The AI Podcast: Peripheral Labs Bags $3.6M – Holographic Sports Tech

Date: January 5, 2026
Host: The AI Podcast

Episode Overview

In this episode, The AI Podcast explores the groundbreaking work of Peripheral Labs, a Toronto-based startup blending self-driving car technology and AI to revolutionize sports broadcasting. The conversation highlights the company’s vision for immersive, interactive sports viewing experiences via affordable volumetric video, its $3.6 million funding round, and the broader impacts on fan engagement and the AI industry as a whole.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Decline in Live Sports Viewership and Industry Response

• [02:00] Broadcasters and leagues are grappling with decreasing live sports viewership, especially among Gen Z.
• Solution: Experimentation with new, more interactive formats to engage audiences—integrating data, advanced statistics, and deep analysis.

2. Volumetric Video: A New Era of Sports Watching

• [03:12] Introduction to "volumetric video," a technology that enables viewers to move freely through a play using 3D reconstruction, akin to a video game experience.
  • Utilizes arrays of cameras to capture multi-angle, 3D footage.
  • Fans can switch perspectives in real time, making the broadcast more immersive.
  • “You can create kind of like a video game like experience... That’s honestly really cool, right?” – Host [03:40]

3. Peripheral Labs: The Founders and Vision

• [05:24] Peripheral Labs, founded in 2024 by Kelvin Q and Mustafa Khan, aims to make volumetric video broadcasting affordable and accessible.
  • Both founders have a background in self-driving cars—Q at Tesla, Khan at Huawei.
  • "Mustafa and I are both lifelong sports fans... 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.” – Kelvin Q [06:10]
  • The host shares personal connections to the Vancouver Canucks, linking enthusiasm with the founders’ vision.

4. Technical Breakthroughs & AI Applications

• [07:30] Peripheral Labs leverages AI, robotics, and computer vision—adapted from self-driving cars—to reduce the number of cameras required for 3D capture from 100+ to just 32 (and possibly even fewer).
  • This makes widespread adoption by teams and broadcasters more practical.
  • "If they can bring that down to 32 and maybe in the future even less... you can still get the full experience for much cheaper.” – Host [08:01]
• Reducing operational complexity: Fewer cameras make installation and management feasible at scale.
• The software can also capture biomechanical and movement data, opening possibilities for coaching and player analytics.

5. Features for Fans, Broadcasters, and Coaches

• [09:46] The tech enables:
  • Isolating and following a single player throughout a game.
  • Freezing controversial moments to inspect plays from all angles.
  • Detailed photorealistic 3D reconstructions.
  • Motion capture down to joints—knees, ankles, even fingers—for performance analysis.
• “You could follow [your favorite player] whenever they’re on the field or on the ice... or look at key plays from a lot of different angles using photorealistic 3d reconstruction.” – Host [10:15]

6. Business Model, Funding, and Vision for Growth

• [11:35] Peripheral Labs raised $3.6 million from Koshala Ventures, Daybreak Capital, Entrepreneurs First, and Transposed Platforms.
• The startup is intentionally selective with investors, prioritizing those who can offer strategic development and go-to-market support.
  • “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 [13:00]
• Small team—just 10 engineers—focused on improving the platform, hardware optimization, resolution, and latency.
• No public disclosure of current partners, but active discussions are underway with North American teams and leagues.
• Competing in a growing space with players like Arcturus Studios.

7. Broader AI Implications

• Peripheral Labs’ tech showcases how AI innovations from one domain (autonomous vehicles) can impact unexpected sectors (sports entertainment).
• Highlights a growing trend of “AI adjacency” transforming industries and the potential for further cost reductions and enhancements.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• [03:40] “You can create kind of like a video game like experience... That’s honestly really cool, right?” – Host
• [06:10] "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.” – Kelvin Q
• [08:01] "If they can bring that down to 32 and maybe in the future even less... you can still get the full experience for much cheaper.” – Host
• [10:15] “You could follow [your favorite player] whenever they’re on the field or on the ice... or look at key plays from a lot of different angles using photorealistic 3d reconstruction.” – Host
• [13:00] “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

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:00] – Decline in live sports viewership and industry strategies
• [03:12] – Overview of volumetric video technology
• [05:24] – Background and founding story of Peripheral Labs
• [07:30] – Technical innovations and AI-driven camera reduction
• [09:46] – Rich data features for fans, broadcasters, and coaches
• [11:35] – Funding, business model, and team growth plans
• [13:00] – Strategy in investor selection
• [14:00] – Competitive landscape and AI’s broader impact

Conclusion

This episode highlights Peripheral Labs' fusion of AI and sports technology, their innovative approach to volumetric video, and the potential to revolutionize how fans experience live games. By translating lessons from autonomous vehicles to sports arenas, the startup is pushing the boundaries of immersive fan engagement and redefining the future of broadcasting.