SPORTident
SPORTident GmbH designs and manufactures electronic timing and identification systems for outdoor sports, primarily orienteering and MTB enduro. It sells AIR+ contactless transponders, control stations, and supporting software globally to event organizers, clubs, schools, and federations across 65+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersArnstadt, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What SPORTident does
SPORTident GmbH is a privately held German company headquartered in Arnstadt that designs, manufactures, and sells electronic timing and identification systems for outdoor sports. Founded by enthusiasts inspired by Scandinavian orienteering, the company has built its product line over more than 20 years around two interoperable systems: the AIR+ contactless timing platform (SIAC transponders with up to 3-meter proximity range, 60ms identification cycles, and detection at speeds up to 80km/h) and the classic SI-Card direct-punching system (SI-Card8, SI-Card9, SI-pCard). The hardware ecosystem — control stations (BSF8, BSF9, BS11-BS/BL/LA), LTE modems for real-time live results, SRR USB dongles, and Bluetooth thermal printers — is paired with a software stack comprising SPORTident Center (web-based event management and live results), the SPORTident Orienteering App, Mobile Reader App, and Config+ desktop software, with a public REST API for third-party integration. The entire product range carries International Orienteering Federation (IOF) approval and CE conformity, positioning SPORTident as the de facto timing standard for World Orienteering Championships and as Official Timing Partner of the Enduro World Series. The portfolio has expanded into School Physical Education (School and Training Sets), trail running, biathlon, and adventure races, with the recent acquisition of EMIT AS (via sister company arntech GmbH in June 2024) adding eClock start displays and other timing accessories.
Revenue is generated across multiple streams: one-time hardware sales of cards, stations, and complete sets via direct e-commerce and a global network of branded regional partners (SPORTident UK, France, Denmark, Portugal, Sweden, USA) plus resellers across 35+ countries; professional Timekeeping Services where SPORTident teams travel worldwide to deliver complete event timing for championships and large events; usage-based Equipment Hire for organizers running their own timing; recurring software subscriptions for the Orienteering App; and recurring SIAC battery replacement and maintenance services. Pricing ranges from €12 for entry-level disposable SI-pCards to €610.50 for the BS11-LA 9m long-range station, with complete sets priced from €192 (Orienteering App Set) up to €2,285 (School and Training Set SI-Card9). The go-to-market combines direct online sales, channel partners, and on-site enterprise services. The customer base spans orienteering clubs and federations, MTB enduro race organizers, schools and physical education programs, and other outdoor endurance sports. The company operates with approximately 25 employees and is family-controlled, with no disclosed venture capital, private equity, or public market participation.
SPORTident firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SPORTident
- Legal name
- SPORTident GmbH
- Website
- https://sportident.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SPORTident GmbH designs and manufactures electronic timing and identification systems for outdoor sports, primarily orienteering and MTB enduro. It sells AIR+ contactless transponders, control stations, and supporting software globally to event organizers, clubs, schools, and federations across 65+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where SPORTident is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Arnstadt
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
SPORTident business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales: Sale of timing equipment including SI-Cards, SIAC transponders, control stations, accessories, and complete sets. Products sold directly through website and via global retail partner network.
- Professional Timekeeping Services: Organised Timekeeping Service where SPORTident professionals travel worldwide to support events. Includes participant registration, equipment setup, live results, and certificate printing.
- Equipment Hire: Rental of timing equipment for events. Customers can hire SI-Cards, control stations, modems, printers for single events or short periods. Equipment fully maintained and checked by SPORTident.
- Software Subscriptions: Orienteering App subscriptions (O-App 50, O-App 100) for training management and result uploads to SPORTident Center.
- Maintenance and Battery Services: SIAC battery replacement service, equipment repair, and maintenance services through SPORTident and authorized service points.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Entry-level SI-Cards and transponders |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Control Stations |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Complete Sets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Accessories |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
SPORTident product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SPORTident designs, manufactures, and sells an integrated timing and identification system for outdoor sports events, primarily orienteering, MTB Enduro, trail running, and school sports. The product platform comprises SI-Cards and SIAC contactless transponders worn by athletes, battery-powered control stations (BSF7/8/9, BS11) deployed at checkpoints, LTE modems and SRR radio dongles for real-time data transmission, and complementary software (SPORTident Center, Config+, Orienteering App) for event registration, live results, and result publishing.
