April 17, 2017 Comments (0) Views: 2253 April 2017, Short Stories, Startups, Tip Sheet

Think You’ve Developed the next Fitbit or Workout Craze?

Apply to this sporty springboard program

Here’s some sports-related news that has nothing to do with now-abandoned Qualcomm Stadium. San Diego Sport Innovators is a local accelerator that funds sports gear and active lifestyle startups, founded by NBA Hall of Famer Bill Walton and now led by Bob Rief, who was president of Reef and of Nike’s golf division. The accelerator has a springboard program with a high success rate, and it recently chose the companies for this year’s 20-week crash course in how to launch a brand or product.

It should be no surprise that active lifestyle companies do well in sunny, yoga-loving San Diego: Stats show 1,200 such companies are based here, employing 37,000 people. SDSI says the majority of its graduates—including Slyde Handboards, which was featured on Shark Tank—go on to receive funding, and 89 percent remain in business after launching.

Springboard companies are mentored by executives from Quiksilver, Callaway Golf, and Under Armour. Think you’ve developed the next Fitbit or workout craze? Applications for the next springboard class open in July.