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Tennis Line Call app launches on iOS

February 8, 2022

The Tennis Line Call App is now available on the App Store for iOS devices.

Tennis players can use the new app to detect whether or not a tennis ball has gone out of bounds. The app works by each player strapping their smartphone to the top of a tripod, with each phone facing a different side of the court. The app then analyzes each side of the court and detects when a ball goes out of bounds. Players can trigger a challenge using their smartwatch. A flashing light for five seconds, paired with a verbal “out” indicates the ball bounced out.

“We’ve been working on this for three years now. This is our biggest milestone yet,” said Julien Duhautois, co-founder and CEO of Line Call. “I couldn’t be more proud of the team. It’s very exciting to finally launch and be able to generate traction and revenue, which will in turn fuel our efforts to achieve even bigger milestones.”

“There are four pillars that are foundational to our app. It has to be 1. Reliable 2. Simple 3. Affordable 4. Accessible. We’re doing amazing with the first three. To improve with the “Accessible” part we have two big achievements in sight,” said Duhautois. The first one is what we call the ‘hands up challenge’ meaning one can raise their hands up to trigger a line call review. It’s a patented solution we came up with and it will remove the need for our users to own an Apple Watch. The second one is to release a version of the app on Android. We are fundraising now so we can achieve these goals by early 2023.”

“We wouldn’t be there without the amazing Iowa startup ecosystem,” said Duhautois. “I compare it to a family. Gravitate has given us a home. Venture School, Iowa Startup Accelerator, and the Greater Des Moines Partnership have given us an education. IEDA has given us a financial buffer. And everyone else in our network has provided wisdom and guidance.”

Previous coverage

New tennis app will detect when ball is out of bounds

Tennis Line Call App wins first place at YEC Pitch Competition

Tags: Tennis Tennis Line Call App

Tennis Line Call app launches on iOS | Clay & Milk

A central Iowa ag-tech accelerator has secured more backers and finally has a name. The Greater Des Moines Partnership first announced the accelerator last year, naming four initial investors. On Monday, the Partnership said the program will be called the "Iowa AgriTech Accelerator" and named three new investors. The new investors include Grinnell Mutual, Kent Corp. and Sukup Manufacturing, all Iowa companies. They join investors Deere & Co., Peoples Co., Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Co. and DuPont Pioneer. Each investor has agreed to put up $100,000 for the first year of the accelerator. Startups entering the program will receive $40,000 in seed funding in exchange for 6 percent equity. Tej Dhawan, an angel investor and local startup mentor, is serving as interim director until the AgriTech Accelerator names a permanent leader. Dhawan held a similar role with the GIA before Brian Hemesath was named as managing director. As interim director, Dhawan said his main job includes hiring the accelerator's executive director, establishing a business structure and initial recruiting for the first cohort. The accelerator will place few filters, such as location and product, on the applicant pool, Dhawan said. "When you’re seeking innovation, innovation can come from every corner of the world so why restrict ourselves," he said. One area the the AgriTech Accelerator won't recruit from is biotech. For its first cohort, the AgriTech Accelerator will work out of the GIA's space in Des Moines' East Village, Dhawan said. A future, permanent home is still to be decided. The accelerator's program will host startups from mid-July through mid-October, ending with an event connected to the annual World Food Prize. The GIA, which the AgriTech Accelerator is based on, also ends with presentations at an industry event. The accelerator has also started lining up a mentor pool. The Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association and the Iowa Pork Producers Association have agreed to provide mentors, as has Iowa State University. While the AgriTech Accelerator is loosely based off of the GIA, it will differ in its business structure, Dhawan said. The GIA runs through a for-profit model for both operations and its investment fund. The AgriTech Accelerator will have a nonprofit model for its operations and a for-profit setup for its fund. Dhawan said the nonprofit model is being used so the accelerator can better work with other nonprofit partners, such as trade associations. "These are all organizations that are nonprofits and can be amazing stakeholders without ever having to be investors in the accelerator," he said. "It becomes easier to work with trade associations in their nonprofit role when we are also a nonprofit." When it's up and running, the AgriTech Accelerator would be one of a handful of ag-focused startup development programs in Iowa. Others include the Ag Startup Engine out of Iowa State University and the Rural Ventures Alliance from Iowa MicroLoan. Matthew Patane is the managing editor and co-founder of Clay & Milk. Send him an email at mpatane@clayandmilk.com.

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