the ISPO brandnew awards - the industry's most established start-up recognition programme
Following onloine applications and expert pre-judging, shortlisted brands pitch live on The BrandNew Stage in front of retailers, investors and media.
ISPO BrandNew Awards Presented by YKK
Curated & Scaled by BORN Accelerators
ISPO BrandNew presented by YKK is the world’s leading startup platform for the sports and outdoor industry - offering global reach, industry relevance, high-profile visibility and established credibility across the international ecosystem.
BORN Accelerators brings deep expertise in startup curation, evaluation frameworks, investor readiness and growth support, while connecting founders with relevant investors, industry experts and strategic partners.
Important Dates
- 5 June – Applications Open
- 19 July – Applications Close
- 17 August – Shortlist Announced Publicly
From Award Recognition to Real Business Opportunity.
The next chapter of ISPO BrandNew is about more than identifying promising startups. It’s about helping the right companies become visible, understood, connected and prepared for their next stage of growth.
Participating startups benefit not only from enhanced brand exposure, but also from meaningful opportunities to build industry relationships, engage with investors and unlock scaling potential.
This year’s programme introduces a clearer application, pre-screening and judging process designed to identify startups with genuine substance, market relevance and long-term potential.
The experience is now built to deliver value before, during and after the event - including webinars, judging preparation, live pitch opportunities, investor meetings and ongoing follow-up support.
award categories
- Performance & Equipment
- Health & Longevity
- Retail, Digital & Software Innovation
- Sustainability & Materials
- Outdoor & Adventure
Included in the Awards Package
- Pod / stand within the BrandNew Village
- Participation in the award and pitch process
- Access to the webinar programme
- Eligibility for the overall winner prize
- Access to the curated investor layer (2026 pilot format)
- Inclusion in official BrandNew marketing and communications
Winners Receive
- ISPO BrandNew Award presentation on the BrandNew Launchpad Stage and recognition at the ISPO 2026 Party
- Complimentary BrandNew pod at ISPO 2027
- PR and social media exposure
- Featured news update on the ISPO website
- Increased industry credibility and investor visibility
- Invitation to the ISPO After-Party on the evening of 4 November
- Winner Support Package focused on investor readiness
How to enter
All Exhibitors in the BrandNew showcase can apply for the ISPO BrandNew awards - the industry's most established start-up recognition programme.
Further details on entering the awards will be released in due course. Sign up here if you want to be notified when entries are open
