The Adidas founder's family brought its sports-and-health startup program to the U.S. for the first time in Lake Nona. Here's how it works.
The leAD Lake Nona Sports & Health Tech Accelerator is a startup program for sports, fitness and health-technology companies, based at ms2 Lab in the Pixon building in Lake Nona Town Center. It was announced in February 2020 as the first U.S. accelerator of leAD, a Berlin-based sports and health investor founded in 2016 and backed by the family of Adidas founder Adi Dassler. leAD stands for “legacy of Adi Dassler.” The program's first three cohorts, announced from 2020 to 2022, each brought six startups from the U.S., Europe and Latin America to Lake Nona. At launch, each company received a $75,000 pre-seed investment for 8% equity, along with mentoring and access to Lake Nona's health and sports institutions for testing.
Adidas grew out of a shoe company Adi Dassler started in a small German town in the 1920s. Today the family of its founder, Adi Dassler, backs startups in sports and health technology, and when their investment firm leAD opened its first program outside Europe, it chose Lake Nona.
The accelerator sits inside ms2 Lab in Town Center. It's small, selective and easy to overlook, but it's one of the clearest links between Lake Nona's sports and medical identity and its startup ambitions. Here's how it works.
What Is the leAD Lake Nona Accelerator?
It's a startup accelerator for sports, fitness and health-technology companies, run by leAD in partnership with Lake Nona developer Tavistock and based at ms2 Lab in Lake Nona Town Center.
The program was announced on February 20, 2020, as leAD's first accelerator in the United States. It operates from the ground floor of the Pixon building in ms2 Lab, a space it shares with the Verizon 5G Innovation Hub.
Who Is Behind leAD?
leAD is a Berlin-based sports and health investor, founded in 2016 and backed by the family of Adidas founder Adi Dassler; the name stands for “legacy of Adi Dassler.”
leAD's co-founders include CEO Christoph Sonnen and Horst Bente, a grandson of Adi Dassler. Today leAD describes itself as a global investment manager specializing in sports and health, with venture funds and partnerships with corporations. The Lake Nona accelerator is its U.S. startup program.
How Does the leAD Lake Nona Program Work?
Each cohort of early-stage startups goes through a months-long program of investment, mentoring and real-world product testing in Lake Nona.
When the program launched, it ran about six months, and each company received a $75,000 pre-seed investment in exchange for 8% equity. Founders get coaching from leAD's network, and the chance to test products with Lake Nona's athletes, health institutions and residents. That last part is the main reason the program is here rather than in a big-city office.
Which Startups Has leAD Lake Nona Backed?
The first three cohorts each had six startups, chosen from hundreds of applicants, working in areas like injury prevention, athlete analytics, mental health and wearables.
| Cohort 1 (2020–21) | TERSA, KinoTek, NESTRE, Phlex, AgeRate, Break the Love; Demo Day at Boxi Park, May 2021 |
|---|---|
| Cohort 2 (2021) | Kutai, OxiWear, Point, Suji, indiFIT, Flumina (a Lake Nona company); chosen from 495 applicants |
| Cohort 3 (2022) | Encore, Gemini Sports Analytics, Icaro, SM24, Soarce, Wavy; chosen from 617 applicants |
What Does leAD Mean for Lake Nona?
leAD connects Lake Nona's sports and medical institutions to an international startup pipeline, and it brings founders from around the world to work in Town Center.
For a community known for Medical City, the USTA National Campus and the Lake Nona Performance Club, a sports-and-health accelerator is a natural fit, and a Lake Nona startup (Flumina) has gone through the program. See more of Lake Nona's innovation scene in our Lake Nona tech and innovation guide.
Pros, Cons and Our Take
Pros
- Backed by a globally known sports family and investor, which gives Lake Nona startups international connections
- A clear fit with Lake Nona's sports, fitness and medical institutions
- Brings international founders to work in Town Center
Cons
- Small: about six startups per cohort
- Of limited direct relevance to most residents, beyond occasional product tests and events
- leAD doesn't publish detailed cohort results
Our Take
leAD is a small program with a big name behind it. It won't change daily life in Lake Nona, but it's one of the more genuine examples of the community's “test it here first” pitch in action.
What the Neighbors Know
Most residents only notice leAD when a demo day or a product test brings it into public view. Founders see it differently: for them, it's a chance to try a sports or health product in a community built around both.
Official Sources
- leAD (official site)
- Lake Nona: partnership with leAD Sports announced
- Nonahood News: second cohort announced
- Lake Nona: third cohort announced
Buying or selling in Lake Nona? Call/Text David Myers at 407.801.3286 or use the contact form.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the leAD Lake Nona Sports & Health Tech Accelerator?
It is a startup accelerator for sports, fitness and health-technology companies, run by the Berlin-based investor leAD with Lake Nona developer Tavistock and based at ms2 Lab in Lake Nona Town Center. It was announced in February 2020 as leAD's first U.S. program.
What does leAD stand for?
leAD stands for “legacy of Adi Dassler,” the founder of Adidas. The firm is backed by the Dassler family.
Where is the leAD accelerator in Lake Nona?
The accelerator is based at ms2 Lab on the ground floor of the Pixon building in Lake Nona Town Center, which it shares with the Verizon 5G Innovation Hub.
How much does leAD invest in each startup?
When the Lake Nona program launched, each startup received a $75,000 pre-seed investment in exchange for 8% equity, along with mentoring and access to Lake Nona partners for testing.
Which startups have gone through leAD Lake Nona?
The first three cohorts included TERSA, KinoTek, NESTRE, Phlex, AgeRate, Break the Love, Kutai, OxiWear, Point, Suji, indiFIT, Flumina, Encore, Gemini Sports Analytics, Icaro, SM24, Soarce and Wavy.
:format(webp):quality(80)/u.realgeeks.media/lakenonafloridaproperties/Lake_Nona_Buyers_Guide_Square.jpg)
:format(webp):quality(80)/u.realgeeks.media/lakenonafloridaproperties/lake-nona-map-search.jpg)
:format(webp):quality(80)/u.realgeeks.media/lakenonafloridaproperties/lakenonafloridaproperties-realtor-david-myers-sidebar.jpg)
