I suspect it's all connected - the whale, deal hold up, and Bergen. That is, the share price is being manufactured for the entry of a larger player(s) on the cheap or potentially something more sinister.
Most likely the Board is getting their balls squeezed. It's the only thing that adds up.
For the first time in the company's history notiecable progress is being made. Judge the growing client list for yourself - Racing.com, NBL, Wolves, Club Brugge, A-Leagues, Cricket Australia.
It's far from enough though - we're informed the company needs at least 5-10 more but these are at least some reputable names the company can further pitch from.
JB has also put out some powerful messaging that there is a clear pathway to catching a whale and, moreover, 2023 will be the year of growth and bounty. Is this just more hot air like we've heard all before from Richo?
JB's been in the industry for a long time, is highly respected, and he's put his reputation on the line as the face of Linius. Has JB transitioned into ASX cowboy CEO/director pumping up a stock for insiders to profit off blind retail?
Similarly, what are Charlie Deane and Barry McNeill doing embarking on the ship if it's capsizing? These are 2 industry names with time built repuations. Why trash their repuations introducing the tech to their valued contacts if there is little chance of success?
And where is all the competition if the tech is easily clonable? Google cloud powered MLB Film Room is the sole surviving similarish example I can find and try using it for yourself. It's impressive but it isn't MatchVision.
It looks like the team at Film Room curate short clips of all the action (=expensive) and place them into an archive from which fans can search and manually stich together a maximum of 10 clips.
MLB Network Videos | MLB.comAnother (now defunct) example is IBM, Adidas & Fox tried with their own version of MatchVision called Highlight Machine at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Nowhere to be seen at the 2022 World Cup.
Fox Sports' World Cup Highlight Machine is powered by IBM's Watson | EngadgetGoogle and IBM are 2 of the biggest giants you can get, so if they with all their resources can't replicate MatchVision who else can?
It's not a stretch of the imagination to envisage a world of sports video where MatchVision's cost effective, simple to implement solution is ubiquitous.
Sports broadcast is maybe the toughest door to get a foot in, but WSC Sports have proven not only is it possible, once you're in things can accelerate very quickly.
Instead of enjoying an exciting time watching the company's progress in sports and share price grow, shareholders are left with the very real fear of the unknown.
Can Linius' current board break the company free from the mess of its own making?
It seems futile to keep issuing hundreds of millions of shares at the current share price because the company is buying so little time at the expense of heavy dilution.
The public can see the pattern and it's almost a certainty this pattern will continue until Linius delivers the forecasted whale or a rapid flow of meaningful deals to generate sustained on-market buying interest.
A consolidation here would only open the trapdoor to even further share price weakness, unless it was accompanied by a multi-million dollar raise with at least one strategic investor who can transform the company's prospects and market perception.
Such a raise must also include a rights issue for long underwater existing holders.
IMG joining the company as a substantial shareholder with board representation and exercising its global influence to promote MatchVision and Whizzard is one prime example of a strategic investor who can turn things around.
IMG demand a receptive audience, are licensing specialists, and - as Unifollower has shown from his Linktree example - IMG has recently invested around $USD5 million in a loss making Melbourne start up.
Indeed, Linktree's unicorn status and rapid growth from around 20 to over 200 employees in just a few years serves both as a stark reminder of Linius' past failings and what Linius' future may unfold with the right people on board.
Imho & Gltah
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