The exclusive startup program TENKAN-TEN aims to revolutionize the Sports & Wellness sector and is the first project from the ASICS EMEA’s New Business & Innovation Division located in Barcelona.
As Growth Catalyst, the TENKAN-TEN program focuses on supporting sustainable growth. The ASICS TENKAN-TEN startup program is now entering into the final application phase that will remain open until 30th of June. ASICS is looking for initiatives that fit under the scope of the brand’s Anima Sana In Corpore Sano philosophy (A Sound Mind in a Sound Body) to support, engage and cultivate. Accelerated startups will encompass different fields from Digital Platforms and Wearables; Sports & Wellness and Training & Health to new materials and new forms of consumer interaction.
The aim of the program is to find opportunities which can help ASICS to encourage the world to move in line with its ‘I MOVE ME’ brand campaign, to empower personal movement through sport and well-being. The ASICS TENKAN-TEN Growth Catalyst offers the acceleration to startups that have already passed the MVP phase, market validation and have certain traction. Kicking off a four-month program in mid-September, and finishing in January 2019 with a Demo Tour, which passes through some of Europe’s leading and innovative cities; Berlin, Paris, London and Barcelona.
Where CEOs are getting their hands dirty, working with startups on their growth strategy
What differentiates the TENKAN-TEN initiative from other acceleration programs is that the selected startups will have direct access to C-level executives offering them intensive and insightful mentorship during, but also after the duration of the program. Alistair Cameron (CEO of ASICS EMEA), Carsten Unbehaun (CEO of Haglöfs) and Dan Smith (President and GM of ASICS Digital and formerly CEO & COO of Runkeeper), along with a diverse list of high ranking executives, will work hand in hand with innovative entrepreneurs transforming and redefining the Sport & Wellness industry.
Emilio Risques, VP of New Business and Innovation of ASICS EMEA, emphasizes the importance of human resources during the growth acceleration process. “In the growth phase the team is very important and therefore, we will put a lot of focus on helping the startups in this area where we have a great expertise,” says Risques, who adds: “Our mission is to get the world moving by offering the highgest quality products and services. Sport, wellbeing and health are very important pieces to achieve it.”
Daniel Dümig, New Business and Innovation Manager of ASICS EMEA and person in charge of the TENKAN-TEN program, adds: “By uniting the speed, creativity and ambition of startups with the knowledge, resources and connections of ASICS, we can create a sustainable business for both sides in the long term. In this sense the TENKAN-TEN approach perfectly combines the creative spirit and drive of external innovators with the scale and expertise of ASICS.”
The companies joining the program will receive €30,000 in financial support in benefit of their project, access to a global network of retail distribution and a wide range of high level executives, industry experts, venture capitalists, successful founders and media contacts. Alongside this and as a commitment to ASICS’ ‘Sound Mind, Sound Body’ philosophy, all applicants will also have access to a complementary wellbeing services including personal trainer sessions and nutrition plans. As of January, the startups will join the ASICS Alumni Membership Program which then continues supporting their growth thanks to the ASICS partnerships with ACCIÓ, RCD, Barcelona Tech City and the Global Sports Innovation Centre powered by Microsoft. ASICS Ventures, the global investment subsidiary which recently invested in the startup Ai Silk Corporation, is working very closely.
Are you working on a promising sports and fitness startup and want to accelerate your growth? Apply now and join TENKAN-TEN in Barcelona!
