About Catapult
We create technology to help athletes and teams perform to their true potential
Our Story
Catapult exists to build and improve the performance of athletes and teams at all levels of sport. This is our story.
Originally formed from a partnership between the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) to maximise the performance of Australian athletes ahead of the Sydney Olympics, Catapult was officially founded in Melbourne in 2006.
The wearable technologies developed by Catapult in its early years were designed to address fundamental questions in sports performance. That purpose has remained at the heart of our work as we’ve grown from an Australian startup to a global leader in sports technology with solutions for every element of the performance ecosystem; from wearable tracking to athlete management and video analysis.
Catapult is committed to making performance technology available to athletes at all levels. As well as working with some of the biggest teams and organisations in world sport, we’ve created PLAYR – our athlete tracking device for the consumer market–to enable amateur soccer players to monitor their performance like the pros.
Through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisition, Catapult continues to lead the way in sports science research and innovation. Today, the business is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:CAT) and has over 340+ staff across 30 locations, working with more than 2970 teams in 39 sports.
Timeline
1999
Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for microtechnology started
2000
Australia takes home 58 medals (16 gold) at Sydney Olympics
2002
First patent filed for GPS tracking of athletes
2004
First 5 hz GPS device developed for elite sport
Australia takes home 50 medals (17 gold) at Athens Olympics
2005
First combination of GPS and accelerometers in team-based wearable device
2006
Catapult officially formed
Development of algorithms for intensity efforts
2007
First distributor established in the UK
2008
Catapult used in multiple sports in Beijing olympics
2009
First US client: New York Knicks tackle analytics
Repeat High Intensity Efforts (RHIE) released
2010
Fourth-generation tracking engine with 10 hz GPS released
Sprint software released, replacing Logan Plus
2011
First US office opened in San Francisco
First subscription agreement
Reached 10 employees
2012
First UK employee
Inertial movement analysis (IMA) released
2013
Optimeye S5 released with GNSS series
Investment secured
Reached 50 employees
2014
Acquisition of GPSports
OpenField software released
Initial public offering on the ASX (CAT)
2015
First Clearsky installation at Etihad Stadium
First league wide deal signed with the AFL
Reached 100 employees
2016
Acquisition of XOS Digital
Acquisition of PlayerTek
Reached 200 employees
2017
Acquisition of Sportsmed Elite and Baseline
Reached 300 employees
2018
First consumer offering, PLAYR, launches globally
2019
Launch Vector, Catapult’s 7th generation wearable device and worlds smallest GPS & LPS dual unit
Leadership
Team
Meet some of the talented and dedicated people behind Catapult.
Will Lopes
Chief Executive Officer
As the former Chief Revenue Officer of Audible, an Amazon subsidiary, Will brings world-class technology and growth experience from one of the world’s most successful technology businesses. Will was responsible for revenue growth and was a key leader on the executive management team responsible for overall business performance.
Hayden Stockdale
Chief Financial Officer
Hayden has over 25 years of finance and C-level management experience spanning Australia, London, and Hong Kong. Hayden joined Catapult from SXiQ, and was previously CFO of United Petroleum and Interactive, and CEO of ASX-listed Astron. He was also a partner at Goldman Sachs having spent the first 18 years of his career in investment banking.
Rick Wingfield
Chief Technology Officer
An experienced, customer-focused technology leader with a proven track record of delivering innovation, digital transformation and product launches. Rick has previously worked at major organisations such as Barclays, AIA, NAB and Australia Post, as well as having extensive experience with startups as a founder, advisor, and board member.
Matt Bairos
Chief Commercial Officer
Matt is an accomplished industry and technology leader leveraging 15+ years of sales, product marketing, and client service experience at various organisations, both public and private. Matt joined Catapult through the acquisition of XOS Digital, where he was President and Chief Executive Officer, and has dedicated his professional life to the sports technology industry.
Chris Cooper
Chief Operating Officer
Chris joins Catapult following a role as EVP of International Operations and New Business Expansion at Audible, an Amazon subsidiary, where he managed over 10 teams across the globe as well as marketplace expansion opportunities. Chris was also responsible for driving emerging business, which included the launch of a B2B offering.
Brett Hammond
Executive Vice President, Global Sales
Brett joined Catapult through the acquisition of XOS Digital, where he was Executive Vice President of Worldwide Sales, using his leadership to propel the company’s video editing solution to its current number one market share position and the success of the coaching and tactics platform for North American sport.
Yana Bulva
Senior Vice President, Product
Yana comes to Catapult with a wealth of experience in taking to market innovative B2C and B2B services and digital experiences that customers love. As the former General Manager of Audible for Business, Yana was focused on leading the strategy, development, and scaling of the Amazon subsidiary’s first B2B service.
Albert Tsai
Senior Vice President, Professional Services
Albert is an experienced software industry veteran with 15+ years managing the creation and delivery of enterprise (B2B) mission-critical software solutions. Albert previously served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Innovation Officer at FastModel Sports, as well as Vice President of Advanced Research and Development at XOS Digital.
Join
Our Team
We are always looking for people who can bring enthusiasm and fresh perspectives to our team. If that’s you, then the chances are you’d thrive at Catapult and we’d love to hear from you.