Accelerator programme open for applications at ASICS
Sports brand ASICS has invited applications for the fifth edition of its Accelerator Program, a partnership initiative for start-ups. Previous editions have run in Europe twice and in Japan twice.
Ideas that have won in the past include the Evoride Orphe smart shoe, which provides feedback on changes in foot movement in real time. It won the grand prize in the ASICS Accelerator Program in 2019 and launched commercially in July 2020.
ASICS and Orphe have continued to work together, using the same idea to develop smart shoes that can measure the development of osteoarthritis in wearers’ knees.
The theme for this latest edition is to try to find innovations that might make an impact on sports three years from now.
Applications opened on December 20 and start-ups have until February 14 to submit their ideas. Initial assessment will focus on companies’ written submissions, following which interviews will take place.
After that, some of the start-ups will be selected to take part in a Demo Day event in June and, following that, selected proposals will proceed to the proof-of-concept stage.
