WebRacing focuses on fitness, using virtual reality with indoor cardiovascular equipment. One Tour de France sponsor invited WebRacing to set up a 30-bike group for the opening weekend so schoolchildren, pedaling the bikes, can watch themselves on a screen that looks like they’re actually riding on a leg of the race through the French Alps, said WebRacing founder and president Bruce Winkler. “Each person is represented by (his or her) own avatar on the screen. As they pedal faster, they jockey past other riders in the pack,” Winkler said. “No one can get too far ahead or behind. If you’re a slow person, you’re going to still be part of the pack,” he said. Established in 2007 and with about one and a half employees, WebRacing, 2702 Monroe St., became a “full-fledged company” just last year, Winkler said. It was one of 13 finalists in the 2014 Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan competition. Winkler said the technology is meant to change people’s perception of exercise. “It takes your mind off the sweat and the pain and makes fitness fun. It gives you sensory immersion,” he said. WebRacing’s installations also include the Witte Museum in San Antonio, Texas, as part of the H-E-B Body Adventure exhibit. Winkler, a serial entrepreneur who spent five years as director of global innovation for Madison-based battery maker Rayovac Corp., now part of Spectrum Brands, said he is trying to raise $1.5 million to grow the business. He said WebRacing turns all sorts of indoor fitness machines into a virtual reality experience — skiing for elliptical machines; running for treadmills; boating and kayaking for rowing machines. “We’re not trying to sell somebody a new piece of fitness equipment,” Winkler said. “We’re trying to breathe new life into old equipment, to turn it into a 21st century, socially connected piece of equipment. For Info Call: 615 669-FIT1 (3481) [email protected] A new class of gaming systems for home, gym, and group fitness classes and equipment. Exercisers using any brand of cardio fitness equipment can visualize themselves racing or training, alone - or together - in a virtual environment that uses real-time performance.

WebRacing Finalist Goveners Competition

Download PDF Report

Upload
wilkins-solutions-enterprises
View
37
Download
2

Embed Size (px)

DESCRIPTION

From the Wisconsin State Journal WebRacing is OFF TO THE RACES!

Citation preview

Page 1: WebRacing Finalist Goveners Competition

“Each person is represented by (his or her) own avatar on the screen. As they pedal faster, they jockey past other riders in the pack,” Winkler said.“No one can get too far ahead or behind. If you’re a slow person, you’re going to still be part of the pack,” he said.

Established in 2007 and with about one and a half employees, WebRacing, 2702 Monroe St., became a “full-fledged company” just last year, Winkler said. It was one of 13 finalists in the 2014 WisconsinGovernor’s Business Plan competition.

Winkler said the technology is meant to change people’s perception of exercise. “It takes your mind off the sweat and the pain and makes fitness fun. It gives you sensory immersion,” he said.

WebRacing’s installations also include the Witte Museum in San Antonio, Texas, as part of the H-E-B Body Adventure exhibit.Winkler, a serial entrepreneur who spent five years as director of global innovation for Madison-based battery maker Rayovac Corp., now part of Spectrum Brands, said he is trying to raise $1.5 million to grow the business.

He said WebRacing turns all sorts of indoor fitness machines into a virtual reality experience — skiing for elliptical machines; running for treadmills; boating and kayaking for rowing machines.

“We’re not trying to sell somebody a new piece of fitness equipment,” Winkler said. “We’re trying to breathe new life into old equipment, to turn it into a 21st century, socially connected piece of equipment.

For Info Call: 615 669-FIT1 (3481)[email protected]

A new class of gaming systems for home, gym,

and group fitness classes and equipment.

Exercisers using any brand of cardio fitness equipment can visualize themselves racing or training, alone - or together - in a virtual environment that uses real-time performance.