Trond Kittelsen: Pioneering the Future of Sports with SevenSix

Cover Story: The Most Influential Businessman in Tech – 2024

In the world of business and technology, certain individuals emerge as true visionaries, those who dare to challenge conventions and transform industries. Trond Kittelsen, CEO of SevenSix, is one such leader. His innovative company is redefining sports training, leveraging advanced technology to bring professional-level insights to athletes at every stage of their journey. From amateur players to seasoned professionals, SevenSix empowers individuals to elevate their game with cutting-edge AI-driven tools and solutions.

This is the story of Trond Kittelsen, the visionary at the helm of SevenSix, and how he’s revolutionizing the world of tennis and sports training with a perfect blend of passion, expertise, and technology.

From Tennis Enthusiast to Visionary Entrepreneur

Trond’s love for tennis started early, growing into a lifelong passion that extended beyond playing to coaching and mentoring. However, it was a pivotal encounter at the 2016 French Open in Paris that truly set the stage for SevenSix’s inception. Behind the scenes of professional tennis, Trond witnessed the challenges faced by coaches and players in scaling personalized training and improving techniques effectively.

As both a tennis player and a “tennis dad,” Trond recognized a critical gap in the market: existing training tools were either too expensive or lacked the engagement and personalization necessary to cater to a broader audience. This realization planted the seed for SevenSix—a company dedicated to democratizing access to world-class coaching by combining advanced technology with user-friendly design.

In 2017, Trond left his corporate career as a director in the telecom sector in Norway to pursue this ambitious dream, dedicating himself fully to bridging the gap between professional and amateur training.

SevenSix: Redefining Sports Training

At its core, SevenSix is a revolutionary platform that harnesses artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer vision to analyze and enhance athletic performance. With just a smartphone, users can capture their gameplay and receive instant, in-depth feedback on critical aspects such as stroke technique, accuracy, and movement.

Unlike traditional methods requiring expensive equipment and manual analysis by coaches, SevenSix’s AI-powered solution offers accessibility and scalability, making it a game-changer for athletes and coaches alike.

The platform’s unique capabilities include:

• AI-Driven Analysis: Using advanced algorithms, SevenSix provides real-time insights into an athlete’s technique, helping them pinpoint strengths and areas for improvement.
• User-Friendly Experience: Despite its sophisticated technology, the platform prioritizes simplicity, ensuring that players of all levels can benefit from its tools.
• Global Accessibility: Available in 183 countries and 4,500 cities, SevenSix has proven its universal appeal, breaking down barriers to professional-grade training.

Key Milestones and Partnerships

Under Trond’s leadership, SevenSix has achieved remarkable milestones in a short span. A defining moment came with the company’s partnership with Wilson, the world’s leading tennis brand. This collaboration integrates SevenSix’s AI Coach technology directly into Wilson tennis rackets, allowing players to receive instant feedback on their technique.

This partnership not only validates SevenSix’s innovative approach but also cements its position as a leader in sports tech. As Trond puts it, this is just the beginning, with plans to extend the company’s expertise to other sports in the future.

The Team Behind the Vision

Trond credits SevenSix’s success to its talented and diverse team. The core team of five individuals brings expertise from fields as varied as gaming, music app development, AI, and machine learning in healthcare. Their shared passion for tennis and commitment to innovation have driven the company’s breakthroughs.

The company operates with a hybrid model, leveraging global satellite offices and collaborative workspaces. This flexible approach, established even before the pandemic, has enabled SevenSix to remain agile and adaptive in an ever-changing business landscape.

Trond’s Professional Journey

Before founding SevenSix, Trond had a distinguished career in the corporate world, working with global giants like Nokia, Motorola, and Microsoft. His experience in solving complex technology challenges and navigating international markets equipped him with the skills needed to lead a disruptive startup.

Describing himself as a creative problem-solver, Trond believes entrepreneurship accelerates personal and professional growth. For him, the challenges faced during a single year as an entrepreneur often surpass the learning opportunities of an entire corporate career.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Beyond the groundbreaking technology, SevenSix has a deeper mission: to make tennis—and sports in general—more accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Trond is passionate about fostering the next generation of athletes, providing tools that empower beginners to learn and grow while giving professionals the edge they need to compete at the highest level.

Whether it’s helping a young player refine their technique or providing advanced analytics for top ATP professionals, SevenSix is creating a legacy of empowerment and excellence.

Looking Ahead

As SevenSix continues its meteoric rise, Trond envisions a future where technology plays an even more significant role in sports. Plans are underway to expand the platform’s capabilities, incorporating predictive analytics and exploring applications in other racquet sports and beyond.

Trond is also committed to sustainability, exploring ways to integrate eco-friendly solutions into the company’s operations and products.

A Legacy of Influence

Trond Kittelsen is more than an entrepreneur; he’s a visionary who’s changing the way athletes approach training and performance. His innovative mindset, coupled with a genuine passion for tennis, has led to the creation of a platform that is setting new standards in sports technology.

As The Most Influential Businessman in Tech – 2024, Trond’s story is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when passion, purpose, and technology come together. His journey inspires not only entrepreneurs but also athletes, coaches, and anyone striving to make a meaningful impact.

Trond Kittelsen and SevenSix have already transformed the world of tennis, and the future promises even greater achievements. For Trond, the game is far from over—it’s only just begun.