Orreco uses AI, computer vision and biomarker data to optimize athlete performance, predict injury risk and speed recovery, according to the company.
Galway-based athletic bio-analytics company Orreco will participate in the third edition of Major League Soccer (MLS)’s Innovation Lab, the North American professional soccer league’s initiative to develop the next generation of sports technology.
Orreco uses AI, computer vision and biomarker data to improve athlete performance, predict injury risk and accelerate recovery, and is “trusted by top teams and athletes in every major league around the world”, according to the company.
The plan lists key areas of focus in trying to transform football technology such as fan engagement, media technology and on-field development. MLS said it has selected five AI-focused companies in the lab to “deliver solutions designed to address real-world challenges across the world of football, creating a direct path from innovation to implementation”.
“It is an honor to be selected for this year’s MLS Innovation Lab team and to contribute to the development of MLS and the global game,” said Dr. Brian Moore, founder and CEO of Orreco.
The company said its team includes 20 PhDs and that the team has published more than 400 peer-reviewed scientific papers. It works with elite athletes to “enhance performance, accelerate recovery and maximize playing performance” in sports such as soccer, basketball, ice hockey, American football, golf and auto racing.
The company said it was selected for the program – which will allow participants to test and benchmark their skills in real MLS game environments – “following a rigorous evaluation process that has tested hundreds of companies around the world”.
Other participants selected for the upcoming batch are Springbok Analytics, which uses AI to transform scan data into detailed 3D muscle statistics; Fit:Match, a player identification and screening platform that uses mobile devices, AI and computer vision to capture detailed body data; Advanced Image Robotics, which aims to make broadcast-grade sports video production more accessible using AI-powered robotic camera systems; and WMT AI Ticketing, which it says optimizes pricing and distribution in real-time by analyzing fan behavior, demand and market dynamics.
Chris Schlosser, MLS senior vice president of emerging businesses, said: “With each new team, the MLS Innovation Lab continues to reveal technologies that have the potential to make a significant impact on how the game is played, experienced and consumed.
“This team represents a strong mix of real-world AI technologies that can have an immediate impact across athletic performance, television production and fan-centric innovation.”
Orreco was founded in 2010 by sports scientist Moore and hematologist Dr Andrew Hodgson. The company uses applied physiology, biostatistics and cognitive computing to better inform coaches, medical teams and athletes with actionable information that helps improve performance.
In January, the company acquired British women’s health and fitness platform Jessica Ennis-Hill’s ‘Jennis’. By the end of 2025, Orreco raised $4m in a funding round that included participation from Enterprise Ireland and television personality and billionaire investor Mark Cuban, as well as athletes and existing investors.
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