Previous Open Innovation Programs

ASTN has developed and delivered a number of successful Open Innovation programs.

Challenge to support wheelchair athletes

The Australian Sports Technologies Network (ASTN) in collaboration with the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) seek sportstech startups to pitch their technology to help support wheelchair athletes.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

The Challenge looks to uncover potential solutions that could help effectively and reliably monitor the day-to-day loads of wheelchair athletes, both in and out of training or competition. For many able body sports involving running, cycling, rowing or even strength training there are already technology solutions, tools and programs in the market to monitor the training, competition and day-to-day loads of athletes. However, for wheelchair athletes this is not necessarily the case.

Accordingly, the aim of this challenge is to:

• Define (and potentially standardise) what is considered and quantified as ‘load’ for wheelchair athletes and users;
• Effectively and reliably monitor loads of wheelchair athletes and users;
• Potentially separate and quantify training and competition loads vs day-to-day movement and activity loads of wheelchair athletes.

For further details, please download the VIS Challenge Guidelines.

AT WHAT STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT DOES THE STARTUP NEED TO BE?

The technology will most likely need to be a minimum viable product or in the piloting and testing stage of development. Based on the knowledge of the VIS team it is deemed unlikely that there is an existing commercial solution in the market to address the Challenge.

For further details, please download the VIS Challenge Guidelines.

WHAT IS THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR STARTUPS?

Applying start-ups will need to prepare a pitch document no more than 5 slides covering:

1. Opening slide including elevator pitch (vision: Problem-Solution-Impact)
2. Description of product / solution to address the business problem
3. Market Strategy and Traction (if any)
4. Founders / Team
5. Desired outcome from VIS partnership – and what’s needed to make it go live?

Pitches will need to be uploaded onto the Application Form provided.

WHAT ARE THE KEY DATES?

• Friday 16th February 2024 – Applications to the Challenge Close
• Friday 23rd February 2024 – Candidates Shortlisted
• Tuesday 12th, Wednesday 13th or Thursday 14th March 2024 – Pitch to the Project Team
• Friday 15th March 2024 – Top Candidate/s selected for discussions and potential pilot
• Monday 18th March– 20th March 2024 – Meetings with Top Candidate/s
• Wednesday 20th March 2024 – Finalise MoU with Top Candidate.
• March 2024 (ongoing) – VIS work with selected Candidate/s to validate / pilot solution.