{
  "id": 4590276,
  "title": "London’s HITAI acquires YC-backed fitness gaming studio Quell to boost its sports motion-tracking platform",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/londons-hitai-acquires-yc-backed-fitness-gaming-studio-quell-to-boost",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-31T07:07:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "EU-Startups",
    "slug": "eu-startups",
    "url": "https://www.eu-startups.com/2026/08/london-based-hitai-acquires-yc-backed-fitness-gaming-developer-quell-to-strengthen-its-sports-motion-tracking-platform/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "London-based movement intelligence platform HITAI has acquired the technology and intellectual property of Quell, a UK-based fitness gaming developer and publisher. Quell's technology, built on a camera-less, patent-pending system, will enhance HITAI's existing camera-based motion recognition platform. The deal includes Quell's motion-recognition models, firmware, and hardware stack for its Impact console, as well as its Shardfall combat game. HITAI's founder and CEO, Ismail Baran, stated that the acquisition brings cutting-edge engineering in human movement recognition to the company. Quell's lightweight motion and fitness-tracking technology, combined with athlete-grade resistance bands, aims to deliver real-world feedback, resistance, and tracking to player action. Originally founded in 2020, Quell completed an €8.63 million ($10 million) Series A funding round in 2023, led by Tencent and backed by Y Combinator, Khosla Ventures, and Heartcore Capital. HITAI's technology converts real-time combat sports video into movement and performance data, which can support coaching, athlete analysis, live-event statistics, broadcasting, automated content, and sports-data services. This acquisition will help HITAI deliver engaging content for athletes, coaches, and fans in environments with challenging camera placement.",
  "summary": "HITAI, a London-based movement intelligence platform for sports, has acquired the technology and IP of Quell, a UK-based fitness gaming developer and publisher behind the ‘Impact’ fitness gaming platform and Shardfall, its flagship high-intensity combat game. The acquisition will enhance HITAI’s camera-based motion recognition platform via Quell’s camera-less, patent-pending tech, built to run in…",
  "key_points": [
    "London-based HITAI acquires Quell, a fitness gaming studio.",
    "Quell's camera-less motion-recognition technology enhances HITAI's platform.",
    "Acquisition funded by Tencent and Y Combinator, boosting HITAI's sports analytics."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The acquisition bolsters HITAI's sports motion-tracking platform with advanced, camera-less movement recognition technology, enhancing its ability to deliver detailed performance data in challenging environments.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}