Under Armour awarded RaesWear, a 360 degree pocket solution for athletic and athleisure bottoms, as the winner of the 4th consecutive Future Show was RaesWear.
Every October, entrepreneurs from across the globe are invited to submit their “billion dollar idea” to participate in the annual Under Armour Future Show, the brand’s open innovation challenge. The two-day event features a panel and trade show for all competitors and an Executive Panel/Finals on the second day for the top five groups to advance. The 2015 Future Show took place at Under Armour’ s global headquarters in Baltimore, MD on Oct 8-9.
This call for innovation brings in entrepreneurs, established companies, agencies, independent software developers and designers and hardware manufacturers that have a vision for the next generation of products and technology all with the same mission – to help make all athletes better. Participants in this year’s Future Show represented companies ranging from an online platform for professional coach/athlete pairings, to new baseball bat sensors for swing analysis and the latest sweat-wicking fabric technology for runners.
Raeswear received $50,000 and an opportunity to work with Under Armour. The runner-up for this year’s Challenge was Handana, a sweat-wicking band worn around the hand to help wipe sweat from an athlete’s face/ eyes.
Other recent winning innovations from Future Show include the Mag Zip , Core Short, and Shot Tracker.
2015 Winner: RaesWear
RaesWear developed by Leigh Cockram, produces athleisure bottoms with a patented 360° waistband pocket allowing the consumer to store as much or as little as desired directly into their waistband. This pocket allows the customer the ability to exercise or perform everyday activities “hands free” without the purchase of additional products. Products currently sold include shorts, skorts, capris, skapris, running tights, leggings, and bootcut pants all with the patented waistband pocket. The e-commerce based company was founded in July 2013 with products that hit the market on December 16, 2014. RaesWear products are made in the U.S.A.
2015 Runner Up: Handana
At 16 years old, Katie Niemeyer survived Stephen Johnson Syndrome and spent 3 weeks in a burn unit. This event was life-altering and directed her ambitions of serving others and embracing life in every endeavor. In 2011, Katie embarked on an entrepreneurial venture. Out of necessity to find comfort from burning sweat in her eyes while running (the one lasting debilitation from SJS), Katie invented Handana (myhandana.com). This is a wicking soft fabric, washable band worn around either hand to wipe away “sweat or snot” for a more comfortable run! Her success in this endeavor proved once again her ability to identify and achieve a personal goal. Katie best explains her love for living, attaining personal goals and inspiring others with her story of achieving, “crossing finish lines.” Katie is a mom, nurse anesthetist, marathon runner and entrepreneur.
2015 Finalists:
Arccos:
Arccos Golf is the first ever, fully automatic, real-time GPS and Golf Stat Tracking System. Arccos records every aspect of your game, and with our proprietary Tour Analytics platform, also analyzes all of your stats, uncovering your strengths and trends, and giving you game-changing knowledge so you can make better decisions on the course. Arccos stats are available instantly on your iPhone as you play or after your round on any computer, anytime, anywhere.
Tangram- Smart Rope:
Tangram Factory creates connected fitness devices and mobile platforms. Tangram Factory is the product subsidiary of Tangram Design Lab, an award-winning multi-disciplinary design agency based in Seoul and is backed by some of Asia's largest tech players, including Daum Kakao, a $7 billion public company that is a pioneer in mobile messaging. This team came together to create Smart Rope. Smart Rope, the first of a series of devices from Tangram Factory, is an LED-enabled jump rope that displays your fitness data in mid-air, as you work out. Smart Rope syncs with your smartphone and smart watch to give you accurate, relevant fitness information that you'll actually use to get better. Adding to their accolades, Smart Rope was recently named Good Design “BEST 100” from the Japan Institute for Design Promotion,” one of the most prestigious awards within the design world.
Coach Up:
CoachUp is the nation's leader in the sports coaching industry. We connect athletes with coaches for individual and small group training sessions, in every sport, across the country. CoachUp and Under Armour not only have similar missions, but also share a lead spokesman in Stephen Curry. CoachUp is a high-growth, venture-backed company headquartered in Boston, MA. Featuring over 14,000 private coaches and trainers nation-wide, CoachUp offers personalized coaching in everything from basketball, soccer and football, to yoga, fitness and dance.
