Pitch. Fight. Win. - These start-ups stepped into the ring at ISPO 2025

“Pitch, please!” – as soon as these words were spoken, the audience fell silent. Everyone waited for the next big SportsTech idea. The Founders Fight was sparring at the highest level: honest feedback, critical questions, real emotions – and, at best, standing ovations. Anyone who entered the ring grew from it. Because at ISPO, one rule applied: failing was allowed – standing still was not.

In 2025, dozens of visionary start-ups once again faced the competition. The jury had decided which ones had the potential to change the world of sports: the pre-selected start-ups of the Founders Fight 2025. They competed in four categories – the innovation fields that were set to shape the sport of tomorrow:

1. Outdoor, Adventure & Wintersports: Products for people who loved freedom and wanted to push boundaries, from smart equipment to new outdoor experiences.
2. Performance, Body & Mind: Physical and mental performance in focus, with innovative tools, wearables, and concepts for training, recovery, and mental strength.
3. Sports Technology & Platforms: Data, AI, and digital solutions that made sports smarter, fairer, and more accessible for professionals, coaches, and communities.
4. Sustainability: The future could only be sustainable. This category focused on materials, processes, and ideas that brought sport and the environment into harmony.

Four categories, sixteen start-ups, one goal: reinventing the sport of tomorrow.

If you can barely see in the whiteout, Provuu has the solution: ski goggles with extended reality that simply block out poor visibility. The start-up from France brings augmented vision to the slopes - for more safety, more performance and more fun.

Never again without reception in the mountains: Sunslice from Belgium combines solar energy with satellite communication. Their "LinkPower" system ensures that outdoor adventurers stay online even away from civilization - sustainable, compact, ingenious.

SKIPROTECT is a patented neoprene sleeve that protects alpine skis during transport, storage, and handling. The flexible cover slips over each ski, fits securely without straps, and cushions against impact and scratches – keeping skis safe, sleek, and easy to handle.

Protection that plays along: Spanish start-up 365 Sporteveryday delivers a natural high-protection sun cream (SPF 50+) that is waterproof, breathable and free from nanoparticles. Ideal for sensitive skin - and for anyone who is active outdoors all year round.

Japanese engineering meets biomechanics: HYBEX has developed a running shoe that adapts perfectly to the individual running style with a two-layer cushioning system. For runners who want more than average.

An invention that protects: Boob Protect from Australia has developed an ultra-light, CE-certified chest protector for female athletes. No more compromises between safety and comfort - finally a product that takes empowerment literally.

Cognitive power at the touch of a button: Belgian start-up ODUXIO has launched Anceflex, the world's first patented, networked tool that boosts brain power in five dimensions - from stroboscopic glasses to glowing carbon crosses. Ideal for athletes and trainers who want to push their mental performance.

Measuring training smarter: With ZoneX, the French start-up PAIRFS offers an affordable system for determining ventilatory thresholds. The device and software connect with sensors to create personalized training zones - perfect for athletes who want to optimize their performance.

Everything in one app: Abler brings coaches, clubs and athletes onto one platform. Performance tracking, communication, training planning - smarter, simpler, more transparent. Those who keep track perform better.

With Computer Vision, Ochy analyzes athletes' movements - simply via smartphone. Whether running style, golf swing or yoga pose: the app recognizes mistakes and shows how to improve. High-tech for every body.

Movement analyzed in seconds: Irish start-up KinetikIQ uses AI and LiDAR on smartphones and tablets to provide 3D biomechanical feedback in real time - as quickly as recording a video, rather than days using conventional methods. Ideal for athletes, trainers and therapists.

Padel Play is an advanced sensor designed to track and analyze every shot you make during a padel match or training session. It is discreetly installed at the bottom of the padel racket (pala), so it doesn’t interfere with your grip or swing. 

Once in place, the sensor automatically detects and records different types of strokes , forehands, backhands, slices, flat shots, lobs, bandejas, and smashes , including metrics such as power and precision. This data is then sent to the connected app, where players can review their performance, monitor progress, and improve their technique with accurate, shot-by-shot feedback.

Turning old skis into something new: Simon Jacomet, ski builder with vision, recycles old materials into fresh high-performance skis. The result? A sustainable ride with style, soul and Swiss precision.

Online shopping without a guilty conscience: Save Our Returns wants to end the flood of returns - with smart logistics and reuse systems for e-commerce. Less waste, more circularity.

Balls like new: Belgian start-up Bounce Tube triples the life of tennis and padel balls thanks to its integrated pressure system. Made in France and Red Dot Design Award-winning - perfect for players who always want optimum ball comfort.

Sustainability that works: The German start-up Environdly transforms complex ESG requirements into measurable strategies and concrete business benefits. From positioning and communication to network activation - for companies that want to combine profitability and sustainability.