A record number of international startups have entered the ActiveLab accelerator programme – strengthening the UK's reputation as a fitness tech hub.

Applications for the 2019 cohort closed last week and there were more than 70 applications from 14 different countries and six continents.

International applications have nearly doubled from the 2018 programme (when there were eight).

ukactive CEO Steven Ward said: “The global interest generated by ActiveLab 2019 shows that the UK is becoming the beating heart of emerging Fit-Tech, with promising start-ups from every corner of the world applying for next year’s programme.

“Physical inactivity is a growing crisis across the world, but fitness tech start-ups have the power to provide global solutions, transforming our health models and reaching new audiences through innovation.”

Organised by ukactive and supported by Public Health England, ActiveLab has been set up to support the government’s ambitions to uncover a new generation of health tech in order to reduce the burden on the NHS.

Now in its third year, ActiveLab aims to support fit-tech start-ups which aim to transform public health by engaging more people in physical activity and sport.

The 14 different countries with representation in the 2019 ActiveLab programme are: The UK, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Canada, Chile, China, Germany, India, Israel, Philippines, Netherlands, Switzerland and USA.

The 2018 edition of ActiveLab was won by Baby2Body – a health and wellbeing coaching app for pregnancy and motherhood.