The winners of the Global Sport Venture Challenge have been announced by Arizona State University, with the top prize going to a mental health resource app for athletes.

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Photo Archive/2013/06-June/ASU-Sign

The winners of Arizona State University’s Global Sport Venture Challenge for 2021 have been announced. Adidas, the Global Sports Venture Studio, and Coalition Venture Studio collaborated on the startup pitch competition.

Timeout, an app that connects athletes with mental health resources and was founded by Maya McClendon, a former ASU volleyball player from the Class of 2017, won the first-place $15,000 prize. Conscious Gear, an apparel brand, took second place and received $10,000. Outdoor enthusiasts and endurance athletes can purchase plus-size outerwear from the brand.

Get Gifted, a platform for brands to give gift cards to customers, received $5,000 for third place. The startup was co-founded by Michael Matus, a junior defensive end on ASU’s football team. In addition to the funding, all three startups will receive mentorship from GSVS, Coalition and Adidas. Also selected to receive mentorship was VBA America, a volleyball clothing brand founded by current ASU beach volleyball player Kate Fitzgerald. 

Arizona State’s Global Sport Institute and J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute organized the event. The Global Sports Venture Studio is operated by R/GA Ventures and the Elysian Park Ventures, and its partners include NASCAR, MLB, MLS, the NHL, and UEFA. ShotTracker co-founder Davyeon Ross helped launch the Coalition Venture Studio.