New technology from startup ventures is transforming the sports industry. The mission of this series is to introduce startup companies in the sports technology space to a broader audience and allow Founders of promising new ventures to tell their story. This particular startup is taking part in the Hype Global Sport Innovation Competition In Rio De Janeiro on August 24th, 2016.
Company: ANTELOPE
CEO: Philipp G. Schwarz
Headquarters: Frankfurt, Germany
1. What is your elevator pitch? 140 characters, please.
ANTELOPE is the world’s first muscle activating sportswear that helps you reach your fitness goals faster and more efficiently.
2. Problem & Solution
What if you could get stronger, faster, and leaner, just by wearing clothes? What if you could do that in a fraction of the time you normally spend at the gym? We have developed the world’s smartest Activewear that helps you get fit, fast. A twenty-minute training session with ANTELOPE is equivalent to 3 hours of a conventional workout.
ANTELOPE is the first series of technologically-enhanced sports wear embedded with muscle-targeting electrodes that stimulate each of your major muscle groups, helping you reach your fitness goals faster than ever. It’s the only wearable that pro-actively works to increase your strength, endurance, coordination, AND speed during conventional exercise, no matter if you are performing a full body workout or targeted training.
3. Market – your target market and the overall market
It is the perfect tool for pro athletes or ambitious fitness enthusiasts, to enhance their performance. Our first target group, for example are triathletes, and fitness junkies because of their open-mindedness to new and innovative training forms and technologies.
On the other hand ANTELOPE is a lifestyle product made for everyone who wants to keep in shape and include exercise in their regular routine.
4. Business Model – how do you make money?
We are the first product with electro muscle stimulation inside, which is made for the B2C market. All existing technologies are focused on the B2B market. They are very expensive (starting at 10.000€) and only made for stationary use. ANTELOPE costs a fraction of our competitors and is a fully mobile system. Beside selling our products, we will gain revenue by offering trainings programs in our exclusive online community.
5. Management Team – with titles
Philipp G. Schwarz (CEO and Co-founder, responsible for product development)
Kay Rathschlag (Co-founder, Managing Director Sales & Marketing)
Aleksandr Kuboskin (Co-founder, Managing Director Operations & Finance)
Patrick Thumm (Co-founder, Managing Director Sports Science)
Furthermore ANTELOPE consists of a interdisciplinary team, combining EMS pioneers, serial entrepreneurs, sport scientists, electrical, IT and textile engineers, fashion designers, scientists specialized in neuro physiology as well as experts in finance, operations, sales, marketing. The team is supported by seven experienced Business Angels and a six-member council of experts. This board includes for example Walter Sinn (CEO of Bain & Company Germany), Cevat Yerli (CEO Crytec) , Helge Hollander (CEO ADticket online ticketing) and Ron Berger (CEO Outfitter).
6. What do you want the audience to know about your venture?
We are first mover in the field of active wearables. In the near future smart clothes will become more important and will support people in all situations. The next generations of our ANTELOPE series will be more effective and much more smarter. Our vision will continue – we are just at the beginning.
ANTELOPE won two ISPO Brandnew Awards 2015 (sportswear & public choice) and is also achieved with the PLUS X Award – the world’s largest innovation award for technology, sports and lifestyle.
Bonus Question: If you were to invite any CEO to dinner who would it be and why?
Richard Branson. He is a passionate entrepreneur, a visionary and an extreme sportsman. I would like to present him our vision and get his feedback. A dinner with him would be as valuable as a year of studying the market. Therefore, it would be more effective in less time – like ANTELOPE. The perfect match.