London Sport, Odi & Ukactive Unveil Joint Vision

London Sport, the Open Data Institute (ODI) and ukactive have unveiled their collective vision to stimulate growth for digital startups that help people get active.

Identifying a lack of adequate physical activity being one of Britain’s biggest public health challenges. Together, they are proactively progressing a more active future where startups have a clear trajectory towards physical activity innovation.

They are progressing in unison three distinct and complementary digital innovation programmes run by London Sport, the Open Data Institute and ukactive, and supported by Sport England, to create a startup superhighway for physical activity innovators.

Developments in data, social media, virtual reality, artificial intelligence and wearable technology are having a huge impact on the physical activity landscape. Digital products and services are moving into every part of people’s lives but The trio will be looking to ensure the benefits of widespread digital innovation lead to increased physical activity.

The startups supported will develop solutions beyond just apps and will harness technological innovation in its broadest sense through digital products and services, and applying the latest technology to reshape how people become and stay active. For example, they hope to see data used to better integrate physical activities into local services, create more immersive outdoor fitness experiences using augmented reality, or wearable technology tools that monitor physical health and support GPs with earlier patient intervention.

The joint vision also aims to prioritise the creation of the most promising solutions to evolve how people get and stay active, working beyond the established ‘scale-up or die quickly’ approach.

This strategy allows an integrated pathway of progression for startups at every phase of development – from early stage concept through to scale-up and expansion – with mentoring, workshops and access to investors. They have the freedom to choose a network of optional routes available to progress their vision into reality.

The Sport Tech Hub incubator led by London Sport provides an entry point for startups, nurturing the brightest early-stage startups focused on raising levels of participation in sport with a programme of support delivered by industry experts. The inaugural programme kicked off in October 2017 and will run for six months, with applications for a second incubation cohort opening to new startups in mid-2018.

The ODI’s OpenActive Accelerator, supports startups using open data to develop and validate ready-to-market digital products and services that make it easier for people to be regularly active. The first OpenActive Accelerator launches in May 2018 and will run for six months.

Finally, ukactive’s growth programme for digital startups – ActiveLab – will cater for businesses who are now focusing on growth and scale at home and internationally, having already validated their product and generated revenue. ActiveLab was launched in September 2016 and this year returns for a second instalment, running for three months from March 2018.