Asics invests in VR fitness company Valkyrie

June 29, 2023 – Valkyrie Industriesis a patentedHapticsEMSA tech startup that offers virtual reality (VR) fitness experiences announced this week that it has moved fromAsics VenturesSignificant investment has been made. However, the company did not disclose the specific investment amount.

Valkyrie Industries said the financing will allow it to accelerate growth and launch the "EIR Arm Band," the company's wearable muscle-haptic device that combines virtual reality and electrical muscle stimulation. Valkyrie Industries also has an agreement with ASICS to jointly develop EIR Training, the company's virtual fitness training platform that allows users to interact with different trainers and experience muscle-based movements.

Valkyrie Industries has developed a hardware and software platform technology designed to provide muscle haptics for immersive sports experiences. The company sets its sights on revolutionizing virtual and augmented reality (AR) experiences by creating tactile wearables that allow users to feel and interact with digital environments.

According to Valkyrie Industries, EIR Training is a fitness program that allows users to take virtual fitness classes led by trainers in "Metropolis." The experience can be customized to suit individual needs, and the program includes structured classes such as Cable HIIT and Dumbbell HIIT, which include virtual equipment such as cable machines and dumbbells. The EIR arm bands are designed to provide specific stimulation to each muscle and provide a more immersive fitness experience by simulating real movement through electrical stimulation of the biceps and triceps.

Valkyrie Industries said that in cooperation with Asics, they plan to let coaches wear ASICS sportswear on the EIR Training platform in 2023 and develop ASICS' own fitness courses on the EIR Training platform.

Kourosh Atefipour, co-founder and CEO of Valkyrie Industries, said: "Partnering with such a well-known sports company as ASICS not only validates our technology, but also provides us with new opportunities to expand our user base and enhance our product offering. This This collaboration allows us to combine our expertise in haptic wearables with ASICS' knowledge in sports apparel and fitness training to create a more immersive and effective fitness experience for our users."

ASICS Enterprises promotes a healthy mind and body philosophy through various perspectives in its "Vision 2030" and engages in innovative business collaborations with various promising start-ups. Akihiro Mori, President of ASICS Ventures, said of the partnership with Valkyrie Industries: “We see Valkyrie Industries’ technology as having great potential to make sports experiences accessible, inclusive and enjoyable for all, anytime, anywhere. The collaboration will also strengthen the various extended reality initiatives currently underway within ASICS to deliver fun sports in virtual worlds."

For more information on Valkyrie Industries and its virtual reality fitness solutions, visit the company'swebsite.

Image credit: Valkyrie Industries