Mobile apps : Nike+ Accelerator Companies Pitch Investors and Leaders at Nike WHQ Demo Day

Startups complete Nike’s first accelerator program, integrating Nike+ and NikeFuel into products and services that help people live more active lives.

NIKE, Inc. today hosted the first of two demo days for its Nike+ Accelerator program powered by TechStars. In front of an audience of more than 700 – including angel investors, venture capitalists, influential industry leaders and Nike executives – the 10 startup companies pitched their products and business plans developed during the immersive, three-month program.

Once a startup company itself, Nike worked with TechStars on the Nike+ Accelerator to allow companies to leverage the Nike+ platform and NikeFuel, and to build offerings that inspire and help people lead more active, healthy lives. Hundreds of companies applied to participate in the Nike+ Accelerator, and thousands of requests were received to build on the Nike+ ecosystem.

“We are excited by the success of the Nike+ Accelerator program and the outstanding individuals and companies involved,” said Stefan Olander, Nike Vice President of Digital Sport. “Today we are delighted to celebrate the many opportunities the Nike+ Accelerator companies have in front of them and look forward to watching as they go out and pursue their visions in the marketplace.”

The 10 companies who participated in and completed the Nike+ Accelerator are:

• Chroma: An active gaming studio that creates virtual worlds tied to real-world activity.
• CoachBase: A platform that modernizes the coach’s clipboard with an interactive digital playbook together with digital training and instruction.
• FitCause: A social giving platform empowering individuals to turn everyday movement into a charitable donation.
• FitDeck:  Digital decks of exercise playing cards that deliver ever-changing workouts for fitness and sports.
• GeoPalz: A gaming peripheral that captures kids’ real-life physical activity and converts it into digital coins, game tokens and rewards.
• GoRecess: A one-stop destination that helps people find, book and review fitness classes and activities.
• HighFive: A mobile rewards platform that gives users unique and customized rewards for physical activity and healthy choices, at just the right moment. 
• NextStep.io: A dashboard that simplifies the connection between the quantified self and the rest of your life.
• Sprout: An enterprise app that inspires employees to get fit and empowers employers with tools to manage and measure wellness.
• Totem: A new way to discover and share your next adventure.

Over the past 12 weeks, Nike provided mentorship, tools, connections, facilities and support to the companies. The teams worked intensely on their products and services, in some cases accelerating a year or more of progress during the three-month program. The companies engaged with more than 200 mentors including CEOs, innovators and industry luminaries – all helping to strengthen their product, brand convictions and principles. For a list of mentors, visit the Nike+ Accelerator website.

Nike also provided insights on a wide range of topics, including design, marketing and sports. By connecting each team with Nike mentors, companies gleaned expertise and access to the Nike experience. Companies immersed themselves in the Nike culture, studying Nike’s approach to innovation and its startup heritage.

The demo days mark the culmination of the program but are just another step in the journey for many of the participants and their teams. At the end of the experience, the companies will have pitched to more than 1,000 investors, strategic partners and future collaborators.

The second of the two Nike+ Accelerator Demo Days is June 20 in San Francisco, Calif.

Source Nike

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