Created by a KEDGE alumnus, onTracks raises 1 million euros!

Since leaving KEDGE in 1992, Philippe Leca has held several Financial Director posts in various SME and industrial groups in France and in the United States, all of which had global and innovation aspects in common. In the beginning of 2016, with 20 years of experience behind him, he decided to embark with confidence on an entrepreneurial venture. The idea came to him when he was on a cycling trip: bring more freedom to outdoor sports enthusiasts (cycling, trail, running, hiking) who are constantly forced to consult a screen or listen to voice guidance of a GPS in order to follow their route. This same can also apply to those who ride motorcyclists and scooters who want to go from point A to point B, for citizens who get around town on a “Vélib’”, or even for tourists who want to visit and explore a city.

This idea gave birth to a project: that of creating a connected watch with a simple and intuitive guidance solution for outdoor activities and daily commutes! 

How does it work?

Watches – one worn on each wrist – are connected to the onTracks smartphone app.  A choice of itineraries provided by the onTracks community and perfectly adapted to your habits, performance, and current location are suggested. You then choose a route, push “GO”, and then you put away your phone and let yourself be guided. Nothing is can be simpler! When you need to take a right, the watch on the right wrist vibrates and gives directions.  Likewise, when you need to turn left, the watch on the left wrist vibrates and gives any necessary information.

A mountain bike champion as ambassador

Julien Absalon, international mountain bike champion, announced his partnership with the startup onTracks, during the Sea Otter Europe festival, in Spain.

“What I find interesting is that you don’t have to take out your telephone to follow the GPS because with onTracks you wear a watch on each wrist, and when you arrive at a crossing, it vibrates on the side where you have to turn – to the right or to the left. It was the ultra-simple and practical aspect that precisely appealed to me.” Julien Absalon

A great success in two years

By raising 1 million euros in funds in the beginning of this year, onTracks has received the confidence of institutional investors, BPI France, and Business Angels to finance its development.  But this is not all, the startup has already received a number of other marks of recognition:

• Chosen by French Tech to exhibit at the CES Conference in Las Vegas in 2017, and again in January 2019.
• 2017 Winner of the IGN incubator, IGNFab
• Laureate of Annecy Base Camp 2017, the incubator of Outdoor Sport Valley, an association that brings together the biggest players in the world of outdoor sport
• Winner of the Digital Innovation Contest (CIN6) organised by BPI and DGE
• Winner of the Outdoor Industry Award 2017 by a jury of international experts at Outdoor Show, an international outdoor sport fair (Friedrichshafen, Germany)
• Winner of the Inosport 2018 competition in the 'Application & Services' category

Participate in the Crowdfunding campaign and be one of the first to receive a GuideWatch! 

Winner of the 'Applications & Services' category at the Inosport 2018 show at the end of June, the OnTracks GuideWatches will be available at the end of the year at a price of 179 € (all taxes included) in stores specialising in outdoor sports. The Marseillaise startup is also launching a pre-sales campaign on the Indiegogo platform in September, which will allow Internet users to pre-order the product at a preferential price (with priority delivery), provide feedback, and contribute to the success of onTracks.

CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAMPAIGN AND ORDER YOURS

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