Timeshifter wins pitch competition, Kenzen 2026, and enters business collaboration discussion with ASICS

ASICS Ventures Corporation, ASICS’ corporate venture capital arm, today announced Timeshifter as the grand prize winner of Kenzen 2026 [1], the global innovation pitch competition of ASICS. Timeshifter receives $40,000 and a business collaboration discussion with ASICS.

Kenzen 2026 was held on October 22, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in partnership with University of Michigan Innovation Partnerships and LEAD, with six finalists selected from 196 applications.

THE WINNERS

Grand prize: Timeshifter (Timeshifter Inc.): A company developing technologies to control circadian rhythms. Timeshifter focuses on travelers and reports more than 1.8 million travelers on its apps, and its partners include United Airlines and Axiom Space. The grand prize includes $40,000, a business collaboration discussion with ASICS, a demo or speaking moment at Kenzen 2027, custom ASICS shoes for each founder, and a trip to Japan including a visit to the ASICS Institute of Sport Science. timeshifter.com

Runner-up: Betterguards (Betterguards Technology, Inc.): A company focused on helping athletes move better, recover faster and stay protected longer. The runner-up receives $25,000, a discovery call with the most relevant ASICS business unit, and custom ASICS shoes for each founder. betterguards.com

Third place: Sweatpals (Sweatpals, Inc.): A company developing a single marketplace for every fitness community. Third place receives $10,000, a discovery call with the most relevant ASICS business unit, and custom ASICS shoes for each founder. sweatpals.com

OTHER FINALISTS

Climatic (Climatic, Inc.): Revolutionizing respiratory health for the modern world with first-of-its-kind daily lung health. climatichealth.com

Suji (Suji Sub Inc.): Measure and improve muscular age for active adults. trysuji.com

The Inner Game (Peak Performance AI, Inc.): AI-assisted mental coaching app that helps athletes, executives, and artists perform under pressure. theinnergame.app

Program Overview

Program name Kenzen 2026

Pitch Day October 22, 2026

Venue University of Michigan Golf Course, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Applications 196

Prize Package $80K total : Grand prize $40K, runner-up $25K and third place $10K ($5K non-cash)

ABOUT KENZEN

Kenzen is the official pitch competition of ASICS. ASICS Ventures announced Kenzen in June 2026 to bring its pitch programs together as a single named program. Through Kenzen, ASICS Ventures looks for startups that enhance ASICS customer experience and connects their founders with ASICS product, channel, and business development teams.

ABOUT ASICS VENTURES CORPORATION

ASICS Ventures Corporation is the corporate venture capital arm of ASICS Corporation, investing in and partnering with startups that extend the ASICS customer experience to new people and places.

For further information, visit kenzen.asics.com.

[1] The name Kenzen derives from the Japanese word 健全 (Kenzen), meaning “sound” or “healthy”, a direct echo of the founding philosophy that has guided ASICS since 1949.