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Huupe, based in Irvine, California, develops smart basketball hoops, offering both the full-sized, AI-powered huupe PRO with a high-definition screen backboard and the compact huupe mini for indoor use. The company's technology leverages computer vision and machine learning to transform basketball training for players of all levels, providing features such as NBA-level workouts, on-demand coaching, live instruction, detailed data tracking, and remote multiplayer gaming. Huupe focuses on the sports technology sector, catering to basketball enthusiasts, amateur players, professional athletes, and backyard users through its direct-to-consumer sales model. It has established a partnership with Avnet for supply chain support and product design, ensuring the development of its innovative hardware solutions. Huupe was founded in 2019 by Lyth Saeed and Paul Anton.
Huupe has raised $11.0M across 1 funding round.
Huupe has raised $11.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Huupe is a sports technology company that builds the world's first smart basketball hoop, combining hardware, software, and media streaming to track shots and deliver personalized training.[1][2][5] It serves basketball players of all skill levels—from casual users in driveways to serious athletes—solving the problem of inaccessible, data-driven coaching by providing real-time metrics like shooting percentage, shot trajectory, speed, agility, and release time, alongside on-demand NBA-level workouts, live coaching, and global competitions.[1][2][5] The company has raised $11.3 million from investors including Protagonist VC and Marvan Ventures, with plans as of May 2023 to deliver its first 1,000 hoops by year-end, indicating early growth momentum in the connected fitness market.[1][2]
Huupe was founded in 2015 by childhood friends Paul Anton (CEO, former founder of Real Shot Inc.) and Lyth Saeed (COO, former co-founder of transport app QUp World), headquartered in Irvine, California (with some sources noting Los Angeles ties).[1][2][3] The idea emerged from their shared passion for basketball in Milwaukee; as they grew apart—Anton pursuing IP law in the Bay Area and Saeed building a startup in Dubai—they sought ways to train remotely without wearables, leading to a rugged, waterproof smart hoop with a video backboard using computer vision.[2] Early traction built on this personal insight, culminating in a $11 million raise announced in March 2023 via TechCrunch, positioning it as a Peloton-like device for basketball.[2][4]
Huupe rides the connected fitness wave, akin to Peloton or Zwift, bringing data-driven training to outdoor/indoor basketball amid booming demand for smart gym ecosystems and e-sports.[2][4] Timing aligns with lowered barriers to basketball (ubiquitous hoops worldwide) and post-pandemic home workout trends, amplified by AI/computer vision advances for precise, non-intrusive tracking.[1][2] Market forces like consumer appetite for interactive sports tech favor it, especially versus wearables; it influences the ecosystem by expanding "smart sports" to non-gym settings, potentially extending to lacrosse, soccer, or hockey.[2]
Huupe's trajectory points to scaling deliveries beyond its 2023 target of 1,000 units, deepening its media/content library, and exploring multi-sport expansions while integrating with broader fitness trackers.[1][2] Rising AI in sports and global basketball popularity will propel growth, evolving its influence from niche hoop to cornerstone of backyard e-sports. As the pioneer smart basketball hoop, Huupe could redefine accessible athletic training, turning any court into a coached arena.[2][5]
Huupe has raised $11.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $11.0M Seed in March 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2023 | $11M Seed | — | 1/1 Capital, Accel, Bessemer Venture Partners, Haun Ventures, Listen, Tony Florence, Preston Werner Ventures, Solana Ventures, Tekin Salimi, Wayne Chang | Announced |
Huupe has raised $11.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Huupe's investors include 1/1 Capital, Accel, Bessemer Venture Partners, Haun Ventures, Listen, Tony Florence, Preston-Werner Ventures, Solana Ventures, Tekin Salimi, Wayne Chang.
