This section of SportTechie, “SportTechie Wire”, contains original press releases issued by various companies and industry organizations. The releases are reviewed by the SportTechie editorial staff to ensure relevancy to the sports technology industry. For information and access, send your name and email address to info@SportTechie.com
London, England – November 3, 2016 – Despite the wonderful advancements technology has brought us, most people would argue that it has drawn us away from an active lifestyle. The necessity of movement and lure of activity has been partly stripped away by gaming consoles and apps that deliver our groceries. Technology has taken us from hunter-gatherers to smartphone takeaway swipers. Nonetheless, the potential of technology is boundless, and given the right direction, surely it can help reverse the tide of inactivity and get us moving again?
Step forward ActiveLab – a new accelerator from not-for-profit health body ukactive. The programme aims to inspire active lifestyles by matching startups with the leading lights of business and physical activity.
With the physical inactivity epidemic costing the UK £20bn each year and causing 37,000 deaths, ActiveLab seeks to stimulate scalable solutions to one of society’s biggest challenges. Developments in data, social media, virtual reality and wearable tech are having a major impact on the physical activity landscape and ActiveLab will augment these new opportunities to produce pioneering health solutions.
As ukactive Executive Director Steven Ward notes: “We believe ActiveLab brings together the best of support from the physical activity sector, government and the private sector to help scale innovation.
“Our goal is to unearth the UK’s first health and fitness unicorn and become the global launchpad for innovative and scalable physical activity businesses.”
Ambitious product and service-based startups are encouraged to join the programme, which will identify and nurture truly innovative products and services that will shape the future of the health and physical activity sector. Participants will be able to gain expert advice from industry mentors and – through a series of networking events – companies will be able to meet potential investors and buyers, ukactive members, key government contacts and other high growth businesses.
Amir Raveh, CEO of HYPE Foundation “One thing is clear, in view of the rapid technological changes, Sport brands, teams and leagues can no longer innovate alone. HYPE Foundation is excited to Join ukactive leadership of ActiveLab and collaborate to change the world of sports and physical activity as we know it”.
Entries for ActiveLab close on 11 November, with the 20 finalists announced on 23 November. This cohort will receive workshops and insight from some of the biggest names within both the physical activity and business world.
Among the array of innovators and business leaders are investor and former David Lloyd Leisure CEO Scott Lloyd, fitness magnate and serial entrepreneur David Giampaolo, and Pacific Direct founder Lara Morgan.
Ward added “ActiveLab features a stellar cast of mentors, coaches and high net worth investors who have been the driving forces behind the rise of the physical activity.”
“The cohort will be able to learn, network and grow with these high calibre individuals through a series of workshops, seminars and networking sessions over the 12-week programme. It culminates with a grand finale where teams will showcase their product and take part in a series of live pitches, with the winner receiving the top prize of a premium accelerator toolkit – comprising a suite of products and expertise to fast-track their concept.”
To find out more about ActiveLab and how entering can place your startup on the fast-track to success, visit: http://activelab.co/