We're proud to announce that PLAYBACK has won the London Rising Star Award at the UK StartUp Awards 2026.

Just weeks after being shortlisted, we're honoured to take home the award - a milestone that caps off an incredible year for the team and the entire PLAYBACK Network.

Here's what the judges had to say:

"PLAYBACK Sports AI stood out for its rapid growth and ambitious mission to make elite sports technology accessible to grassroots clubs and young players. The judges were impressed by its aggregator model, major partnerships and ability to reach tens of thousands of youth players in a short period of time."

This recognition follows our win as UK National Global StartUp of the Year at the 2025 UK StartUp Awards, and reflects the momentum we've built since - powering thousands of youth players every weekend across multiple countries, and putting elite-level sports technology within reach of athletes at every level.

From AI cameras and GPS tracking to live streaming and player profiles, the same tools used by the world's top clubs are now accessible to grassroots teams, academies, and young players. That's the mission - and being named a Rising Star is proof the sporting world is ready for it.

Our thanks to the UK StartUp Awards and the judging panel for the recognition, and to award sponsor Stacey Cann.

To every partner, player, coach, and ambassador in the PLAYBACK Network — this one's for you. We're hungry for more, and we're just getting started.

Let's make it happen.

The PLAYBACK Team