ASICS and the Saudi Sports for All Federation named three winners in the first ASICS Innovation Pitch in Riyadh on October 30, 2025. The competition focused on digital solutions that inspire Saudis to be more active and engage with sports more regularly. Organizers positioned the program as a practical lever for healthier communities and a stronger sportstech economy.
Event Overview
The initiative invited Saudi Arabia-based startups to present ideas under the theme “Sports × Digital.” Finalists pitched to a panel that included leaders from SFA and ASICS, alongside international sport-innovation experts. The format emphasized working products, scalability, and measurable health outcomes across the Kingdom.
Winners and Prizes
Amplifai Health won first place and received a cash award of SAR20,000 for its top scoring pitch. Harwalah Fit secured second place with a prize of SAR10,000 following strong marks on engagement and growth potential. Fitness Storm placed third and was awarded SAR5,000 for a platform focused on accessible, tech-enabled training.
Strategic Partnerships and Investment Pathways
All three winning startups were invited to explore collaboration and potential investment opportunities with ASICS Ventures, the company’s corporate venture capital arm. That pathway signals an intent to translate pitch success into pilots, co-development, or strategic funding. It also ties early-stage innovation to ASICS’ longer-term product, data, and wellbeing roadmap.
Finalists and Innovation Themes
The finalist cohort featured Amplifai Health, AQUIVIO Arabia, Harwalah Fit, Fitness Storm, and Fanera. Their solutions spanned wearable health analytics, community fitness activation, and smart hydration technologies tailored to local needs. Judges assessed product readiness, user adoption potential, and alignment with health outcomes and market fit.
Leadership Presence and Bilateral Context
The event was attended by SFA President HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud and SFA Managing Director Shaima Saleh Al-Husseini. Japan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, H.E. Fumio Iwai, also participated, reflecting the program’s international ties and ASICS’ Japanese roots. Their presence underscored a bilateral interest in sportstech, public health, and entrepreneurship.
Alignment with Vision 2030
Launched in mid-2025, the program supports Vision 2030 goals to raise physical activity levels and develop a vibrant, sustainable sports sector. Organizers framed digital innovation as a bridge between individual motivation and nationwide participation. By nurturing a pipeline of Saudi founders, the program seeks durable impact on quality of life and economic diversification.
Role of SFA and ASICS
For SFA, the competition operationalizes its mandate to enable participation for all segments of society through practical, tech-forward solutions. For ASICS, it is a targeted way to scout and shape human-centric performance technologies that complement its global footwear and apparel business. Both parties emphasized measurable outcomes, community adoption, and the potential for scaled pilots after the pitch.
Looking Ahead
Next steps include structured dialogues between the winning teams and ASICS Ventures to evaluate pilots and investment fit. SFA will continue convening ecosystem stakeholders around programs that convert innovation into community activity and national health gains. The finalists’ traction will be a key indicator of how quickly sportstech can move from competitions to real-world use.
The inaugural ASICS Innovation Pitch delivered clear signals about the future of sportstech in Saudi Arabia. With defined winners, cash awards, and a credible path to corporate collaboration, the program tied recognition to real opportunities. Its alignment with Vision 2030 suggests sustained support for startups that make fitness more digital, more engaging, and more accessible.