Israeli startup Motionize develops smart kayak

Motionize
Motionize

The company's product is helping the US Olympic team train for the Rio games. Motionize plans expanding to other sports.

The world's major technological companies have realized that high-tech such as computer wearables can improve sports performance. One Israeli startup operating in this space is Motionize, founded by CEO Guy Aharon.

"We've begun with kayaks," Aharon told "Globes," "In the US alone there is a market of 23 million people who paddle kayaks. We're talking about a very tough environment, with water. What we've in fact developed is the ability to compare the paddler's actual performance and optimal performance."

Motionize is the first sports tracking company to use two independent sensors to generate a complete picture movements. After thousands of hours of testing, the startup developed proprietary algorithms and machine learning techniques that enable beginner paddlers and professional athletes alike to benefit from insightful, personalized, and instant feedback.

He added, "We have one sensor on the paddle and another sensor on the kayak. The paddler sees a small screen opposite him and there is a presentation that shows him what he is actually doing and what he should be doing."

Founded in 2011, the company has 20 employees, most of them in Israel. Motionize's product is already helping the US Olympic team as it trains for the Rio Olympics in the summer. Aharon explains, "The most important thing in sport, whether professional or amateur, is technique. Even if you are just jogging for pleasure you will enjoy it more with our product. You might not qualify for the Olympics but you raining will be better because your body will be able to make less effort."

Aharon added, "There is no end of products that monitor movement and measure various physical parameters. They provide data about pulse, speed, angles. OK. So what? What can I do with all this information? Is it good? Is it not good? I need to improve but what can I do with all this information. We take the information and process it and tell you that if you do things in a certain way it will be better for you."

Motionize, which plans a financing round later this year, plans to expand from kayaking to other sports.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 18, 2016

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2016

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