Sportiw’s Post

A few more spots available for the third adidas Breaking Barriers Innovation Lab! If you are a European startup, addressing barriers that women face in sports, join the adidas Breaking Barriers Innovation Lab. Be part of the journey to make sport equal for women and girls in sports across Europe. Apply here before April 16th: https://pnptc.in/4aKcHr7 The Innovation Lab is a yearly startup incubator focused on empowering women-led and women-centric organizations working on removing the barriers that hold back women and girls in sports. Since its launch in 2022, the Innovation Lab has supported 14 organizations that are addressing girls' unique needs in sports, including women-specific training based on menstrual cycles, visibility around salaries within the sports industry, education apps addressing health and fitness misconceptions, menstrual hygiene specifically for outdoor sports, and algorithms to identify the best type of sport for girls based on their physical abilities and preferences. This 6-month accelerator program provides: ⚽ Dedicated mentors & experts from adidas ⚽Customized workshops & monthly check-ins ⚽adidas campus visit in Germany on May 6th-7th! To determine if your startup is a good fit, you must meet the following qualifications: ✔️Based in Europe ✔️Already have a solution/MVP ✔️Have solutions that are aligned with the breaking barriers mission Learn more about the existing barriers that we’d like to see addressed on the Breaking Barriers research website https://pnptc.in/3JeGJXO #PNPTC #LetsBreakBarriers #BreakingBarriers #StartupOpportunity #WomenInSports

Digital Product Passports (DPP’s) are here to stay !!! I am thrilled to announce Ankh Impact Ventures (AIV) investment in Labelld, a revolutionary web3 platform transforming product interaction and brand engagement. Labelld introduces digital product passports, post-purchase services, and an innovative customer experience and communication channel, all aimed at enhancing exclusivity and fostering enduring brand-customer relationships while championing a circular economy. With impending regulations mandating digital passports for all products by 2027, the need for scalable solutions in fashion and consumer goods has never been more pressing. Labelld is uniquely positioned to meet this demand, seamlessly aligning with upcoming regulations and environmental imperatives. But that's not all – Labelld's platform drives additional revenues, boosts loyalty, ensures protection, and provides access to invaluable lifecycle data. During a recent visit to London, I had the privilege of reconnecting with Julia Vendramin, Founder & CEO of Labelld. Our discussions focused on the go-to-market strategy and the deployment of this ground-breaking technology across the fashion industry in 2024. Julia, your unwavering vision for Labelld is poised to catalyze transformative change in the fashion and luxury industry. Labelld empowers brands in transitioning to a circular economy, driving responsible consumption and managing secondary markets. At AIV we believe diversity drives innovation. We give significant attention to women-led or co-founded businesses which currently receive less than 2% of venture capital funding. Through our investments, we aim to bridge the gender investment gap while capitalizing on the proven strengths of female co-founded or led businesses across various domains. AIV invests in diverse founders driving transformative companies that benefit profitability, people, and the planet. AIV back’s change makers, agents of change, and rising stars on a life mission. Take Global Action Now ! Empower Diverse Perspectives ! Leverage Science for Impact ! #femalefounders #womenentrepreneurs #AnkhImpactVentures #Labelld #Web3 #CircularEconomy #FashionIndustry #Innovation #Leadership #digitalproductpassport #TransformativeChange #missiondriven

What #Investors Want to See from #Startups I had a great time as a panellist at The Startup Club's Fashion, Beauty and Luxury Pitch Night. There were interesting presentations from a handful of companies including:- Both& Apparel - Pioneers in the category of nonbinary #apparel Liberare - #Lingerie for all abilities Zero - The platform for sustainable fashion and clean #beauty Ginik - Italian #luxury fashion tech brand in the smart #fashion sector Ness & Me - Wellness, home & lifestyle products to support your journey The two standouts for me were Liberare and Both& for four reasons that I think are important for any start-up:- 1) Identify a Gap in the Market I think both companies have identified a real gap in the market. In the case of Liberare, they have identified the lack of bras for women who suffer from arthritis and chronic pain.  Both& has adapted the fit of casual wear for the non-binary community. 2) Be Authentic Both companies were started by founders who wanted to solve a problem. The mother of Liberare’s founder struggled to put on her bra. Both&’s founder could not find clothing that fit. I believe authenticity is even more important for Gen Z and millennials than it was for past generations. 3) Build a community organically Both& had built an impressive number of Instagram followers (64K) through interviews with the non-binary community in only a few years. Likewise, Liberare had found a much wider audience (of women 55+ with chronic pain) than it initially expected through its organic community. 4) Set realistic growth expectations and value your business accordingly Liberare had already achieved sales of over USD 1 million after a few years in business and the valuation of the company at USD 4.7 million seemed appropriate for its growth trajectory, which is helped by the brand’s entry into stockists such as Victoria’s Secret, Nordstrom and QVC. In today’s environment raising capital for start-ups is no mean feat. Getting these basic elements right will make the journey easier. I’d love to know what you think. Mathilde Vaddé Finnegan Shepard Emma Butler Smith Square Partners

