EKTO VR
EKTO VR is a Pittsburgh-based company that builds motorized robotic footwear enabling natural walking in virtual reality while keeping the user physically in place, serving location-based entertainment operators, enterprise training verticals, and consumer VR enthusiasts via its Voyager SE and Genesis product lines.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersPittsburgh, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What EKTO VR does
EKTO VR is a Pittsburgh-based private company developing wearable robotic footwear that enables natural walking in virtual reality while keeping the user physically near the center of a small footprint (about a 10 by 10 foot space). The core system is built on omnidirectional drive technology and an adaptive control software layer that maps head movement to walking motion in order to prevent cybersickness, with U.S. Patent No. 11,995,225 covering the underlying method. After roughly seven years of R&D iterated across eight major hardware versions, the company is transitioning from research prototypes to commercial product, currently delivering the Voyager SE Boots at $20,000 per pair and developing a consumer-priced Genesis model that targets a ~50% cost reduction and 23% weight reduction.
The company's go-to-market spans direct-to-consumer e-commerce with a waitlist, charter and lease programs for venue operators, and community-led growth through a Discord-based 'EKTOpia' community, influencer partnerships, and industry showcases such as Two Bit Circus and Peter Diamandis's Abundance 360. Customer segments include location-based entertainment and experience marketing operators, enterprise training and visualization verticals (medical, industrial, architecture, real estate), prosumers and VR enthusiasts, and applied physics researchers. Capitalization to date totals roughly $490,000 of disclosed angel and grant funding from Reinforced Ventures and Innovation Works across 2019-2023, followed by an undisclosed SEC Regulation Crowdfunding raise via Honeycomb Credit in mid-2025.
The team is led by founder and CEO Brad Factor (Cornell ECE, CMU MS in Robotic Systems Development; former Honeywell Aerospace flight controls engineer) and co-founder and Head of Growth Jenn Sydeski, supported by advisors including designer Philipp Haban, a Design for Manufacturing advisor, and a branding/digital strategy advisor. Strategic partners and ecosystem participants include HTC VIVE (ISV), Varjo, LG Nova (First 50 program), and the AlphaLab Gear accelerator (Innovation Works). Scientific validation includes a Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory study in which the boots were the only locomotion system rated 'Excellent' on usability and best at mitigating motion sickness.
EKTO VR firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- EKTO VR
- Legal name
- EKTO VR, Inc.
- Website
- https://ektovr.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- EKTO VR is a Pittsburgh-based company that builds motorized robotic footwear enabling natural walking in virtual reality while keeping the user physically in place, serving location-based entertainment operators, enterprise training verticals, and consumer VR enthusiasts via its Voyager SE and Genesis product lines.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
EKTO VR industry classification
Industry- Product category
- VR Locomotion Hardware (Wearable Robotics)
- NAICS
- Computer Terminal and Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (334118)
- SIC
- Computer Peripheral Equipment, Nec (3577)
- akta.pro primary industry
- VR/XR Hardware & Accessories (Headsets, Controllers, Trackers, Haptics) (MPAFAGAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- VR/AR Gaming Platforms (BPAMAKAG)
Keywords
Where EKTO VR is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pittsburgh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
EKTO VR business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales - Voyager SE Boots: Sale of EKTO VR Boots at $20,000 per pair via company website shop. Currently delivering units to customers.
- Charter/Lease Program: Charter and lease arrangements for VR boots usage. Part of commercial and professional deployment offerings.
- Equity Crowdfunding: Community equity crowdfunding campaign via Honeycomb Credit (Summer 2025, closed). SEC filings under Regulation Crowdfunding.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Voyager SE Boots - Commercial Version |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Equity Crowdfunding Investment Tiers |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
EKTO VR product offering
Product offeringCore offering
EKTO VR designs, develops, and sells motorized wearable robotic boots that let users walk naturally in virtual reality while remaining stationary in physical space. The boots use patented omnidirectional drive technology and AI-powered adaptive control software to prevent cybersickness, and are sold commercially as Voyager SE Boots ($20,000/pair) with a consumer version (Genesis) in development.
Product overview
EKTO VR offers a portfolio of motorized VR boots for walking naturally in virtual reality. The product line spans from commercial products (Voyager SE Boots at $20k) to consumer-focused options (EKTO GENESIS VR Adventure Shoes). The underlying EKTO VR System platform integrates advanced robotics, omnidirectional drive technology, and adaptive control software that connects head movements with natural walking motion to prevent cybersickness. Products have undergone 8 major versions over 7 years of R&D, with the latest consumer design iterations achieving 50% cost reduction and 23% weight reduction.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Voyager SE Boots Commercial and professional-grade motorized VR boots priced at $20,000 that enable users to walk naturally in virtual reality without physically moving through the room. Currently delivered to enterprise, location-based entertainment, training, and research customers.
- EKTO GENESIS VR Adventure Shoes Consumer-focused VR adventure shoes designed for the mass market. Aimed at in-home VR users seeking natural walking locomotion without motion sickness, positioned as a lighter, more affordable successor to the commercial Voyager SE Boots.
- EKTO VR Boots / Ekto One Original generation of EKTO VR's motorized robotic footwear enabling natural VR walking while staying physically in place. Used by hundreds of people in professional and commercial environments and showcased at the Bata Shoe Museum 'Future Now' exhibit.
- EKTO VR System Core proprietary technology platform combining wearable robotics, omnidirectional drive technology, and adaptive control software that enables limitless VR experiences without motion sickness within approximately 10x10 foot physical spaces.
