ODI’s OpenActive Accelerator calls innovative startups to help millions stay active
Apply for the Open Data Institute’s 6-month OpenActive Accelerator in partnership with Sport England where digital meets open data to help people stay active. Startups apply
- Make it easier for almost 18 million people who struggle to stay active in England
- Get dedicated support from experts in entrepreneurship, data, sport and physical activity
- Develop market-ready solutions with open data and pioneer digital innovation within the sport and physical activity sector
Staying physically active is hard. Digital products and services can make it easier with open data.
The Open Data Institute (ODI) is calling for startups to apply for its 6-month OpenActive Accelerator programme, using open ‘opportunity’ data (data about where and when physical activity opportunities happen) to produce market-ready digital solutions that can help people discover activities and stay active.
Developments in data, social media, Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence are having a huge impact on people’s lives — such as bringing outstanding customer experiences in transport and entertainment. We are calling for startups that can achieve a positive impact in sport and physical activity by easing the journey people go on towards an active lifestyle.
Orsola De Marco, Head of Startups, at the ODI said:
“There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to getting people active. People struggle to stay active for many reasons, such as time pressures, changing commitments, health restrictions and emotional barriers. Data can reduce friction across services and create solutions that are tailored to people’s needs.
Allowing startups to respond to specific challenges of their choice makes way for broader innovation across the sector that can reach different parts of our society. This diversity creates a powerful peer-network and offers valuable opportunities for collaboration. We are excited to support startups along their journey, accelerating their growth and impact.”
Breaking frustrating silos with collaborative innovation
Silo-ed information about available activities and little collaboration among organisations, in the sector makes it difficult to develop seamless experiences supporting physical activity. The OpenActive initiative is overcoming these barriers, building sector-wide momentum with sport and physical activity organisations opening data about where and when activity opportunities happen across the country.
Jeni Tennison, CEO at the Open Data Institute said:
“Today, open innovation with data is fundamental for business and market growth. Innovators are taking increasing advantage of data to transform every aspect of our lives, often simply by making us more aware of our options. But they need data.
“The sport and tech sectors are working together in a new way, building an open data ecosystem that delivers both the social benefits of people being more active and business opportunities. Physical activity providers have demonstrated their commitment to this vision by publishing open data about what they offer. Now it’s time to see how that data can be used in novel ways to get people active. ”
Dave Newton, Director of Mass Markets at Sport England, said:
“The sport and physical activity sector continues to evolve and innovate to keep up with the digital expectations of its consumers. This is a strong step in the right direction, and is an exciting time for the sector as the collaborative use of data, both shared and open, becomes even more essential to providing the consumer with easy, flexible access to engage with sport and activity.”
OpenActive Accelerator programme offers an expert support network
The accelerator offers a unique opportunity for startups to build more efficient and engaging solutions to attract and keep people active. A fresh supply of open data from the sector will become available from British Cycling, England Netball, Forestry Commission, Canal & River Trust and others.
The programme will run from May — October 2018, with up to 10 startups gaining access to a stellar network of partners, data providers, experts and leading mentors. Each startup will be provided with office space, mentoring, workshops, access to legal and investment advice, events, networking opportunities, and additional perks like cloud-storage and software packages.
Meet the network of mentors, supporters and data providers
Visit the accelerator page to meet the organisations and experts supporting the accelerator, find out more about the programme, how to apply and to register your support.
Want to help promote this opportunity to startups? Register you support to help us spread the word on social.
Startups apply
Media or programme enquiries
For media enquiries, contact Patrice John-Baptiste, patrice.jb@theodi.org, +44 07825 988 805
Have a question about your accelerator application? Get in touch
Want to become a mentor? Apply
Interested in partnering with us? Register your interest
About OpenActive
OpenActive is a community-led initiative of sport and physical activity organisations and individuals, using open data to help people get active. It hopes to support the 17.7 million (39.4%) adults in England who don’t exercise enough, to easily discover and take part in suitable activities. Together, the sector is improving access to opportunity data, stimulating innovation with data to meet people’s digital expectations, developing open standards, building data literacy, and working collaboratively to evoke change across the sector.
Read more about the OpenActive initiative
Join the OpenActive community
Learn about open data
Shape the data standards for the sector
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Follow us on Twitter @openactive.io
Email us at hello@openactive.io
