Staige expands in Asia with LingXi Technology Co partnership

As part of its international expansion, Staige has announced that it will operate in China, partnering with LingXi Technology Co (operating under the brand ACME). The two companies have agreed on a close co-operation lasting several years that is aimed at the rapidly growing, still largely untapped, Chinese football market.

Left to right: Florian Backhaus, Wentao Cao (CEO, ACME), Jan Taube, and Zhan Zhang (COO, ACME)

As a first step, ACME will purchase at least 1,200 of Staige’s self-developed camera systems in order to distribute them in all parts of the country. This agreement with the Chinese company, which offers various technology and software solutions, is a milestone for the Essen-based start-up.

Florian Backhaus, head of international sales at Staige, said: “The agreement with ACME gives us a lot of tailwind for our expansion plans beyond existing customers in Germany and Europe. With this co-operation we are entering a very large and exciting market.”

With its automated AI cameras for sports productions, Staige has a strong market position in the German-speaking countries. In addition to live broadcasts, the startup also offers tools for training, analyses and scouting. This fits in well with Chinese plans to greatly advance the sport of football in the coming decades. The country wants to be among the top Asian countries by 2030 and advance to world-class status with its national teams by 2050.

Jan Taube, CEO, Staige, said: “The Chinese football market is growing enormously and is receiving a lot of support from the government, as evidenced by the planned construction of around 60,000 pitches throughout the country. Because a lot is invested in professional infrastructure, this results in great potential for Staige. Our AI camera systems and analysis tools can make a decisive contribution to making football more accessible to broad sections of the population and to finding and promoting talent.”

Like Staige in Germany and various European countries, ACME has a strong market position in China. The company counts associations, clubs and various professional teams as customers. In addition, the live broadcast of selected games offers additional commercial potential for both partners.

Borussia Dortmund supported the initiation of the partnership with its network and local employees. BVB, which is a shareholder in Staige, runs an academy in the city of Xiamen in Fujian Province, where Staige’s AI camera systems are already being used.

The partnership with ACME begins with a focus on football, but collaboration in the sports of basketball and volleyball is also planned.