In this anniversary year, the ISPO Brandnew 2018 award winners impressed with product innovations in fields that seemed virtually unchanged for decades.
Among the winners of the world’s largest competition for sports start-ups are a reconceived ski tow frame and a bicycle tube.
The overall winner, a maker of customized wooden bicycles, won over the jury with its complete concept: a textbook example of digital transformation in the sports industry.
All of the 2018 ISPO Brandnew award winners will be present next year from January 28 to 31 at ISPO Munich in hall B4.
The best start-ups of the sports industry were selected by a jury consisting of former winners and now established industry giants. Out of almost 400 submissions, some 50 applicants reached the ISPO Brandnew Village – all of them are younger than four years old. From that pool, seven winners and one overall winner were chosen in Athleisure, Hardware Summer, Style, Accessories, Fitness, Hardware Winter, Wearables and Social Awareness.
Overall Winner
My Esel – 2014, Austria
A concept for customized bicycles made from Austrian wood. Jurors were particularly captivated by the platform of My Esel, a textbook example of digital transformation in the sports industry: Based on height, shoe size and lower leg length, a web-based algorithm determines the customer’s proportions, their ideal seating position and an ideal frame geometry, all in real-time. Color, materials and components and the shape of the frame can also be selected.
An overview of the seven winners
Hardware Summer winner
FIFTYTEN, Germany, 2016
Fiftyten is a universal travel cabin with a roof tent for all double-cab pickup trucks. It consists of a base platform with storage area in place of the regular loading surface, a box as a living space and a large, comfortable roof tent for sleeping. Fiftyten is an elegant, practical and sophisticated solution for campers and road-trippers.
Hardware Winter winner
Boardie, Sweden, 2015
Boardie is a new ski tow frame that gives winter sports enthusiasts a more comfortable ride. The wider, ergonomic and durable frame provides a better lift experience for everyone. Existing frames can be easily and cost-efficiently replaced. With the large advertising surface on the frame as a source of refinancing, Boardie is provided to ski resorts free of charge. The jury was particularly won over by the fact that Boardie is a new product in a segment that has seen virtually no changes for decades.
Accessories winner
Tubolito, Austria, 2016
As long as there have been bicycles, they have continued to evolve. But one thing has remained largely unchanged: The bicycle tube. This is why the jury distinguished Tubolito for the concept, execution and design of its completely new bicycle tube. Tubolito is a bicycle tube made from an entirely new material. 65 percent less weight and twice the lifespan compared to standard tubes. Tubolito can be compressed for easy packing, it is reusable and available for both mountain bikes and racing bikes.
Apparel winner
TEMPLA, Belgium, 2017
TEMPLA’s outdoor performance apparel combines contemporary aesthetics with technical innovations for fashion-conscious outdoor adventurers. Every piece of clothing pushes the conventional limits of apparel production and has been meticulously developed with uncompromising attention to detail and minimalist avant-garde sensibility.
Fitness winner
BIOROWER, Austria, 2014
Based on the design of an actual rowboat, the BIOROWER brings natural, intuitive rowing with all of its benefits into one’s own home. Independent oars connected with an ultra-precise drive produce the same soft resistance of a boat in the water. Force and angle sensors send biometric data to a tablet.
Wearables winner
Microsfere, USA, 2015
The Athlete’s Mask is a new respiratory mask for regions with heavily polluted air. The intelligent airflow system enables natural breathing and excellent ventilation during longer physical activities. In combination with a mobile device, the mask provides detailed performance data based on the athlete’s breath, something which used to only be available from a lab.
Social Awareness winner
The Social Mercenary, Great Britain, 2017
Traditional Ghanaian apparel and accessories with a modern touch. The articles are made by Ghanaian craftspeople from hand-woven “royal fabric” called Kente. They incorporate YKK zippers, laptop or cell phone pockets, extra-strong yarns and traditional, waxed cotton fabric for backpacks and caps.
