Therapeutic massage remedy has many vital advantages together with improved circulation, lowered coronary heart fee and blood stress, improved immune perform, lowered irritation and ache, and alleviated stress ranges. Regardless of these advantages, there was little or no innovation within the trade and it’s largely been depending on a handbook workforce; a workforce that’s dealing with a scarcity of over 29,000 therapists. This has led to a multi-billion-dollar income loss in income for the trade within the US alone. Aescape has constructed an automatic message remedy resolution within the type of a contemporary, glossy therapeutic massage desk that mimics human contact whereas offering data-driven insights. The corporate is concentrating on the hospitality, wellness, and athletic markets for the holistic Aescape Expertise that was developed by a staff of efficiency, AI, healthcare, health, and robotics trade specialists. Born out of the founder’s private expertise with discovering remedy choices for his personal neck stiffness, Aescape is on a mission to make therapeutic massage remedy accessible as soon as its launches in late 2023.
AlleyWatch caught up with Aescape CEO and Founder Eric Litman to be taught extra concerning the enterprise, the corporate’s strategic plans, newest spherical of funding, and far, far more…
Who have been your traders and the way a lot did you elevate?
Aescape raised $30M in a Collection A funding spherical led by Valor Siren Ventures and Valor Fairness Companions, an early investor in Tesla and SpaceX, Fifth Wall, and Alley Robotics Ventures, and from present traders together with Crosslink Capital, Alumni Ventures, and NBA Champion and All-Star Kevin Love.
Inform us concerning the services or products that Aescape presents.
Aescape helps a number of industries meet the rising demand for bodily wellness and restoration providers by delivering a labor augmentation resolution that permits motels to extend buyer demand, satisfaction, and retention by way of an modern therapeutic massage remedy resolution. Based on Forbes, the wellness trade has seen a 21% development in wellness tourism, but the U.S. therapeutic massage trade is dropping $4B yearly as a result of a labor scarcity of 29,000+ therapists (iSPA 2022).
Aescape delivers a beautifully-designed, fully-automated, therapeutic therapeutic massage and wellness expertise that leaves individuals feeling more healthy, happier, and restored.
Advantages to service suppliers embody:
- Fulfills demand by way of 24/7 availability to complement labor scarcity and skill to service members
- New income streams by capturing demand and providing add-on providers
- Producing repeat clients by way of comfort and effectivity of the expertise and skill to drive in-the-moment bookings
- Boosting model notion for suppliers as an innovator and trade pioneer
- Servicing and retaining present therapists – various remedy offers extra flexibility in employees planning; with Aescape, therapeutic massage remedy turns into a perk to on-staff therapists who work lengthy hours and want therapeutic massage remedies themselves
What impressed the beginning of Aescape?
I based Aescape in 2017 to serve a private ache level: a debilitating stiffness in my neck that was compromising my high quality of life. As a frequent traveler, I struggled to search out consistency between remedies, and with no different resolution in sight, I got down to create a product that will empower individuals to take management of their very own experiences.
The Aescape Expertise is 5+ years within the making, constructed by among the most famed expertise in robotics and human efficiency, with earlier expertise at Accenture, Amazon, Apple, FitBit, Intuitive Surgical, Peloton, and Tonal.
How is Aescape completely different?
Aescape is exclusive in that it presents a full-automated, self-directed therapeutic massage remedy resolution for these trying to take extra management of their remedy routine. Members can choose into remedy types and lengths that match how they consider their very own wants, whereas the system gives an insightful, intuitive pill show with interactive instruments to regulate the areas of focus, stress, and sequencing of the remedy.
Therapeutic massage remedy applications provided are curated in collaboration with highly-skilled therapists to ship a exceptional and unparalleled expertise.
The platform tracks every member’s periods and delivers suggestions and options to optimize remedy plans and perceive their our bodies. Over time, Aescape will report on enhancements to at least one’s physique, and thru linked apps, will have the ability to present the advantages of Aescape in correlation to mindfulness, higher sleep, and health/athletic efficiency.
What market does Aescape goal and the way huge is it?
Aescape is for anybody trying to dwell a more healthy, happier life. The full market alternative for The Aescape Expertise is estimated at 39% of adults or 101 million potential triers. Analysis with 4,000 respondents factors to a possible net-new viewers of 4M who don’t presently get massages as a result of physique boundaries like being bare in entrance of or touched by a stranger – who stated they might choose into The Aescape Expertise after seeing video of it.
What’s your enterprise mannequin?
We companion with companies that present therapeutic massage providers. Our staff installs, trains, and helps the companies that use the Aescape Expertise, and we offer ongoing product and remedy updates over time.
How are you getting ready for a possible financial slowdown?
We’ve simply raised an extra $30M to assist our staff by way of no matter market situations we might face forward. Our firm is run by disciplined operators who’ve been by way of a number of financial downturns, and we’re of the assumption that among the finest companies on the earth are constructed throughout difficult occasions.
What was the funding course of like?
With a compelling product and vital market traction, we discovered the capital markets to be remarkably receptive to this spherical of financing. We obtained a number of, high-quality phrases sheets from tier-one traders, and in the end partnered with Valor for his or her expertise in constructing sustainable, deep-tech manufacturers.
What are the largest challenges that you just confronted whereas elevating capital?
Our challenges have been in elevating earlier rounds, the place proof factors have been lighter.
What components about your enterprise led your traders to jot down the verify?
Our therapeutic massage expertise is excellent and matches with our message of “attempt as soon as, imagine perpetually.” The market is clearly exhibiting that they imagine in what we’re constructing, and our considerate method to capital allocation positions us to outline and lead this class.
What are the milestones you propose to attain within the subsequent six months?
- Our go-to-market product will likely be prepared for alpha and beta testing
- We are going to invite signed companions to pilot the newest innovation at Aescape HQ
- We are going to introduce Aescape at a companion mid-next yr and use the situation to realize learns for product optimization
What recommendation are you able to supply firms in New York that do not need a contemporary injection of capital within the financial institution?
Show your self in your market as early as doable. Be artful in the way you achieve this – it doesn’t have to be a conventional method to validation.
The place do you see the corporate going now over the close to time period?
We’re accelerating development with companions who view themselves as innovators and class pioneers. We are going to collaborate with companions to outline the expertise, pricing and go-to-market technique.
What’s your favourite restaurant within the metropolis?
Too many to slim to at least one! Strangeways for brunch. Chino Grande for tons of enjoyable. Aldama for crispy tuna tacos. The Mary Lane for a beautiful dinner. Szechuan Mountain Home for spicy, shareable plates. Amor y Amargo for enjoyable cocktails.