DeChambeau Leads Acquisition of Golf AI Platform Sportsbox, Founded by Former LPGA Player
On April 7, a group of individual investors led by American professional golfer and two-time major champion Bryson DeChambeau announced the completion of a full equity acquisition of golf AI training platform Sportsbox AI, with the transaction amount reaching tens of millions of dollars. Meanwhile, DeChambeau announced that the company will launch a new generation AI coach assistant, SAMI (short for Sportsbox AI Motion Intelligence), built on Google Cloud's Gemini AI model, with plans to go live within the year.
Above: DeChambeau won the LIV Singapore event held in March
Sportsbox AI was founded in 2020 and is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington. Its founder and CEO Jeehae Lee (below) was a professional player on the LPGA Tour. After retiring, she served as agent for golf star Michelle Wie and as a Topgolf executive. She holds a bachelor's degree from Yale University and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. During college, she studied or interned in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.
At the end of 2020, Jeehae Lee and senior AI software engineer Samuel Menaker co-founded Sportsbox AI. Menaker has over 20 years of experience in AI development. The duo combined 3D motion analysis with AI technology, allowing users to view professional-level swing analysis using just a smartphone.
Sportsbox AI uses single-view video from a smartphone to generate a complete 3D model of a golfer's swing, measuring hundreds of biomechanical data points, replacing the professional analysis that previously required a motion capture lab. Currently, Sportsbox AI is used in 124 countries worldwide, and nearly 10% of professional players use the app to prepare during tournaments.
Currently, users can try 5 swing analyses for free, after which an annual fee of $110 is required. Professional players can pay an annual fee of $799 for more advanced services.
DeChambeau's connection with Sportsbox AI dates back to 2024. During that year's U.S. Open, he used Sportsbox AI's 3D motion capture technology to optimize his swing, ultimately winning the title. A few months later, he joined Sportsbox as an investor. After this transaction, all of the company's approximately 30 current employees will remain.
In the acquisition statement, DeChambeau said: "Pushing the boundaries of data and technology has always been central to my approach to the sport, but this is not just about improving performance. We want to make golf more accessible, especially quality coaching. Through our partnership with Sportsbox AI and Google Cloud, we are building a product that allows anyone with a smartphone to receive truly professional guidance. This mission excites me immensely."
| Source: Press release; LPGA
| Image credit: DeChambeau's personal social media; LPGA; Sportsbox official website