What is Equip Sport?
Equip Sport is a Swiss-based start-up providing free access to sports equipment through connected stations located in public spaces, enabling people to play anytime, anywhere.
When and why was Equip Sport founded?
Equip Sport was founded in 2021 to remove barriers to sport by combining the sharing economy with urban sports culture, making it easier for anyone to be active without owning equipment.
Who founded Equip Sport and who are the key people behind it?
Equip Sport is a separate company spun out of the Nidecker Group, co-founded with Didier Drogba. It is led by CEO Vincent Borel.
Where does Equip Sport operate today?
Equip Sport operates more than 500 stations in more than 10 countries across Europe, with recent expansions into Canada and upcoming activations in other major global cities.
What is Equip Sport’s mission and vision?
Mission: To catalyze and facilitate access to sport for everyone, anywhere, anytime.
Vision: A worldwide revolution in urban sport and its culture, powered by the sharing economy.
Tagline: Unlock Your Game
Motto: Any Sport, Anytime, Anywhere
What makes Equip Sport different from other sports equipment or sharing economy platforms?
Equip Sport combines accessibility, technology, and culture, offering 24/7 free access to quality equipment in prime urban locations, driven by partnerships with global brands and local communities. Equip Sport offers a 360 solution, access to equipment for the community, 24/7 360 degree maintenance of each station deployed handled by the Equip Sport team, and impact driven insights for cities and brands to better serve their communities. Equip Sport delivers access, impact, and community connection for its partners all the while handling all maintenance and upkeep needs.
Equip Sport’s station design is one-of-a-kind, so effective that others are already copying the flexible support system we created, which allows our stations to be installed virtually anywhere. This innovation, paired with our industry-leading maintenance operations, makes us the only provider capable of running over 100+ stations in a single city while keeping the player experience consistently smooth, reliable, and on point.
What cities or countries are you planning to expand to next?
Equip Sport is gearing up to launch in the United States ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while expanding further across Europe and Canada.
How many sessions or players has Equip Sport supported to date?
To date, Equip Sport supports over 100k+ players, who have played more than 1 million sessions of sport for free!
How do users access and return equipment?
Equip Sport has more than 500 stations active everyday around the world, all offering free access to any sport, anytime.
How do Equip Sport stations work? How do users access and return equipment?
Players use the Equip Sport mobile app, “Equip Sport” to unlock equipment from the connected stations, enjoy their game, and return it when finished. The connection between the mobile app and the stations are made through a bluetooth connection. Important to know, a credit card is not required to sign up and play with Equip Sport.
What sports do you currently offer equipment for?
Equip Sport offers more than 20+ sports, however the most popular are: soccer, basketball, volleyball, ping-pong, fitness, pickleball, padel tennis, and stand-up paddle boarding.
Is it free for the player to use the Equip Sport station?
Yes. Our stations provide free access to sports equipment, because our mission is to remove barriers and make sport available to everyone. To serve the broader needs of the community, we also offer a premium layer: higher-value sports like pickleball or stand-up paddle boarding include a small pay-per-use fee, while our Equip Sport Plus subscription unlocks advance booking, faster access, and premium gear. This way, everyone enjoys free access, with the option to go further if they choose.
Is Equip Sport free for the city?
Yes. Equip Sport can be deployed at no cost to the city thanks to our sponsorship model, where partners fund the stations and receive brand visibility. Cities also have the option to co-fund projects if they wish to expand faster or customize the program. In every case, the service is designed to remove barriers and deliver maximum community impact without creating a financial burden for municipalities. Equip Sport offers a full turn-key solution for cities, without any installation or running costs.
How do you ensure the quality and safety of the equipment?
Equip Sport has fully digitized its operations to monitor the health of its stations and equipment in real time. The community plays a key role by reporting issues through the app, which are instantly sent to local maintenance partners. These reports are automatically added to the regular maintenance schedule, ensuring equipment is inspected, repaired, or replaced promptly.
What partnerships or sponsors does Equip Sport currently have?
Equip Sport is proud to work with leading brands like adidas, Jumpstart (Canadian Tire), and Decathlon, alongside forward-thinking cities including Paris, London, Munich, Surrey BC, and many more. We also partner with brands beyond the sports world — any organization that shares our mission to revolutionize how people access sport. All of our partners believe in the power of sport as a great equalizer, breaking down barriers, fostering community, and changing lives.