10 Game-Changing Swiss Sports Startups

As a taster for the event – attended by elite athletes and event promoters, trainers and technologists – we select ten Swiss sporttech startups with the potential to re-write the rules in their fields, with technology ranging from: equipment to fitness, and audiences to advertisers. (If sports data is more your game, check our previous review of data-delving distruptors – Sporting Data: Measured, Mined & Maximised. 10 Swiss Sport Startups to Watch.)

Bcomp AG

Bcomp's high-performance natural-fiber materials reduce the weight and cost of sports equipment. Perfect for manufacturers of bikes, and surf-, skate- and snow-boards. And as you'd expect from a Swiss startup skiing is a key sector: the Fribourg-based company's ecological components are used by more than 30 ski-makers. The company won Venture Leaders, Venture Kick and ranked at the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award.

 

be.care

This startup worked with 800 professional and Olympic athletes, applying two decades of research on heart rate variability, in order to develop predictive health analytics for health insurers, and performance health analytics for coaches, elite athletes, sports clubs and federations.

Bodygee

3D-body scanner to help fitness trainers motivate their clients, and customer visually track their results. The accompanying app acts as replacement to scales, selfies and body-mass sensors. The combination clearly shows the effects of exercise on users shape and posture.

CompPair Technologies

CompPair develops smart and sustainable composite materials that can heal themselves. Founder Amaël Cohades’ novel materials are compatible with current ways of manufacturing, yet allow for easier recycling at the end of their life. The Lausanne-based startup has so far received training and 10,000 francs of support from Venture Kick to further develop its business case.

Fanpictor AG

Using inaudible soundwaves to transmit data to smartphone, this startup aims to engage audiences at the game and at home. The technology has already been used by Coca-Cola at Madison Square Garden, as well as at ice hockey games, from NHL all-star matches to the international Spengler Cup tournament.

IbelieveInYou AG
Co-founded by Olympic athletes Mike Kurt and Fabian Kauter, the I believe in you crowd-funding platform helps inspirational athletes reach their potential. Projects have already raised 13 million Swiss francs via the platform, which boasts a success-rate of more than 90 percent. The startup has twice ranked among the TOP 100 Swiss Startups.

Magnes AG

Wearable powermeters to help cyclist train. The cycling-shoe mounted sensors monitor power output without needing any bike modifications, and communicate wirelessly with the bike's computer or rider's app of choice. This tech spinoff from ETH Zurich's Multi-Scale Robotics lab won coaching and CHF 30,000 in financial support from Venture Kick in 2016.

Myotest SA
After more than a decade developing expertise in the capture, analysis and interpretation of biomechanical metrics, this startup now licenses that advanced software analytics knowledge to makers of wearables, smart devices and app developers.

Seervision AG

Seervision's algorithms train robots to become expert video-camera operators. Its tech performs all the traditional camera work tasks autonomously, delivering perfect cinematography under all operating conditions. That should lower production costs, and multi-camera robot setups will free humans to focus on the creative storytelling. Expect an Oscar for software in the future. These pioneers in adaptive motion control technology received training and 30,000 francs of financial support from Venture Kick in 2016, and were selected for the Venture Leaders Technology roadshow to Silicon Valley in 2019.

UniqFEED AG

Advertising tailored to each digital spectator. UniqFEED localizes each feed virtually, so event owners can better match advertisers to audiences and regional advertising laws. Viewers all enjoy the same game, with different adverts. The startup recently adapted ads for showcase tennis tournament the Eisenhower Cup, as footage was broadcast live across 20 TV stations and Facebook.