NEWS
Janko joins Viennese sports tech company as investor
The former professional is expected to contribute his many years of experience in professional football and his extensive network, and help with further development.
Marc Janko, former captain of the Austrian national team (ÖFB), is venturing into investing.
The 43-year-old will become a strategic investor in zone14. The company, which specializes in football, creates AI-based video and performance analyses.
Currently, the systems are used by over 200 clubs in more than ten countries. Its areas of application include the first professional league in Cyprus, and clubs like SK Rapid, Wiener Austria, and SV Darmstadt 98 also rely on it.
“Our goal is to simplify complex analysis workflows through AI-supported automation, so that valuable insights can be accessed worldwide and in daily training without a large analysis team,” Co-CEO Simon Schmiderer is quoted in a press release.
Janko praises system: "Saves a lot of effort"
Janko is primarily expected to contribute his experience from professional football. He is particularly impressed by its flexible applicability: “As a striker, milliseconds often decide. Zone14 connects video and AI data in such a way that they are immediately usable – completely without expensive GPS vests or additional hardware. This takes an enormous amount of effort out of daily work. I am thrilled that this gives not only top clubs but also the broad base in football the chance to work like the pros,” he explains.
With the help of the Zone14 STATS tool, key metrics such as running distance, sprint, or heatmaps can be generated from video material. Janko is now expected to help with further growth.
According to Co-Founder Lukas Grömer, the footballer's experience and network are very important for the Viennese sports tech company. He also knows what helpful feedback means from a player's perspective.
