Mobile Apps : Nike Launches Nike+ Accelerator Mentorship Program

Nike announced the launch of a new Nike+ Accelerator, in conjunction with Boulder, CO-based TechStars. Through the program, ten startups that use Nike+ technology will received mentorship, coaching, office space and other benefits.

The 10 companies will go through a three-month immersive, mentor-driven startup accelerator powered by TechStars. TechStars is a mentorship-driven startup accelerator founded by David Cohen, Brad Feld, David Brown, and Jared Polis that holds 13 week programs for startups in Boulder, New York City, Boston, Seattle, and San Antonio. Reportedly, fewer than 1 percent of the companies that apply to TechStars are accepted but those that have completed the program have been overwhelmingly successful.

The Nike+ Accelerator program aims to leverage the success of the Nike+ platform to support digital innovation by connecting with companies that share Nike’s commitment to help people live more active lives. The Nike+ Accelerator will accept applications from companies aiming to use Nike+ technology to create products and services that will inspire athletes across a broad range of activity and health goals including training, coaching, gaming, data visualization and quantified self, according to a statement from Nike.

The Nike+ Accelerator begins in March 2013 and will run through June, culminating in technology investor demonstration days including a day at Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, and a day in California's Silicon Valley.

The Nike+ Accelerator will be based in Portland, Oregon, near Nike's headquarters. Once the companies have been selected, Nike will provide development tools, office facilities, technical platforms and support to create solutions leveraging the Nike+ Application Program Interface (API) and Nike+ mobile Software Development Kit.

Nike will also support the companies by providing access to a select list of Nike executives and external mentors.

Mentors include:

• Stefan Olander, Nike’s Vice President of Digital Sport;
• David Cohen, founder and CEO of TechStars;
• Naveen Selvadurai, co-founder of Foursquare; and
• quantified-self guru Tim Ferriss.

The mentors will engage directly with participating companies during the Nike+ Accelerator. TechStars will facilitate the program, having successfully completed over 15 accelerator programs using their mentor-driven, deep immersion, three-month model. TechStars’ mentoring model has attracted more than $275 million worth of venture capital for the companies that have participated in past programs over the last six years of operation.

Visit nikeaccelerator.com for details and applications. The application deadline is February 3, 2013. Selected companies will be contacted by the end of February, and the program will begin in mid-March.

( SportsOneSource Media )