Karim Kassam is the Vice President of Product at Teamworks, the leading software platform transforming high-performance operations in sports, military, and public safety sectors. He joined Teamworks through its 2024 acquisition of Zelus Analytics, a premier sports intelligence platform. At Teamworks, Karim leverages his expertise in data science and analytics to integrate Zelus’ cutting-edge solutions into collegiate football, helping organizations unlock transformative insights and achieve peak performance.
At Teamworks, Karim is focused on building unified, data-driven systems that empower teams to make smarter decisions, optimize operations, and develop athletes holistically. From predictive models to streamlined workflows, Teamworks Intelligence delivers tools that help organizations evaluate talent, construct rosters, and manage performance with precision. Karim’s work ensures that athletes and staff have the right insights and resources to prepare, compete, and excel.
Beyond sports, Karim’s career is defined by a unique blend of academic rigor and practical innovation. Before joining Teamworks, he led data science initiatives for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Twins, and Jacksonville Jaguars, and served as a professor at Carnegie Mellon University. Fun fact: Karim earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 2010, where he studied decision processes and emotion—an unusual but powerful lens for sports analytics.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to AI in Sports Analytics
01:05 Karim Kassam’s Background and Journey
02:54 Evolution of Football Analytics
04:40 Teamworks Intelligence and AI Innovations
07:09 Challenges in College Football Scouting
09:28 Key Metrics for Player Evaluation
12:45 Comparative Analysis of Sports Analytics
14:18 The Imperfection of Talent Identification
16:53 The Role of Technology in Team Success
18:23 Exciting Developments at Teamworks
21:01 Integrating Diverse Solutions at Teamworks
22:48 Future Acquisitions and Market Strategy