Czech startup develops ‘smart shoes’ for better running

As in many countries, the Czech Republic has been experiencing increased interest in running. It can be done practically anywhere and does not require any special equipment. Running technique, though, can have a significant impact on the effectiveness of the sport and the individual runner’s health.

“The device serves as a personal trainer and physiotherapist in one. It can alert the user to uneven distribution of body weight or unbalanced center of gravity, which for runners and people generally is valuable information that is not ordinarily visible,” Majc said.

In addition to application developers, a team of scientists from the Center of Polymer System at Tomáš Baťa University in Zlín is also collaborating on the project.

The startup also underwent professional preparation in the Czech Republic. Thanks to the mentoring provided by CzechInvest, the company began collaborating with the former director of Nike Czech Republic, Petr Janoušek.

“With Petr, we fine-tuned every new prototype and the responses are better and better. At the same time, he advised us with respect to the sales strategy and marketing. At first, we wanted to go to market with the product and sell it to customers. Over time, however, we came to the conclusion that for a small company with only a small team of people, a better strategy would be to sell the technology and work on other alternative products, such as in healthcare and manufacturing,” Malaníková adds.

In 2019, the company won the Vodafone Idea of the Year award, beating 174 other projects. With CzechInvest’s support, it also participated in the international Creative Business Cup competition in Copenhagen, to which it advanced after winning the Czech national round in 2018. According to Malaníková, those victories give her and Majc positive and motivating feedback on the product, whose introduction to the market is demanding in terms of both financing and time.

Participation in major events is thus an effective way for a company to present itself to potential investors and partners, as well as the public.

Other opportunities to use the technology are presenting themselves, for example, cooperation with companies where people move among machines and visualization of workers’ movements, which can prevent collisions.

Opportunities are also opening up in healthcare. “Our technology can be placed practically anywhere it is necessary to measure pressure or force. For example, it could be used by parents to encourage proper development of their children’s soles and by diabetes patients and stroke victims who in many cases have to learn how to walk again,” Majc said.