ replacement for Wellens — The process is underway, and the club may look toward domestic or southern hemisphere candidates.

• Munster’s roster investments under McMillan — With resources pledged, how aggressively they pursue talent upgrades will matter in measuring the sincerity of the leadership shift.

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