Theo Health signs up star golfer to test sports injury technology

Jodie Sinclair, a 29-year-old Scottish entrepreneur, has signed up the US golf professional Xander Schauffele as part of a £1.2 million round of investment into her sports tech start-up Theo Health.

Sinclair is now testing Theo’s Alpha Shorts on a hand-picked group of athletes, including Schauffele, to help prevent injuries and support recovery. The shorts have inertial measurement units embedded into the fabric to track movement, from depth and tempo to balance, symmetry, and knee alignment. The software then advises on improvements and provides post-exercise session reports.

“The goal is simple: fewer injuries, smarter training, and lasting recovery,” said Sinclair, who is based in Glasgow. Her own football career ended suddenly when she ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) the week before starting university.

“There was no feedback during my recovery — I had no way of knowing if I was doing the right thing, or making it worse. Theo is the system I wish I had when I was injured, one that makes recovery measurable, progress visible, and elite performance possible again.”

Schauffele, a two-time major winner who is competing in this week’s Scottish Open, joined Theo’s fundraising after the technology was reviewed by his personal trainer, David Sundberg.

Theo’s other individual angel investors included Beena Sharma, co-founder and chief executive of CCU International, a carbon capture firm. Sharma said: “There were many reasons to back Theo, but the standout was Jodie herself. As a fellow female founder, I understand the resilience it takes to build something from the ground up, especially when it’s purpose driven. Theo has the potential to transform injury prevention and recovery. Backing the solution was an easy decision, but ultimately, I chose to back the woman leading it.”

Theo expects to begin a pilot with a top-tier European football club later this year, with the plan to launch to the public in a couple of years’ time.

Xander Schauffele preparing for last year’s Scottish Open

MALCOLM MACKENZIE/PA WIRE

Sinclair said the initial £1.2 million investment round was already being topped up with £500,000 of additional cash, with a larger round at a higher valuation planned for later in the year. “We’re actively engaging with investors for our upcoming institutional raise.”

Raising investment as a young female entrepreneur has not been without its challenges, she added. “People see the successes. They don’t see the 100, 200 ‘nos’ or the comments [that can be made towards female entrepreneurs by older, male investors],” she said.

Sinclair said that Theo was targeting both male and female athletes, and was mindful of tackling “the gender data gap in sports”.

“Female athletes are up to eight times more likely to suffer ACL injuries, yet less than 5 per cent of injury studies focus on women,” the company stated. “Theo is the first smart-clothing system truly built with female physiology in mind — without compromising on performance,” Sinclair added.