Ulta Beauty's $20M Prisma Ventures fund is changing the game in beauty tech! 🎉💄💡 By investing in startups that focus on personalization, AR/VR, custom beauty solutions, and social commerce, Ulta is paving the way for a more innovative and exciting future in beauty retail. 🛍📱 Collaborating with cutting-edge companies like Haut.ai, Adeptmind, and Revea, Ulta is already offering more personalized and diagnostic digital experiences. 🤳💫 We can't wait to see how these partnerships evolve and what innovations will emerge! 🚀 Prisma Ventures is a bold step forward for Ulta and the entire industry. 💪 It's a testament to the transformative power of technology in reshaping how we discover, experience, and shop for beauty. 🛍❤️ As more retailers follow suit and invest in digital innovation, the future of beauty looks more exciting than ever! 🎨✨ Visit www.beauteintech.com for the full story #UltaBeauty #PrismaVentures #BeautyTech #beautyinnovation #womenintechnology #womenintech

🌍 In honour of Global Entrepreneurship Week, we’re thrilled to spotlight Cortech Sports, a recent alumni of our incubation program that’s transforming athlete recovery with cutting-edge hardtech. Founded in 2022 by Jean-Simon Boucher, Cortech Sports developed a non-invasive device combining medtech and sportech to support cognitive and brain recovery. Leveraging transcranial photobiomodulation, this innovative solution speeds up post-concussion recovery, helping athletes return to peak performance safely and faster. 💡 Problem: For elite athletes, concussions and mental fatigue are common, often requiring lengthy recovery periods that can jeopardize their careers and long-term health. 💪 Solution: CortechSport’s device uses infrared LEDs to stimulate brain recovery at the cellular level, helping athletes recover faster and with fewer side effects than traditional methods. 🚀 Impact: Accelerated recovery times, with clinical tests in progress to demonstrate its effectiveness. Key partnerships with top research institutes and pro sports teams. A functional prototype gaining positive feedback both comfort and effectiveness from athletes and coaches alike. Discover how CortechSport is positioning itself as a leader in sportech and medtech by reading the full case study here: https://lnkd.in/gRpJc2PH or by visiting their website: https://lnkd.in/gCdpt6nX #EntrepreneurshipWeek #Innovation #MedTech #Sportech #AthleteRecovery

Can’t believe applications are already open for the 2025 SEPHORA Beauty Grant, which will award one Black-owned beauty brand $100k to help take their brand to the next level. It was such an honor to present Malaika Jones of BROWN GIRL Jane - Fine Fragrance brand the inaugural Sephora Beauty Grant earlier this year at the Fifteen Percent Pledge gala and I can’t wait to see who will take home the 2025 grant.     Since Sephora first opened in the U.S. more than 25 years ago, we have taken to incubating and building up small, indie brands into household names. Our strength has and will continue to come from establishing a broader, more diverse community of brands and founders. Important work as, in 2022, Black startup founders received less than 1% of the $33.6 billion in venture capital allocation. This is why the Sephora Accelerate incubation program and Sephora Beauty Grant opportunities are critically important, to help ensure that the beauty community is truly helping founders of all backgrounds succeed in prestige beauty.   If you’re an up-and-coming brand, don’t miss your chance and apply for the grant by November 15 (or tell your amazing brand founder friend to apply)! https://lnkd.in/gpKrMyQy   #Sephora #WeBelongToSomethingBeautiful

🚶Another walk and talk! This time in San Jose with my new friend Naomi McGregor. 🍀Naomi is visiting the Bay Area from Belfast, Ireland. 🧠 Whenever I look at companies to invest in I always say it starts with the founder and THEN their product. When it comes to Naomi, she's a tech trailblazer for sure. She founded and leads Movetru®, a multi-award-winning startup. She's a highly accomplished engineer, and a fellow of both the Royal Academy of Engineering and The ERA Foundation! If that's not enough, she's part of STEM Ambassadors and a TEDX speaker. As a founder, Naomi's curiosity, determination, vision, and her healthy dose of grit will take her far. 💃 Her company, Movetru, was inspired by a personal story - multiple misdiagnoses of an orthopedic condition which changed her trajectory (from ballet dancing to engineering). I like when founders have a personal connection to their mission. 🤺 Movetru is revolutionizing athletic performance with its cutting-edge wearable technology. The company offers wireless customizable performance monitoring and tracking for athletes, delivering real-time data and insights to optimize training and enhance physical condition. Movetru's innovative tools help both individual athletes and teams to track key metrics, analyze performance trends, and receive immediate feedback, ensuring peak performance while mitigating risk of injury. This technology empowers users to push their limits and achieve new heights in their sports. #venturecapital #innovation #future #technology #creativity Portola Valley Partners | Irish Tech News | The Irish Times | Business Post | Charlie Taylor | Aidan Finn | Suzanne Mills | Catherine Gray

