SFIA to Host Sports Tech Start-Up Challenge at 2016 ILS

May 4, 2016 – Silver Spring, Md. – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) will highlight the latest industry innovations with its inaugural ‘2016 SFIA Start-Up Challenge,’ at 2016 SFIA Industry Leadership Summit (ILS), in Denver.

Beginning May 1 and ending May 30, up-and-coming CEOs will submit pitches to become finalists in the ‘2016 SFIA Start-Up Challenge.’ The top five finalists will then be given ten minutes each to pitch their ideas to industry executives, C-Suite attendees and SFIA’s Board of Directors at 2016 SFIA ILS.

“Start-ups are at the heart of innovation and constantly make us take a second look at an old concept or force us to confront a new way of doing things in the sports tech world,” said SFIA President & CEO Tom Cove. “We want to facilitate that growth and provide these young companies with an opportunity to change the future of our industry.”

All finalists will receive publicity leading up to the event, recognition on stage during the annual ILS dinner Awards Ceremony and real-time feedback from investors. The winner will receive a spotlight in the ‘SFIA Insider Blog,’ additional exposure through SFIA’s marketing channels, a winner’s plaque and one free year of SFIA membership. 

SFIA’s annual ILS brings fellow C-level executives from across the sports & fitness together to examine an assortment of issues surrounding their businesses and the economy. The theme of 2016 ILS is ‘Navigating Disruption.’ There are many ‘disruptors’ to the sports & fitness industry, an example being that manufacturing is now threatened by 3D printing. 

2016 ILS will be held September 14-15 at the Brown Palace Hotel and Spa in downtown Denver. The list of attending companies includes, Adidas, Life Fitness, Mizuno, Nike, Speedo, Under Armour and many more. 

Registration is limited to the first 200 executives. Sign up before April 30 and receive an Early-Bird discount. Register here: www.sfia.org/ils

ABOUT SFIA:  The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness

research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs, and member services. For more information, please visit www.sfia.org.