Huupe is a technology company.
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 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2023 | $11.0M Seed | 1/1 Capital, Accel, Bessemer Venture Partners, Haun Ventures, Listen, Tony Florence, Preston-Werner Ventures, Solana Ventures, Tekin Salimi, Wayne Chang |