Singapore's Aiko Raises $1.5M Pre-Seed to Transform Live Sports with AI Intelligence

Singapore-based sports intelligence startup Aiko has successfully raised $1.5 million in pre-seed funding from private investors.

The funding announcement, made on March 11, 2026, marks a significant milestone for the company headquartered in Singapore with a subsidiary in London.

Aiko's Funding and Strategic Backing

This pre-seed round will fuel accelerated product development and international expansion efforts.

Founder and CEO Vaibhav “Vebz” Panchal, a former Microsoft executive with expertise in sports, gaming, and media, leads the venture.

Aiko's platform creates a real-time intelligence layer for live sports by converting licensed match statistics into contextual insights and automated narratives.

Revolutionizing Fan Engagement in Sports

The technology also generates personalized highlight reels, enhancing experiences for fans, commentators, and analysts during broadcasts.

Strategic partnerships with Microsoft, AMD, and Verizon Business underpin Aiko's enterprise-grade architecture.

Panchal emphasized that live sports demand more than raw data, as audiences seek accessible, engaging real-time insights.

In a growing market driven by events like the 2026 FIFA Club World Cup, Aiko addresses demands for interactive, data-driven viewing.

Historically, Panchal's Microsoft tenure shaped Aiko's focus on global sports media challenges.

Looking ahead, the funding enables commercial deployments, positioning Aiko to capture a share of the evolving sports tech landscape.

This raise highlights Singapore's rising prominence as a hub for innovative sports intelligence startups.