Raise closed, search for fresh raises on Seedstage

Pittsburgh, PA

Bringing a consumer-ready wearable locomotion system that enables natural walking in virtual reality.

• Granted patent: US11995225B2 protects the underlying locomotion system.
• Usability leader: Rated excellent and best at reducing cyber sickness in Johns Hopkins study.
• Cultural spotlight: Featured in the Bata Shoe Museum and the book Future Now.
• Strategic recognition: Selected for LG Nova Mission for the Future and partnered with HTC Vive and Varjo.
• Lean development: Functional developer kits built with roughly eight hundred thirty thousand dollars.
• Funding use: Capital accelerates testing, manufacturing, and launch of initial consumer units.

EKTO VR is raising capital to finalize development, testing, and initial manufacturing of its compact wearable mobility system that lets users walk naturally in virtual worlds while remaining safely within a ten-by-ten-foot physical space. Proceeds will support hardware and software refinement, extensive user testing, assembly tooling, launch events, and contingency reserves, enabling the team to move from almost-finished prototypes to the first consumer-ready units. By mitigating cyber sickness and deepening immersion, the system aims to unlock longer, more comfortable sessions for gamers, developers, and enterprise trainees who rely on free locomotion for presence.

Co-founded by robotics engineer Brad Factor and growth strategist Jennifer Sydeski, the Pittsburgh based startup has accumulated strong validation, winning top scores in a Johns Hopkins usability survey, earning a granted US patent, and being selected as an LG Nova Mission for the Future company. Earlier developer kits were built with just eight hundred thirty thousand dollars, far below typical industry budgets, and the design has been showcased by institutions such as the Bata Shoe Museum and highlighted by XR thought leaders. With funding in place, the team will launch sales, strengthen manufacturing partnerships, and work toward a portfolio of immersion enhancing products.

Company Info

EKTO VR develops a patented wearable locomotion device that lets users walk naturally in virtual reality while staying in a small physical area.

EKTO VR is a Pittsburgh-based technology company developing a compact wearable locomotion system that lets users walk naturally in virtual reality while remaining within a small physical footprint. The wearable resembles lightweight overshoes that fit over regular footwear, preserving user comfort. The platform integrates motorized foot pads, inertial sensors, and real-time control software to redirect motion, preventing collisions and significantly reducing cybersickness. By synchronizing physical steps with in-game movement, the device deepens immersion for gaming, simulation, and training applications while fitting into homes, arcades, and enterprise labs.

The current focus is completing development, verification, and pilot manufacturing of the first consumer-ready units. Funds support hardware refinement, embedded software, user testing, and small-batch assembly, followed by product-launch outreach to early adopters. EKTO VR’s approach leverages patents, academic research collaborations, and partnerships with headset makers to ensure interoperability across major VR ecosystems. Long term, management plans a portfolio of mobility and haptic products that address navigation, tactile feedback, and physical fitness within extended-reality environments. By delivering a practical movement solution that requires only a 10-by-10-foot space, the company aims to unlock room-scale experiences for a broader audience and accelerate adoption of immersive applications in entertainment, defense training, healthcare rehabilitation, and remote collaboration.