Pelotero

Pelotero is a sports technology firm operating at the intersection of data analytics and baseball player development. Founded in 2020 by former MLB player Chris Colabello and renowned hitting instructor Bobby Tewksbary, the company aims to translate complex performance data into actionable insights for athletes and coaches. The genesis of the company stems directly from the founders' shared experiences; Tewksbary's analytical approach to swing mechanics was instrumental in revitalizing Colabello's career, catapulting him from independent leagues to the MLB. This success led to a surge in demand for Tewksbary's coaching, revealing the need for a scalable, technology-based solution to deliver personalized training, which became the foundation for Pelotero.

The company's core offering is a "player intelligence platform" that utilizes computer vision and AI to analyze an athlete's performance. By processing data from sources as accessible as a smartphone video or a bat sensor, the platform assesses a player's functional movements and hitting technique to identify strengths and weaknesses. This analysis generates a personalized development plan complete with drills and instructional content, effectively democratizing access to elite-level coaching. Initially focused on baseball hitters, the service provides customized analysis and development plans. Since its beta launch, the platform has been adopted by over 40 organizations, including high school and college teams, and has been used by more than 10,000 players.

Pelotero operates on a business-to-business-to-consumer (B2B2C) model, targeting coaches, training facilities, and amateur baseball organizations that work with players from youth levels to aspiring professionals. A significant milestone was achieved in July 2024, when the company secured $3 million in a seed funding round. This financing, co-led by new CEO Bennett Fisher and lead investor Greg Ciongoli, included participation from notable tech figures like Okta co-founder Frederic Kerrest and Accomplice founder Ryan Moore. The funding is intended to fuel platform expansion. Concurrent with the funding, Pelotero announced a strategic partnership with Perfect Game, a premier amateur baseball scouting service, to provide assessments and platform trials at its showcase events, significantly expanding its reach.

Keywords: player development, baseball analytics, sports technology, hitting instruction, AI coaching, computer vision, player intelligence, swing analysis, personalized training, athletic performance, Perfect Game partnership, Chris Colabello, Bobby Tewksbary, Bennett Fisher, seed funding, B2B2C, sports data, youth baseball, college baseball, training platform, hitting coach, MLB, data-driven coaching, athlete assessment