SFIA Start-Up Challenge

The Global Sports Innovation Hub

The SFIA Start-Up Challenge returns for the third consecutive year at SFIA’s annual Industry Leaders Summit on September 13, 2017 in Chicago, IL. This competition, which garners national attention, has created an unparalleled opportunity for start-ups in the sports and fitness industry. Five innovative companies will be selected to compete on the big stage, as they present in front of a judging panel of the industry’s leading executives, retailers, investors and brands. In the past two years, SFIA has received hundreds of applications from start-ups worldwide. The 10 finalists from the two previous years have raised more than $120 million in venture funding.

New to this year’s grand prize, SFIA is announcing the Start-Up Challenge winner will receive an all-expense-paid trip to visit with the Under Armour Innovation Team at the Under Armour Global Headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland, where they will have the opportunity to spend a full day with the team brainstorming, discussing and learning about best practices for future success of their company.

In addition, the winner will receive a free year of SFIA membership, complimentary registration for the 2019 Industry Leaders Summit and the opportunity to be included in 2019’s Start-Up Challenge marketing video. All five finalists will reap great benefit by participating in the Start-Up Challenge. In addition to receiving individual presentation time in front of the entire Summit audience, which largely consists of C-level executives, the finalists will also be addressing a carefully-selected panel of judges, comprised of investors, industry experts and major retailers.