On Running has been named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025 – placing it in the same conversation as YouTube, DeepSeek, Notion and other platform tech firms. The countdown is on: brands that once lived in the realm of apparel are now staking claims in the future of tech.
Crowned by Fast Company
Swiss performance-footwear and apparel brand On Running has landed on Fast Company’s 2025 “Most Innovative Companies” list, earning the byline “For reimagining how shoes are made.” While the Fast Company list spans 58 sectors and highlights over 600 organizations, landing in its top tiers puts On beside pure tech players, design platforms, and AI firms.
Why it matters
This placement is a milestone for On: being grouped with names like YouTube, Notion, and DeepSeek reframes On as not just a gear maker, but a software-inflected, data-driven innovation brand.
That shift is strategic: consumer expectations for smart wearables, connected training, performance analytics, and material science are pushing legacy apparel firms to embed digital capabilities. Recognition in this context strengthens On’s credibility with investors, talent, and tech partners – a signal that its R&D, algorithms, and experience design are being recognized beyond its category.
Zoom out
Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Companies” is a bellwether list, spanning industries but elevating those that apply tech, design, and systems thinking in new ways. In the 2025 list, heavy hitters like Waymo, Nvidia, Nubank and design/tech hybrids dominate the top slots. On’s presence among such innovators underscores how the boundaries between consumer tech and apparel are increasingly blurred.
In sporting goods and performance wear, this is part of a greater trend: brands like Nike, Under Armour, and Lululemon are pushing deeper into digital platforms, training apps, and smart textiles. On’s inclusion here suggests it is advancing in that arms race – turning “gear + data” into a competitive differentiator.
Dive deeper
See the full Fast Company Innovators ranking here.
By the Numbers
- Number of sectors in Fast Company’s 2025 innovation list: 58
- Total organizations recognized: ~609
- Top of list includes: Waymo, Nvidia, Nubank
- On’s home sector: sporting goods / performance wear
