Quell, a UK-based developer and publisher of fitness gaming, known for their innovation in fitness gaming technology, announced the successful completion of a $10 million Series A funding round. The funding was led by Tencent, with additional investment from Khosla Ventures, Heartcore Capital, Social Impact Capital, and entrepreneur Naval Ravikant. With this new funding, Quell has raised a total of $15.6 million in financing.
Thanks to the Series A funding round, Quell is now able to expand its upcoming launch game, Shardfall, and further broaden its video game collection. Additionally, the company will commence the large-scale production of its ‘Impact’ fitness gaming system, which incorporates proprietary motion and biometric tracking technology with haptic sensors, providing a fully immersive video gaming experience that burns over 600kcal/hour – the same as an intense spin class. With strong pre-orders, Quell is planning to release the product worldwide later this year.
Quell’s wearable device is centered around athlete-grade resistance bands, available in various strength levels that help players attain their individual fitness goals. The device functions by turning the player’s body into the controller, rendering the need for heavy and uncomfortable virtual reality or camera equipment unnecessary. It also allows users to experience the impact of their movements as they navigate stunningly rendered immersive environments by running, jumping, and fighting. The Shardfall game is an immersive combat experience where players fight against mystical creatures that threaten the Sacred Forest’s sanctity.
Quell takes a gaming-first approach that is personalized and produces gym-quality workouts that encompass both cardio and strength training. It is appropriate for individuals of all fitness levels and abilities. The inbuilt fitness trackers record data on calories burned, heart rate, and speed, and can automatically modify the game and workout intensity to deliver high-intensity exercise.
Quell’s latest Series A funding round comes after a successful seed round of $5.6 million in December 2020. The seed round saw participation from notable figures such as Emmett Shear, the CEO and Co-Founder of streaming platform Twitch, Kevin Lin, the Co-Founder of Twitch, start-up accelerator Y Combinator, and JamJar Investments. The health and fitness app sector is predicted to grow from $7 billion in 2021 to $10 billion by 2027.
Quell’s Co-Founder and CEO, Cameron Brookhouse, expressed excitement about the Quell Impact, which is the first gaming platform specifically designed to provide personalized, high-intensity workouts where the player serves as the controller. He stated that the company aims to assist millions of people worldwide in unlocking the benefits of exercise and wellness by immersing them in worlds where the hero becomes stronger as they do, thanks to their pioneering technology. Cameron Brookhouse expressed his gratitude for the support they have received from a highly distinguished group of investors, and he looks forward to the arrival of over 10,000 Impact pre-orders in people’s homes shortly.
Dr. Ling Ge, Quell Board Member and Chief European Representative at Tencent, expressed delight in Tencent’s backing of Quell as it looks to introduce the future of fitness to consumers around the world. Until now, fitness gaming has been an underdeveloped sector, offering either an excellent gaming or fitness experience but never both. Quell’s Impact device resolves this problem by refusing to compromise entertainment or exercise, providing a consistently entertaining and exhilarating home fitness experience. Dr. Ling Ge stated that he is confident that Quell will lead the way in bringing fitness gaming to the mainstream, and Tencent is proud to support the company as it works toward its global launch later this year.
About Quell:
Quell, a fitness gaming developer and publisher based in the UK, is a trailblazer in the future of fitness gaming technology. Its “Impact” platform, the world’s first dedicated fitness gaming system, is constructed from the ground up to provide high-impact training in immersive digital worlds. Quell combines lightweight motion and fitness-tracking technology with athlete-grade resistance bands to provide real-world feedback, resistance, and tracking to player action, burning over 600 calories an hour on average. Alongside the company’s first in-house developed game, “Shardfall,” the Impact device will be released in 2023. The management team, which includes gaming and engineering experts, is based in London.