Product overview
SPORTident offers a comprehensive timing and identification system platform for outdoor sports events, primarily focused on orienteering, MTB Enduro, trail running, and school sports. The portfolio consists of two core hardware systems: the AIR+ contactless timing system (featuring SIAC transponders and BS11/BSF9/BSF8 stations) and the classic direct punching system (SI-Card9/8 and compatible stations). Supporting hardware includes LTE modems for live data transmission, SRR USB dongles for real-time punch data, and readers. The ecosystem includes complementary software products (SPORTident Config+, Config BT, Mobile Reader App, Orienteering App) and cloud services (SPORTident Center for event management, Online-Entry, Result Service). SPORTident also provides professional services including on-site Timekeeping Service, Equipment Hire, SIAC Battery Service, and Maintenance & Repair. Optional accessories include printers, transport cases, mounting equipment, control flags, and timing displays like the Emit eClock and ESD2.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SIAC (SPORTident ActiveCard): Contactless timing device/transponder for athletes enabling time registration up to 3 meters proximity range with 60ms identification cycle.
- SI-Card
- BSF/BS11 Stations
- SPORTident Center
- SPORTident Orienteering App
- AIR+
Products and services
- SIAC (SPORTident ActiveCard) Contactless timing transponder enabling automatic time registration within 3-meter proximity range at speeds up to 80 km/h with 60ms identification cycle, used by athletes in orienteering and other timed sports.
- SI-Card9 Second-generation SPORTident timing card supporting both AIR+ contactless and classic direct punching systems for event registration and time tracking.
- SI-Card8 Second-generation SPORTident timing card supporting both AIR+ contactless and classic direct punching systems for smaller events and training.
- SI-pCard Economical disposable or single-use timing card solution for one-time events.
- BSF9 Control Station Completely redesigned control station with improved display, robust housing, and support for both AIR+ contactless and classic punching modes.
- BSF8-DB Station Control station with display and battery features, supporting AIR+ contactless and classic punching systems, available in red or blue color variants.
- BSF8-DT Station Control station characterized by portable design with extended features for timing and punching.
- BSF8-SRR-DB Station Special SI-Station combining BSF8-DB with SRR (Short Range Radio) capability for real-time punch data transmission.
- BSF8 SI-Master Extended master station for reading cards and managing event data with enhanced functionality.
- BSM8-USB Mini Reader USB-based station for reading SI-Cards and receiving punch data via USB connection for event evaluation.
- BS11-BS Station Identification station for outdoor sport disciplines like MTB Enduro, designed for mounting at handlebar height.
- BS11-BL Station Gate, timing, and punching station with unique design meeting requirements for finish line timing and wider identification areas.
- BS11-LA Station
Quantifiable outcome
- Contactless timing at speeds up to 80km/h with 60ms identification cycle
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use SPORTident
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
SPORTident technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature6 records
SPORTident partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, minor and regional.
- EMIT AScoreNorwegian company acquired by arntech GmbH. Collaboration strengthens development of orienteering products and supports timekeeping product development for new markets. EMIT produces eClock and start display products which SPORTident sells.
- International Orienteering Federation (IOF)flagshipOfficial timekeeping system of World Orienteering Championships. IOF has approved the entire SPORTident hardware product range with both classic punching system and contactless AIR+ system.
- Enduro World SeriesflagshipOfficial Timing Partner of the Enduro World Series for MTB Enduro competitions worldwide.
- arntech GmbHcoreParent company that acquired EMIT AS. arntech GmbH is a German company and sister company of SPORTident GmbH. The acquisition supports development of orienteering products and timekeeping products for new markets.
- Emit (Norway)minorEmit AS sells SPORTident products in Norway. Emit.no is listed as a retail partner for SPORTident products.
- SPORTident USAregionalDedicated US retail partner for customers in United States and Mexico. Operates sportident.us online shop for fastest delivery and best shipping rates for US customers.
- SPORTident UKregionalDedicated UK and Ireland retail partner. Offers full product range and SIAC battery service for UK and Irish customers.
