SMASH, an official Slush side-event focused on sports and health, enabled sports, passion, and technology to encounter for the first time on November 29th. The Smash participants were represented by 50 startups, tens of investors, and different actors from Finnish sports genre. Altogether, 400 participants from ten different countries participated to the event.
The Smash day included ten hours of hustle and bustle, new information, curiosity and new contacts. On the main stage, there were seen highly esteemed key speakers such as Mounir Zok, the Director of Technology & Innovation at the US Olympic Committee. Smash did not focus only on elite sports, but introduced also the possibilities that technology has to offer to the improvement of healthy lifestyle and customer experience.
Six technology startups had the chance to briefly present their products and business strategy in the Smash pitching competition. A Swedish startup called RaceONE won the competition. RaceONE is a mobile app that enables versatile spectator experience in races. With the app it is possible to follow the progress and speed of a specific athlete and find out the estimated time the athlete will pass the audience.
In addition, several product launches of new technologies were seen at Smash.
The change requires networking
“We wanted to create a platform where different actors among sports have the chance to look for new possibilities and to network”, Smash CEO Tommi Kolehmainen rejoices. “The atmosphere at Smash was excited and curious. We have received a lot of positive feedback that encourages us to improve the event further.”
Also the new technology innovators were satisfied with Smash:
“The fact that the representatives of Finnish elite sports awakened to the advantages of technological applications sticked in my mind in particular”, says Jan-Eric Wargelin, the founder of Kick.AI that focuses on sensor technology in martial arts.
“It was delightful to have conversations with people from diverse backgrounds and change thoughts about how people are ready to do and see things in a new way when it comes to personal development and coaching”, he continues. “The change rarely comes from the top. It requires networking on grass root level and participation of the athletes themselves. However, the Smash atmosphere showed us that the change is possible and it is on its way!”, he states. ”The digitalization is here to stay in sports and the future is for small and agile operators, that have the ability to react quickly in the changing field.”
Smash
Smash is a new, official Slush side-event aimed at the hundreds of billions sports market, which is a world’s first in providing a meeting place for sport, physical activity, passion, and technology.
The event was organized on Tuesday November 29th at Kattilahalli, Suvilahti, Helsinki.
(Sörnäisten rantatie 22, 00540 Helsinki)
CONTACT DETAILS
www.sportsmash.net
@Smash_Helsinki
Tommi Kolehmainen (CEO)
[email protected]
+358 400 885 088
Hanna Iiskola-Kesonen (producer)
[email protected]
+358 400 569 792
Photographs: Hanna Tyrväinen, Vastavirta
Smash office: Eteläesplanadi 22 B, 00130 Helsinki
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