- Voyager SE Charter/Lease Program Charter and lease arrangements for commercial and professional use of EKTO VR Boots, providing access to the Voyager SE platform without outright purchase for enterprise and location-based entertainment customers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 500+ user experiences in professional and commercial environments
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use EKTO VR
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
EKTO VR technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature5 records
EKTO VR partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Palmer Luckey (Oculus Founder)minorLong-time supporter of EKTO VR who invited the company for a private demo and has encouraged boot development since inception.
- Two Bit CircusminorMicro-amusement park venue selected for showcasing EKTO VR's immersive technology and releasing a new boot design on March 18, 2023.
- ZulushiminorInfluencer partnership for exclusive immersive VR experience using EKTO VR's cutting-edge boots. Video content created for marketing purposes.
- Peter Diamandis (Abundance 360)minorEKTO VR selected as one of 30 technologies to anchor Abundance 360 futurism summit, reinforcing position at VR industry forefront.
- Philipp HabancoreWorld-renowned designer who unveiled stunning concept model for EKTO VR boots, blending high-fashion aesthetics with sporty functionality. Serves as Design Advisor.
- LG NovaminorLG Nova First 50 program participant as part of LG's innovation ecosystem for emerging technology companies.
- Bata Shoe MuseumminorMuseum exhibit featuring EKTO ONE boots in 'Future Now' exhibit about virtual sneakers and cutting-edge kicks.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
EKTO VR competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Virtuix: Developer of the Omni omnidirectional treadmill, the most direct competitor to EKTO VR in the VR natural-walking category. Both companies target location-based entertainment, enterprise training, and consumer gaming with hardware that simulates walking in place, and both compete for the same LBE operator and enthusiast buyer.
- Kat VR: Maker of the Kat Walk series of omnidirectional VR treadmills, a direct competitor in VR locomotion hardware. Comparable target customers (LBE, VR arcades, home enthusiasts) and overlapping value proposition around cybersickness reduction and natural walking motion.
- Cyberith: Austrian developer of the Virtualizer, an omnidirectional treadmill for VR locomotion. Competes with EKTO VR for LBE and enterprise training accounts and offers a closely comparable hardware mechanism for walking-in-place VR movement.
- 3dRudder: Developer of a foot-controlled seated VR locomotion device. While not a walking solution, it competes in the broader 'VR feet-based input' category and targets similar PC-VR enthusiast and enterprise training use cases.
- Virtuix (Omni One consumer treadmill): Virtuix's Omni One consumer-targeted treadmill product is the closest head-to-head with EKTO's planned Genesis consumer SKU. Pricing, footprint, and target buyer overlap materially, making this the most direct competitive benchmark for consumer launch.
Broad incumbents
- Meta (Quest / Reality Labs): Largest VR headset platform and an existing partner ecosystem (Palmer Luckey founded Oculus). Meta's locomotion roadmap (passthrough, redirected walking, software-based natural movement) shapes the addressable demand for EKTO's hardware.
- HTC VIVE: Major VR headset OEM and a disclosed ISV partner of EKTO VR. VIVE controls significant share of the PC-VR and enterprise training market that EKTO's boots integrate into, making it both a distribution channel and a potential competitive platform play.
Emerging players
- bHaptics: Maker of wearable haptic suits and accessories for VR. Adjacent category (body-worn VR peripherals) targeting the same enthusiast and LBE buyers, with potential to bundle or compete at the per-user peripheral budget level.
- StriVR (operated by Infinite Reality): Enterprise VR training platform that uses headsets and sometimes locomotion peripherals for sports, retail, and industrial training. Represents the demand side of the enterprise VR locomotion market EKTO targets.
- Tactical Haptics: Developer of reactive grip and haptic feedback controllers for VR. Adjacent wearable VR peripheral category serving similar immersive-experience goals, with potential overlap in LBE and training operator procurement budgets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
EKTO VR social profiles
Digital presenceEKTO VR financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
EKTO VR leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
EKTO VR funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
EKTO VR M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about EKTO VR
What does EKTO VR do?
EKTO VR designs, develops, and sells motorized wearable robotic boots that let users walk naturally in virtual reality while remaining stationary in physical space. The boots use patented omnidirectional drive technology and AI-powered adaptive control software to prevent cybersickness, and are sold commercially as Voyager SE Boots ($20,000/pair) with a consumer version (Genesis) in development.
Is EKTO VR a public or private company?
EKTO VR is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was EKTO VR founded?
EKTO VR was founded in 2022. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is EKTO VR based?
EKTO VR is headquartered in Pittsburgh, United States, in the North America region.
How does EKTO VR make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales - Voyager SE Boots are the primary driver. The others are charter/Lease Program and equity Crowdfunding.
Who are EKTO VR's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Virtuix, Kat VR, Cyberith, 3dRudder and Virtuix (Omni One consumer treadmill). Broad incumbents are Meta (Quest / Reality Labs) and HTC VIVE. Emerging players are bHaptics, StriVR (operated by Infinite Reality) and Tactical Haptics.
Does EKTO VR have an API?
No public API is recorded for EKTO VR.
What industry is EKTO VR in?
EKTO VR's product category is VR Locomotion Hardware (Wearable Robotics). Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAGAG, VR/XR Hardware & Accessories (Headsets, Controllers, Trackers, Haptics), with a secondary code of BPAMAKAG, VR/AR Gaming Platforms. Its NAICS code is 334118 and its SIC code is 3577.