Tennibot
Category: Robotics / Embodied AI
AI-powered autonomous ball machines and ball collectors for tennis, pickleball, and padel training. Tennibot was founded in 2016. The company is led by Haitham Eletrabi. Based in Auburn, Alabama, United States. Team size: 11-50. Total funding raised: $6.48M. Latest round: Venture Round. Key investors include Techstars, Benson Capital Partners, Unpopular Ventures, Untapped Capital, Underdog Labs, Brad Feld, Helen Greiner, Viaka Angel Network, Oregon Sports Angels, Bantam Group, Symbiotic Ventures, 10X Venture Partners.
- Founded
- 2016
- Headquarters
- Auburn, Alabama, United States
- Team size
- 11-50
- Total funding
- $6.48M
Value proposition
AI-powered autonomous training system that eliminates ball collection and delivers adaptive, personalized practice sessions for racket sports players at all levels.
Products and solutions
The Partner V2 (AI-powered ball machine with 4K cameras, 3D tracking, AI Custom Drills engine, Apple Watch integration), The Rover (autonomous ball-collecting robot), The Station (vision module with 4K capture, shot tracking, heatmaps, performance analytics)
Unique value
Only AI ball machine made in the USA with 4K cameras, 3D tracking, autonomous mobility, and AI that learns and adapts to each player's training goals — supporting tennis, pickleball, and padel.
Target customer
Tennis, pickleball, and padel players (beginners to touring pros); coaches and academies; clubs, hotels, and municipal court facilities
Industries served
Sports Technology, Robotics, AI-Powered Sports Training, Racket Sports Equipment
Technology advantage
Proprietary AI Custom Drills engine that auto-configures shot placement, speed, spin, and sequences; 4K camera-based 3D player tracking; autonomous navigation for court mobility; end-to-end system combining ball machine, ball collector, and performance analytics; 3 granted utility patents + 1 design patent + 2 pending; designed and manufactured in the USA
How they differentiate
Unlike traditional ball machines that launch balls at fixed intervals, Tennibot's Partner V2 uses AI to adapt shot placement, speed, and spin in real-time based on player goals. It combines autonomous mobility (moves around the court), computer vision (4K 3D tracking), and a companion ball-collecting robot (Rover) for fully automated end-to-end training sessions. Competitors like Slinger, Spinfire, Lobster, and Hydrogen Proton lack AI, autonomous mobility, and integrated ball retrieval.
Main competitors
Tenniix, PongBot (Pace S Pro / Aura), Slinger Bag, Hydrogen Proton, Spinfire Pro 2, Lobster Elite
Key partnerships
Techstars (accelerator alumni), MassChallenge, RBR50 2025 (Robot Report), CES Innovation Awards, MUSE Design Awards (Gold Winner), TechCrunch Disrupt Innovation Winner
Major milestones
2016: Company founded in Auburn, AL, 2020: Techstars Sports Accelerator, 2021: Oversubscribed funding round with Benson Capital, Techstars Ventures, 2024: $1.4M revenue, 2025: Named RBR50 robotics company, 2026: Launched Partner V2 with AI Custom Drills engine
Growth metrics
Revenue: $1.4M (2024 est.), up from $759.6K (2023); Team: ~15 employees
Market positioning
Premium AI-powered training system for racket sports — positioned as the most advanced, fully autonomous training solution on the market, competing against both traditional ball machines and newer AI entrants.
Geographic focus
Global (headquarters in Auburn, Alabama, USA; serves customers worldwide)
Patents and IP
3 granted utility patents + 1 design patent covering autonomous ball machine and ball collector technology; 2 additional patent applications pending (source: tennibot.com/about-us)
About Haitham Eletrabi
PhD in Civil Engineering and MBA from Auburn University; Postdoctoral Researcher at Auburn University; competitive college tennis player (ACTA Male Player of the Year twice)
Latest news about Tennibot
More Robotics / Embodied AI companies
Official website: https://www.tennibot.com