Technology is drastically changing human performance.
It has allowed coaches, trainers, and organizations to improve processes and become more informed.
As a result, athletes are lasting longer and becoming better.
One of the companies at the forefront of this movement is Uplift Labs.
They use 3D movement tracking and analysis to help athletes improve movement performance, health, and longevity using just iPhones.
So far, they’ve honed in on baseball, but envision this technology impacting athletes across multiple sports.
In this interview with Uplift Labs Co-founder Masa Kabayama, we discuss how they came up with the idea and got it off the ground, how teams and even fans are engaging with their technology, and his thoughts on the future of AI in sports.
Hello, who are you and how did you come up with the idea for your company?
I’m Masa Kabayama, Co-founder and CEO at Uplift Labs. Our company leverages AI-powered technology to offer 3D movement tracking and analysis using just iPhones and iPads.
Our flagship product, Uplift Capture, has seen great adoption, particularly in Major League Baseball (MLB).
It’s been used by a third of MLB clubs, premier baseball academies, division I universities, and even in the MLB Draft Combine for the past three years to evaluate players’ hitting mechanics and movement patterns.
The idea for Uplift came from a personal frustration back in 2017. As a CrossFit enthusiast, I faced injuries from poor form and couldn’t find a real-time solution to track and correct my movements.
I noticed existing options were either prohibitively expensive or required cumbersome wearables.
Teaming up with my two Co-Founders, Jonathan Wills, and Rahul Rajan, we envisioned Uplift as a portable, data-driven movement analysis platform that anyone could use with everyday devices—essentially, a biomechanics lab in your pocket.
How is the company doing today and what does the future look like?
Today, Uplift is growing rapidly as movement health and biomechanical analysis become essential for athletes, physical therapists, and fitness enthusiasts.
Our technology is recognized as a leading portable motion capture solution, particularly in baseball.
But it’s not limited to baseball—athletes from other sports, including those who participated in the 2024 Paris Games, are now using Uplift Capture.
Our goal is to expand beyond professional athletes and make this technology accessible to everyday athletes, helping them improve movement performance, health, and longevity.
We see a future where our technology is an integral part of everyone’s health and fitness journey.
What were some of the initial challenges getting the company off the ground?
Early on, the biggest challenge was convincing people that an AI-driven, camera-based solution could reliably capture elite-level biomechanics using just an iPhone.
At that time, AI wasn’t the buzzword it is today, and there was skepticism about its ability to meet the rigorous standards required in sports like baseball.
We focused on baseball because of its data-driven nature, but it took time to educate stakeholders and validate the accuracy of our technology.
We ran extensive pilot programs, proving to teams that we could capture the speed and complexity of movements like a 100 mph pitch.
Slowly but surely, we built trust within the baseball community, and that credibility helped us scale the company.
Can you explain how the technology works from a high-level perspective?
Our technology is incredibly simple to use: with just two iPhones or iPads, you can capture a full range of biomechanical and kinematic data without needing any wearables.
You set up the devices on tripods, record movements, and then our cloud-based system processes the videos to generate 3D skeletal points using computer vision and inverse kinematics.
From there, key metrics are extracted, and detailed reports are provided to the user via our app.
What performance and health metrics are you all able to track and analyze?
Uplift Capture tracks joint angles and velocities to give users a clear picture of their movement efficiency and outputs.
It helps determine if athletes are reaching functional ranges of motion and if joint velocities are within a healthy range.
This information allows for targeted improvements in health and performance.
For example, we track jump metrics, compare movement variations, and identify any deficits, offering personalized paths to improvement.
In essence, we provide all the critical insights athletes need to achieve their movement health and performance goals—comparable to force plates but using only iPhones.
How do you all see the technology factoring into the fan experience and fan engagement?
Sports fans today crave more than just results—they want insights into the “why” behind player performance.
With tools like Uplift Vision, we’ve brought advanced movement tracking and analytics to live broadcasts, giving fans a deeper understanding of what’s happening on the field.
Whether it’s analyzing a PGA pro’s swing mechanics or comparing a player’s hitting form to the MLB average, this kind of data creates a more immersive and engaging viewing experience.
In what ways are organizations and teams leveraging the data that you all provide?
Sports teams use Uplift’s technology in a variety of environments—on the practice field, in the weight room, or during games.
This portability gives coaches the flexibility to make data-driven decisions anywhere, providing real-time insights and enhancing training and performance without the constraints of a lab setting.
It’s all about capturing valuable data wherever and whenever it’s needed.
What makes Uplift Labs different from other companies or solutions out there?
Our edge lies in the combination of simplicity and accuracy.
We offer highly accurate 3D movement tracking without the need for wearables, and we present the data in a way that’s easy to understand. Unlike other solutions, we’re movement-agnostic, meaning we can analyze everything from simple body movements to complex athletic mechanics.
Whether it’s identifying areas for injury prevention or enhancing overall performance, Uplift captures everything seamlessly using just two iPhones or iPads.
What are some predictions you have for AI or even motion capture within sports over the next couple of years?
AI and motion capture are evolving rapidly, and I see them playing a huge role in personalized health recommendations and injury prevention.
Wearables will get smarter, tracking not just vitals but also detailed movement patterns, helping individuals optimize performance and catch issues early.
AI will also reshape remote physical therapy, offering real-time feedback and guiding users through their recovery.
Lastly, I foresee a future where AI-driven tools provide personalized coaching insights, helping athletes improve on the go.
Are you currently hiring or raising money? If so, where can people find out more?
Yes, we’re currently looking for a Marketing Manager to join our team, and we’ll be starting our next fundraising round in October.
Anyone interested can reach out directly: masa@uplift.ai