- SPORTident FranceregionalDedicated France, Belgium, Luxembourg retail partner with SIAC battery service capability.
- SPORTident DenmarkregionalDedicated Denmark retail partner with SIAC battery service.
- SPORTident PortugalregionalDedicated Portugal retail partner with SIAC battery service.
- SPORTident SwedenregionalDedicated Sweden retail partner. Emit AB also sells SPORTident products in Sweden.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SPORTident competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- RACE RESULT: German sports timing specialist offering passive RFID and UHF timing systems for running, cycling, triathlon, and motorsport. Most direct head-to-head competitor to SPORTident in transponder-based sports timing.
- Innovative Timing Systems: US-based provider of RFID chip timing systems for road races, marathons, and endurance events. Comparable technology stack and overlapping end markets in timed outdoor events.
Broad incumbents
- MYLAPS (formerly ChampionChip): Large, established sports timing platform serving running, motorsport, cycling, and swimming with chip-based timing. Significantly broader portfolio than SPORTident, but overlapping in endurance/timed-event timing.
- ChronoTrack: Provides timing systems for mass-participation road races and endurance events with disposable RFID bib tags. Competes in the broader outdoor timing market where SPORTident's school and trail segments overlap.
- ALGE-TIMING: Austrian manufacturer of sports timing equipment covering alpine skiing, swimming, track and field, and other timed sports. Overlaps with SPORTident in precision sports timing hardware and event services.
- Tag Heuer Timing (formerly Chronelec): Swiss manufacturer of high-precision sports timing equipment used in motorsport, cycling, skiing, and athletics. Adjacent to SPORTident in precision timing hardware but with a focus on higher-end professional events.
Emerging players
- Emit AS: Norwegian timing and start-display company acquired by SPORTident's sister company arntech GmbH in June 2024. Closest historical competitor in orienteering timing and now a strategic partner/sister company rather than purely a rival.
- RaceTec Timing: Scandinavian sports timing service provider for running, orienteering, and multisport events. Comparable service offering to SPORTident's Timekeeping Service in the Nordic region.
- IPICO Sports: Provider of RFID timing solutions for mass-participation endurance events globally. Competes in the same disposable/active-tag timing category used for timed outdoor races.
Others
- OCAD: Swiss orienteering and map-making software company with direct integration into the SPORTident Orienteering App. Not a timing competitor, but a tightly coupled ecosystem partner for orienteering event workflows.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SPORTident social profiles
Digital presenceSPORTident compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
SPORTident financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SPORTident leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
SPORTident funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SPORTident M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SPORTident
What does SPORTident do?
SPORTident designs, manufactures, and sells an integrated timing and identification system for outdoor sports events, primarily orienteering, MTB Enduro, trail running, and school sports. The product platform comprises SI-Cards and SIAC contactless transponders worn by athletes, battery-powered control stations (BSF7/8/9, BS11) deployed at checkpoints, LTE modems and SRR radio dongles for real-time data transmission, and complementary software (SPORTident Center, Config+, Orienteering App) for event registration, live results, and result publishing.
Is SPORTident a public or private company?
SPORTident is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was SPORTident founded?
SPORTident was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SPORTident based?
SPORTident is headquartered in Arnstadt, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does SPORTident make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are professional Timekeeping Services, equipment Hire, software Subscriptions and maintenance and Battery Services.
Who are SPORTident's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are RACE RESULT and Innovative Timing Systems. Broad incumbents are MYLAPS (formerly ChampionChip), ChronoTrack, ALGE-TIMING and Tag Heuer Timing (formerly Chronelec). Emerging players are Emit AS, RaceTec Timing and IPICO Sports. OCAD is listed as an others.
Does SPORTident have an API?
Yes. SPORTident provides a REST API for interfacing with SPORTident Center for managing events, importing start lists, publishing results, and exporting data. Additionally, a low-level binary protocol for interfacing with SPORTident hardware is documented in the PC Programmer's Guide. The .NET Core Communication library is available for working with SPORTident devices. SPORTident Reader can be used to obtain live data from SPORTident Center. Developer documentation is at docs.sportident.com/developers/center-rest-api.