NIKE Inc has unveiled its first Nike+ Accelerator program, which will host 10 companies for a three-month immersive, mentor-driven start-up accelerator process. Powered by TechStars, the program aims to leverage the success of the Nike+ platform to support digital innovation.
It aims to connect 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.’
The Nike+ Accelerator begins in March 2013 and will run through to 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 World 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 process. 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 US$275 million worth of venture capital for the companies that have participated in past programs over the last six years of operation.
The application deadline is 3 February 2013. Selected companies will be contacted by the end of February, and the program will begin in mid-March.
