Ukactive Launches Accelerator For Active Lifestyles

Not-for-profit health body, ukactive has announced the launch of ActiveLab, a new accelerator to inspire active lifestyles by matching startups with the leaders of business and physical activity.

Developments in data, social media, virtual reality and wearable tech are having a major impact on the physical activity landscape according to ActiveLab, who will look to strengthen these new opportunities to produce health solutions.

Product and service-based startups are encouraged to join the programme, which will identify and nurture products and services that will shape the future of the health and physical activity sector.

The 12-week programme, backed by founding partners AXA PPP and Tech City UK, aims to find concepts that can change health and fitness. ActiveLab features mentors, coaches and high net worth investors.

Steven Ward, executive director, ukactive said: “The aim of ActiveLab is to help scale innovation through access to and expertise from ukactive’s 4,000 members, industry mentors, plus our private sector and government partners. 

“The programme brings together the most highly networked collection of private investors in health and fitness ever, as well as an unprecedented amount of talent and experience.

“Our goal is to unearth the UK’s first health and fitness unicorn and become the global launchpad for innovative and scalable physical activity businesses. “

Gordon Henderson, AXA PPP marketing and innovation director said: ”AXA PPP healthcare is partnering with ukactive on their new innovation project ActiveLab.

“The health and fitness of the nation is an important issue for AXA PPP healthcare and it has been looking to partner with and invest in game-changing technology, products and services.

“We believe that ukactive’s ActiveLab brings together the best of support from the physical activity sector, government and the private sector to help scale innovation and we look forward to working with them.”

ActiveLab has been created for physical activity businesses focusing on growth and scale, where the product or service has been validated. The programme is open to teams that have raised capital, are in the process of doing so, or are bootstrapped. They must be able to demonstrate a high level of month-on-month growth through key business metrics.

The programme is open to innovations that can benefit the private, public or third sectors, either through international scalability or local concepts that can be widely replicated and demonstrate a capacity for social good.