For decades, athletic preparation has taken a back seat in the sports world, overshadowed by performance and recovery. But what if the warm-up wasn’t just the thing you rushed through or skipped altogether, but instead the core of your routine? Roy Ward, former medical device executive, youth sports coach and founder of PREGAME, is determined to flip the script.
PREGAME isn’t just a product — it’s a movement, and a lifestyle brand with a big mission: to make warming up proactive, intuitive and, above all, cool.
Ward saw the disconnect firsthand, both as a medical device sales leader and a youth coach.
“Everything in med tech was reactive — from treatment, recovery and rehab. There was no culture of hope or preparation,” he says.
On the sidelines, he noticed similar patterns.
“Kids show up to games glued to their phones,” Ward adds. “Even with good coaching, getting them to warm up with intention is tough. Warm-up isn’t en vogue.”
Instead of reactive care, Ward saw a growing obsession with recovery tools.
“It’s almost a badge of honor to need the recovery gun,” Ward says. “But no one’s asking, ‘What can I do to prevent this?’”
That cultural blind spot planted the seed for PREGAME, a brand rooted in proactive preparation rather than damage control. Ward leaped from a lengthy career in medical sales to launching a sports tech startup. The pivot may seem drastic, but for Ward, it was inevitable.
“I got to a point where I realized everything I loved — athletics, fashion, efficiency, proactivity — wasn’t being served by what I was doing,” he says. “I wanted to create something with legacy-level impact.”
PREGAME is that something. Set to launch its flagship product in 2026, PREGAME will introduce a groundbreaking wearable technology designed to seamlessly integrate into users’ existing routines, making warming up a part of their everyday lives.
“We’ve spent over a year in voice-of-customer research,” Ward says. “We knew the product had to integrate into existing routines — not ask people to carve out extra time.”
Whether in the car, at a hotel or on the sidelines, PREGAME aims to be with users wherever they are.
PREGAME believes that changing culture is essential to changing habits. Ward draws inspiration from lifestyle giants like Apple, Beats by Dre and Lululemon.
“We’re not just selling a warm-up device,” he says. “We’re building a culture of proactivity, hope and preparation.”
Central to that culture is music. PREGAME will feature curated playlists led by global artists to help users ritualize their warm-up. These playlists express warmth, style and personalization in your warm-up routine.
“It should be something people look forward to — not dread,” Ward says.
Another key pillar of PREGAME is its strong focus on community. The PREGAME app will allow users to share their warm-up rituals and track progress, building a sense of accountability and shared experience.
“We’re giving people a space to be seen, to feel significant — especially young athletes who are often looking for belonging,” Ward says.
While the PREGAME platform can benefit everyone — from casual movers to elite competitors — Ward knows a brand must start somewhere. Their initial focus will be on pro athletes, fitness enthusiasts and what he affectionately calls “movers” — everyday people who stay active in their own way.
PREGAME is a brand for everyone, inviting each individual to be part of the warm-up revolution and fostering a sense of belonging.
“These kids want to feel part of something bigger,” Ward says. “Once they see athletes and influencers wearing PREGAME, they’ll want to be part of it too. That’s how you create momentum.”
PREGAME has already attracted notable names in the athletic world. While Ward remains tight-lipped about specifics, he credits the long-term relationships he built during his career in medical technology.
“When you treat people well, work hard and build something meaningful, doors open,” he says.
Among his close advisors are Kevin Cullie, an early hire at Under Armour, Brandon McDaniel, Vice President, Player Performance for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Golden State Warriors trainer, Armando Rivas, who serves as PREGAME’s basketball ambassador.
So why do people skip warm-ups in the first place? Time, Ward says.
“We’re all busy. Youth athletes jump from cars to courts with no buffer,” he says. “Adults squeeze workouts into already-packed schedules. We had to create something that works within those constraints.”
PREGAME has designed its upcoming product suite with flexibility in mind. Users can seamlessly integrate it into their existing routines without needing to rearrange their day.
And because time is money — especially for elite athletes — PREGAME ensures that each moment spent warming up delivers a return on investment through improved performance and injury prevention, providing a practical solution to a common problem.
The brand is also addressing the cool factor. “Warm-up has never been sexy,” Ward says. “We’re changing that with design, music and culture.”
PREGAME’s aesthetic will be sleek and fashion-forward — something athletes will actually want to wear.
PREGAME is deeply rooted in Fishers, with local partnerships already forming, including the Fishers Event Center, the Indy Fuel and the Indy Freight. As the company ramps up to its official product launch in 2026, Ward focuses on refining the brand, growing the community and igniting excitement around something that has long been overlooked.
“This isn’t just a warm-up product — it’s a movement,” Ward says. “It’s about creating rituals that lead to better lives. If we do this right, we won’t just change how people prepare — we’ll change how they live.”
And that’s precisely the kind of PREGAME the world could use.
For more information, visit getpregame.com.
