Earlier this month, Zimmerman sent a pair of Digital Innovation team members to the Miami Startup Weekend, part of the wearables and fashion tech Global Fashion Battle powered by Google for Entrepreneurs. They ended up taking first place with their unique fitness clothing tech that aims to make working out harder and faster, easier. The event is the world's largest wearables and fashion tech startup competition where renowned technology and fashion experts assemble together for a hands-on battle over sharing ideas, forming teams and launching startups in just 54-hours. Three Zimmerman associates entered the competition with ideas that were representative of the agency's “Responsible Ambition” approach that is designed to apply bold innovation to solve real world, transactional business challenges. Natalie Zauhar (Sr. UX specialist), Nick McKenzie (Managing Technical Director) and Jessica Gutchess (Jr. UX specialist) took their concepts to Miami and proved to venture capitalists and startup experts that their ideas were the best.
Zimmerman took first place at Miami's Startup Weekend, part of the Wearables and Fashion Tech Global Battle powered by Google for Entrepreneurs
The Startup Weekend's Global Wearables and Fashion Tech Battle saw each participating city (teams in Miami were competing concurrently with teams in New York, London, Chicago, Guadalajara Mexico and Santa Cruz Bolivia) hosting a 54-hour event bringing together developers, designers and non techs to create functional companies from scratch, making it the world’s biggest Wearables & Fashion Tech startup competition in the world! The winning teams from each city will be flown and compete against one another on a global stage in Poznań, Poland (the home of the 8th Art & Fashion Forum) on October 19th to pitch their concepts in front of thousands of tech enthusiasts and international judges.
The winning entry was called Precision in Motion; an idea based on chronic issues that arise when someone is working out badly. The solution they found was to create fitness clothing equipped with sensors that monitored the body in motion while performing the activity. This technology is able to detect bad form and correct it by providing real time feedback with sensory cues that will sync with an app to track your form showing a 360-degree view. While this idea could be sold in partnership with a brand like Reebok or Under Armour for incremental product sales, the app experience can extend to monetize further - from contextual ad push to partnerships with insurance companies, service providers and like minded active brands.
Team leader Natalie Zauhar will travels to Poznan, Poland on October 19 to pitch the concept in front of thousands of tech enthusiasts and international judges
Team leader Natalie Zauhar, who will be travelling to Poznań in October, said: “We work in innovation, so as a team, we're constantly thinking of ideas, creating concepts and finding solutions to issues we face every day. That's how Precision in Motion came to fruition, serving as a catalyst for change in the CrossFit world utilising the technology and talent this agency has to offer. I had the idea, Zimmerman provided us the platform to go out and pursue it.” Interestingly, Zimmerman's alternative concept placed second, making the agency the top contender at the event. Zimmerman CEO Michael Goldberg added of the team's success: “I am so proud of the team, as they continue to prove that innovation has a critical place mixed with the responsibility of retail business.”
