US, Canadian athletes trained for Rio Olympics using Hykso’s tech


Hykso had quite the month of August, including reports that the startup’s technology was used by the Canadian and American olympic boxing teams.

According to U of T Engineering News, the company, now based in Orange Country, California, earned $360,000 in revenue since 2013 (In fact, says Founder Institute chapter lead Sergio Escobar, that revenue was earned since 2015). It might not be S&P 500 level, but a positive sign nonetheless for any seed startup.

Both the Canadian and US boxing teams trained for the Olympics using Hykso’s wrist-mounted sensor. The technology tracks punches and strikes, measuring speed and intensity. Not only that, but founder Khalil Zahar told MTLinTECH that UFC fighters Cris Cyborg and current Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley are also using Hykso.

Founded by University of Toronto graduate Khalil Zahar, Hykso graduated from Montreal’s chapter of the Founder Institute last summer. After that the team got into the popular Y Combinator accelerator program in Mountain View, California, graduating in March.

Hykso told MTLinTECH they were the very last team of 6,000 to have the chance to wow Y Combinator brass in interviews. They pulled it off and ultimately graduated from the “Harvard of startup schools,” as Zahar called it.

READ ALSO: How Hykso rubbed Y Combinator the right way

Using Hykso’s iOS app, coaches and athletes are able to monitor punch output as it happens through Bluetooth technology.

Rather than merely tracking one’s calorie expenditure or whether they’re exercising optimally, the wheelhouse of most wearable technology, Hykso works to make sure fighters are throwing better punches by providing real-time data to its accompanying app.

Attacking an estimated market of over 35 million fighters worldwide, Hykso launched a presale campaign in February featuring a sensor, a charging station, and access to the companion app for $220.

A premium version that will deliver more performance data is also available for elite professional coaches and athletes.

Hykso’s technology is doubtless impressive and one wonders whether boxing is the limit for this startup.

Zahar told U of T Engineering News that expanding the use of his device into other sports will be an aim. He wants to see the tech used in high-intensity workouts like CrossFit and even sports broadcasting.

“I want to change the way people train in sports,” he told the website.

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