The Hype Foundation is an Israel-based organization which promotes entrepreneurship and tech innovation around sport. Since May, the Foundation has hosted eight regional competitions across the world in search of the most innovating start-up at the intersection of sports and athletic training.
On Wednesday, eight finalists converged in Rio to have their own unique shot at ‘Olympic’ gold in front of a panel of judges from Nike, Under Armour, Golden St. Warriors and other leading brands. When the dust settled, Stryd running emerged victorious, with the Boulder, Colorado-based wearable power meter company winning the 100,000 Euro grand prize and six months of mentorship from leading U.K. firm, MG Partners, Ltd.
According to Smithsonian.com, “The algorithm-fueled, snap-on monitor (from Stryd) tracks everything from velocity to elevation and reports a runner’s average power in watts, which in turn helps runners adjust cadence and speed to calibrate how much time they spend warming up or in an aerobic or anaerobic zone.”
HYPE Winner of Global Innovation in sports competition; @strydrunning!
Congratulations and BIG thanks to you all! pic.twitter.com/v79IFx1pQF— HYPE Foundation (@hype_foundation) August 25, 2016
Halo Neuroscience claimed silver as the headphone company claims it can potentially boost athletic performance through brain stimulation. The Halo Sport headset delivers minor electrical pulses to the brain in order to prime it and train a new skill.
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Two-year-old Israeli company, RideOn, rounded out the top three with its speciality ski goggles. The WiFi-enabled piece of eyewear, which is reminiscent of Google Glass, includes a map overlay that allows individuals to send messages to fellow skiers, plot their route and obtain information about local lodging.