Opportunity for start-ups in India to work with ASICS
Athletic footwear and apparel brand ASICS has opened applications for start-up companies in India to take part in a pitch event.
Successful applicants will take part in the pitch event in March 2024 and those that come through successfully will join the sports company’s accelerator programme.
This will be the sixth accelerator programme ASICS has run, but the first India. It will follow three previous editions in Japan and two in Europe.
“India has the largest population in the world and its athletic footwear market is experiencing a surge in demand,” ASICS said.
The Japanese company has set itself of reaching sales of $100 million per year in India by 2026 and has said it will aim to achieve this by improving its “brand power” there and by providing innovative products.
Start-ups have until November 30 to submit their applications to take part in the event.
ASICS has said its main focus will be on building its relationship with more runners in India and, for this reason, is particularly keen to hear from start-ups with ideas for products such as highly functional running shoes that make use of local production and sustainable materials.
It is also keen to see applications based on ideas for services that make the running experience more attractive, that support the maintenance and improvement of runner motivation, and support “new purchasing experiences”.
To qualify to take part, companies must be less than 10 years old and be registered as a legal corporation or a company mainly based in India.
