Podcast Summary: $3.6M Boosts Peripheral Labs' Holo-Sports

Podcast: The Last Invention is AI
Host: The Last Invention is AI
Aired: January 5, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, the host explores how Peripheral Labs is leveraging AI and self-driving car technology to revolutionize live sports viewing. The discussion centers on the company’s innovative use of affordable volumetric video, their recent $3.6M seed round, the technical advancements enabling their ambitions, and the broader implications for sports entertainment and AI.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Challenge: Declining Live Sports Viewership

• Changing habits: Live sports ratings are falling, especially among Gen Z audiences ([02:00])
• Industry response: Leagues and broadcasters are innovating to engage fans, with efforts including more interactive formats, enhanced statistics, and deep analysis ([02:15])
  • "There's a lot of different reports out there that basically say live sports viewership is declining for certain leagues, I think particularly among Gen Z audiences." (Host, 02:05)

Enter Volumetric Video

• What is it?: Volumetric video allows viewers to watch sports from multiple, freely chosen angles, creating a video game–like experience ([03:00])
  • "One emerging approach is called volumetric video. Essentially, what this is, is just allowing viewers to watch plays from multiple angles so you can create kind of like a video game-like experience." (Host, 03:08)
• How it works: Uses arrays of cameras to record 3D footage, letting fans explore plays from any perspective

Peripheral Labs: Bridging Tech and Sports

• Company background: Toronto-based, founded in 2024 by Kelvin Q. and Mustafa Khan—both with backgrounds in autonomous vehicle technology ([04:10])
• Founders’ motivation: Both are passionate sports fans who saw the potential of 3D tech in making sports viewing immersive ([05:10])
  • "Kai said when he showed me his research on 3D reconstruction, I immediately thought about how incredible it would be to watch hockey this way with fluid multiangle controls. That's what led us to start Peripheral Labs." (Host recounts Founder Q., 06:00)

Making Volumetric Capture Practical

• Tech leap: Adapting AI, robotics, and 3D vision from self-driving cars to volumetric capture ([07:00])
  • Key innovation: Reducing the number of cameras from 100+ to only 32 ([07:45])
    • "Their goal is to reduce the number of cameras that you actually need for a full volumetric reconstruction. Because right now you need like more than a hundred and they think they can get that down to 32, which, which makes it more affordable, more realistic." (Host, 07:45)
  • Lowers both hardware costs and operational complexity
  • Allows for wider adoption by teams and broadcasters

Data Beyond Video: Sports Analytics and Coaching Tools

• Advanced features: Software provides biomechanical data (player movement, joint flexion, positioning)
• Applications: Enables broadcasters/fans to:
  • Follow specific players in 3D
  • Freeze and dissect controversial plays
  • View plays from any angle in photorealistic 3D ([09:00])
  • "Viewers could isolate and follow a single player, right? So if you have a favorite player, you could follow them whenever they're on the field or on the ice. You could freeze moments in play to kind of look at some controversial calls to see exactly what happened." (Host, 09:38)
• Coaching potential: Analyze joint movements for performance and injury prevention

Business and Growth

• Funding: Recently closed a $3.6M seed round led by Koshala Ventures, with additional investors ([11:10])
• Strategic investors: Peripheral Labs chose investors who could offer more than capital—helping with product and go-to-market ([13:20])
  • "Peripheral Labs was pretty selective in how they chose their investors. Basically they're looking for people who could contribute to the product development and their go to market strategy." (Host, 13:20)
• Team and scaling: Currently 10 engineers; plans to grow and further optimize platform ([14:10])
• Competitive landscape: Competing with players like Arcturus Studios ([16:30])

The Road Ahead

• Installation/partnerships: Actively discussing with North American teams and leagues (not yet public)
• Vision: Long-term aim to further reduce camera count, cost, and latency, making 3D sports viewing commonplace ([15:30])
  • "It would be pretty incredible if they could bring that down to like you know, 10 cameras or something where they just have a handful around the stadium and they could reconstruct the whole game in 3D. There's a lot of impressive things you can do now with AI." (Host, 15:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Gen Z and the challenge for sports:

  • "Live sports viewership is declining for certain leagues, I think particularly among Gen Z audiences." (Host, 02:05)

• On volumetric video immersion:

  • "What if you could actually choose to watch the game from anywhere in 3D? It’s like a video game, but you’re watching the real game." (Host, paraphrased, 03:15)

• On solving technical hurdles:

  • "Our advance or our advantage comes from how we combine them with robotics and machine learning that allows us to scale from small practice facilities to large soccer and football stadiums." (Founder Q., as quoted by Host, 10:08)

• Selecting strategic investors:

  • "Peripheral Labs was pretty selective in how they chose their investors. Basically they're looking for people who could contribute to the product development and their go to market strategy." (Host, 13:20)

• Vision for the tech:

  • "It would be pretty incredible if they could bring that down to like you know, 10 cameras or something…There's a lot of impressive things you can do now with AI." (Host, 15:45)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:00] Declining sports viewership and innovation in broadcasts
• [03:00] Volumetric video explained
• [04:10] Background on Peripheral Labs and founders
• [06:00] Founders’ sports passion and inspiration
• [07:45] Reducing camera requirements via AI/computer vision
• [09:00] Fan and coaching features enabled by biomechanical data
• [11:10] Recent $3.6M seed round and investor sentiment
• [13:20] Strategic fundraising and company growth plans
• [15:30] Future vision—further lowering hardware needs
• [16:30] Competing startups and market status

Conclusion

This episode presents Peripheral Labs as a cutting-edge startup bridging AI and live sports. Their AI-driven volumetric video platform—rooted in self-driving car tech—promises to make games dramatically more interactive and data-rich, with far-reaching implications for teams, broadcasters, and fans. While competitors exist, Peripheral’s blend of technical innovation, sports culture insight, and selective investment marks them as a standout to watch in the evolving landscape of AI-powered sports entertainment.