Interview with Jörgen Ahlberg: Insights on Semee Running and the Future of Sports Timing
1. Can you tell us a little about your background?
I have been working with R&D in computer vision and multi-sensor systems for various applications for decades. Lately, I have spent most of my time with startup and scaleup companies, but I still keep one foot, or at least a toe, in academia as an associate professor at the universities of Oslo and Linköping.
2. Do you have any other engagements in companies or boards?
Yes, I am a board member and shareholder in Termisk, Visage Technologies, and Scienvisic. All three companies work with image analysis and visualization. I am also an investor in Ureka and PlayReplay.
3. What is your view on the technology that Semee Running has developed?
It is only a matter of time before computer vision and AI replace current timing technologies due to their cost efficiency and versatility. Semee Running has already proven that it works – now the challenge is to scale it.
4. How did you first come into contact with Semee Running?
My first contact with Semee Running was through their developers – our paths crossed during their time as students. They were experimenting with software from Visage Technologies, and they later asked me for advice and introduced me to Khaled Azerkan, founder and CEO of Semee Running.
5. What made you want to invest in Semee Running?
There are several things I look for before I invest in a company. First, there should be someone among the founders who truly understands the domain and the market (because I usually do not). I believe no one knows the domain and market better than Khaled Azerkan. Second, there should be people who understand technology and can develop the product, and Semee Running has already attracted a small pool of young, bright developers. Third, both the technology and the application should make me think, "Yes, that's cool!" This is obviously a matter of personal opinion, and Semee Running checks that box too.
6. How do you see the company's future?
As mentioned earlier, the challenge now is to scale the technology and the business, and to do it fast enough. There will definitely be competition. This will require hard work, the right prioritizations, and financial resources. However, given the momentum behind Semee Running and its innovative approach, I am confident that it has the potential to become a leading player in the industry.