After an incredible journey with the Mayor's Office of Innovation, I'm thrilled to embark on a new chapter that aligns with my passion for balance, leadership, and creating lasting change. Moving forward, I'll be dedicating my full-time efforts to the expansion and growth of HTX Sports Tech and the launch of the Future of Sport Foundation. HTX Sports Tech will continue to provide professional services and consultative work as a trusted advisor for sports organizations, governing bodies, startups and innovation programs. We remain committed to supporting the growth of the sports tech ecosystem through our relationships with local and international partners and collaborators. Our next major initiative is the Sports Innovation Summit, designed to bring together innovative people and organizations to Ford Field in Detroit, a leading US tech hub and emerging global startup ecosystem. This summit will explore the future of digital fan experiences, sustainability, investment, equity, esports, and sports betting. ℹ️ https://lnkd.in/gnjgi-4F Additionally, I'm excited to introduce the Future of Sport Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on entrepreneurship education, digital literacy, the future of work, upskilling, social impact, and bridging the digital divide. Our mission is to empower the next generation of innovators and leaders through sports innovation, education, and technology for an inclusive future. Through both HTX Sports Tech and the Future of Sport Foundation, maintaining a committment to: 🔹 Collaboration: Working alongside innovators and visionaries in sports to foster deeper engagement and drive mutual growth. 🔹 Community Building: Fostering community and economic development through strategic impact initiatives, ensuring efforts benefit local and global communities. 🔹 Teaching & Thought Leadership: Sharing knowledge and driving industry progress by leading conversations and providing insights that shape the future of sports technology and innovation. I'm excited to build something impactful together. Here's to new beginnings and exciting opportunities ahead! #SportsTech #SportsBiz #SportsInnovation

Startups Driving the Future of Sports Tech 😍 We are excited to announce SporTech Fr as an official partner for the AI for Sport 2024 Summit, happening on November 20th at STATION F! 🚀 In 2019, a group of startup founders came together with a bold vision: to amplify the voice of innovation in French sports. This is how SporTech, a non-profit association, was created. Their mission is clear: to drive the emergence of a sporting nation through innovation. Their actions include: 🤝 Connecting and fostering exchanges across the French sports ecosystem 🌱 Helping startups grow by creating valuable connections 🎙️ Producing unique content such as articles, interviews, podcasts, and more to spotlight this fast-evolving sector Today, SporTech brings together over 150 innovative startups that are shaping the future of sports through technology!⚡ Together with SporTech, we’re shaping the future of sports tech, revolutionizing the way technology intersects with sports 💻🏅. This is your chance to be part of the movement! ✨ Don’t miss out—grab your tickets to the ultimate sports innovation event now! 🎟️🔥 https://lnkd.in/eMQthk6H Shoutout to Jacques D'Arrigo, Eleonore Clavero, Jules Boisson #AIforSport #SporTech #SportsInnovation #TechForGood

🌟 Empowering Beauty Innovation: Notable Accelerators and Their Impact 🌟 In the dynamic world of the beauty industry, accelerators play a crucial role in nurturing innovation and supporting emerging brands. Here are three standout programs making waves and some exciting brands that have been part of their journeys: 💡 Sephora Accelerate Sephora Accelerate is dedicated to empowering early-stage beauty brands, particularly those led by women and diverse founders. The program offers invaluable mentorship, funding opportunities, and access to industry resources. Notable brands that have participated include Lion Pose, 54 Thrones, EADEM, BROWN GIRL Jane - Fine Fragrance brand, Mango People, Kulfi, OUI the People, Topicals, SHAZ & KIKS , Range Beauty, and many more. Sephora is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion within the beauty sector. 💡 Target Takeoff Target Takeoff is designed to support emerging consumer brands, including those in the beauty space. This accelerator provides mentorship, funding, and the opportunity to showcase products to Target’s vast network. Brands like Yubi Beauty, VAMIGAS, Solara Suncare, Inc., NOPALERA, adwoa beauty, M2U NYC, and others have benefitted from Target Takeoff, utilizing the program to scale their innovations and reach new customers. 💡 Ulta Beauty's MUSE Accelerator Ulta Beauty’s MUSE Accelerator focuses on enhancing innovation among beauty startups, specifically those founded by women and people of color. The program offers mentorship, funding, and networking opportunities to help brands thrive in a competitive marketplace. Notable alumni include Perseve, Vida Bars, DEON LIBRA, and more. Ulta’s commitment to diversity and empowerment in beauty is evident in the brands that emerge from this program. 🛠️ Why Accelerators Matter These accelerators not only provide funding and resources but also indispensable mentorship and networking opportunities that can be game-changers for emerging brands. They empower startups to innovate, scale, and bring groundbreaking products to consumers. 🌍 Looking Ahead As the beauty industry continues to evolve, the support and collaboration fostered by these accelerators will be essential in driving the next generation of beauty innovations and inclusive practices. Let me know your thoughts below! #BeautyInnovation #BlogBeautyBoss #StartupAccelerators #SephoraAccelerate #TargetTakeoff #UltaBeauty #MUSEAccelerator #Empowerment