Hyperice Injury Prevention And Recovery Technology Company Has Cornered New Markets

The new executive vice president of marketing and business development at Hyperice is Jim Huether, someone I met while researching for an iQ by Intel contribution on football helmet technology. Hyperice is an injury prevention and recovery company that recently partnered with Adrian Peterson, who joins Blake Griffin, Hope Solo and a number of other Nike athletes, as equity partners. They added Industry pioneer Dr. Mike Clark to the new Medical Advisory Board today. The Sports Techie blog was able to chat with founder and CEO, Anthony Katz, about his expanding sports tech startup that has its focus on science driven health, fitness and nutrition verticals.

Hyperice
Katz said there is an Industry shift going on with a premium being placed on injury management, performance enhancement and recovery, “the future of sport,” he said. The recovery space, from the end of a game to the beginning of the next game, is their space. Katz theorized that Nike can own the “on the field” space while they cover everything else after the game is over or starts anew.

Anthony is 36 years young; he has played sports his whole life and is a basketball nut. He was lifting heavily and not stretching, like many athletes, his body was aging against his will and it was feeling like there was nothing that could be done about it. It dawned on him that the one consistent with serious athletes is the understanding that icing after training and playing preferred sports is a must with assisting in recovery and injury prevention.

His company goal therefore was to be the first in the space after incorporating in 2010 and then own the spaces of injury prevention and movement enhancement. His holistically wanted to extend the career window for professionals while improving the quality of life for everybody else. Katz also decided to incorporate athletes into the brand.

After conducting ice compression studies, Katz shared how the Hyperice design team together with engineers at Marton Precision Inc, an aerospace manufacturing company, invented a state of the art ice compression therapy device with patented Air Release Technology. Katz says, “Hyperice products are designed for and used by some of the world’s finest athletes to aid in their recovery routine because it is most effective and preferred by their trainers.”

The 40 year old body vs. a 15 year old body is obviously different. The older person may be stronger but their body is not the equal of a dexterous teenager with more range of motion, better flexibility and injury recovery abilities, plus superior balance and vision. Katz has seen 30 percent increases in range of motion using his products at all ages.

Hyperice has users around the world, from elite athletes to the everyday athlete or weekend warrior who want technology driven products that can help with injury management, prevention of injuries, and the recovery processes necessary to regain shoulder, back and knee flexibility and motion as the body ages.

They have a growing International presence with an office in France, and sales people in the UK, Spain and Canada, Japan and Hong Kong, and one starting in Germany soon. Katz hired Huether to influence the fitness, running and lifestyles of all global Sports Techie, good idea.

Technology
The Hyperice ice compression therapy devices come equipped with their patented Air Release technology that is durable and leak proof. Via the air release valve, hot air that comes from the body moves into the ice gel chamber. Every seven minutes the vent delivers hot air, maximizing the products surface area. It is made with a wet suit type material.

Features of Ice Compression Devices for the Knee, Shoulder, Back and Utility

• Air Release Technology
• Innovative Design
• Ultra Thin Cell Skin
• Precision Hardware
• Uses Real Ice

AP
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings running back, joined Hyperice as an equity partner, making him the newest addition to the company’s star studded athlete roster. Fellow University of Oklahoma athlete and current Los Angeles Clipper Blake Griffin, who is part owner of the company, introduced Peterson to the Hyperice recovery product via a text message. Griffin had the company’s founder send Peterson the same knee ice compression device he uses as part of his recovery routine believing it would help Peterson during his rehabilitation.

Being a competitor has made him who he is today. Peterson began using the device daily and the product quickly became a staple of his recovery routine post-practice and post-game. Peterson finished the season strong, and believed using the Hyperice helped keep his knee healthy as he powered his way through the end of the season, completing what many believe was one of the greatest comeback seasons by any player in league history.

Peterson suffered a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee at the end of the 2011 season and shortly after underwent surgery performed by world-renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews. Peterson returned to the Metrodome turf less than nine months later and went on to have one of the most prolific seasons ever for a running back, rushing for 2,097 yards, only nine yards short of the single season all-time record. His amazing comeback is one of the most remarkable in the history of professional sports.

The Hyperice certainly played a major role with saving AP last year because it helped him to keep inflammation down in his repaired knee. Peterson was the 2012 NFL MVP and became a partner in Hyperice after using the company’s signature ice compression device as part of his recovery routine during the 2012 season, helping him win the prestigious NFL rushing title.

“Once I started using the Hyperice, I could feel my knee responding positively. I immediately started incorporating it into my daily recovery routine,“ said Peterson. “Preparing my body to be as strong and as healthy as possible was my main focus going into last season and Hyperice was one of the tools I used to prepare for and recover from games and practices.”

Hyperice “Adrian Peterson” from DNA Inc on Vimeo.

Katz continued, “As a recovery brand, we are dedicated to developing technologies that help keep athletes on the field and performing their best, so there was a mutual interest on both sides once Adrian started using our products during his MVP season.”

Peterson joins NBA players Blake Griffin and Rudy Gay, NFL player Troy Polamalu and US Women’s Soccer Team goalie, Hope Solo, as equity partners in Hyperice. All four of these athletes joined the company after using Hyperice daily as a part of their daily recovery routine, or in their recovery from injury.

The work and mindset AP goes through to push his body is now legendary. Taking care of that body is very key, especially in the game of football. Emmitt Smith and Marshall Faulk are role models AP learned from and he wants to be the same kind of positive influence with today’s youth.

AP sponsors an AAU girls youth basketball team in the Dallas area and was so excited about the sports tech product he purchased 30 for his team to use.

Use code AP 28 at checkout to purchase the limited edition custom chrome Adrian Peterson Hyperice in honor of his NFL single game yardage record of 296 rushing yards.

Medical Advisory Board
Hyperice announced today that Dr. Mike Clark, Founder and CEO of Fusionetics and global leader in the athletic performance and sports medicine industry, joins the company as the chairman of their newly formed Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Clark is a world-renowned expert in human movement science and brings to Hyperice his innovation and leadership in human performance optimization and rehabilitation.

Under Dr. Clark’s direction and expertise—in conjunction with his Human Performance Solution team at Fusionetics—Hyperice is set to launch a series of new and innovative products following their signature ice compression device line starting this summer.

The strategic partnership between Hyperice—a company committed to developing world-class products for injury prevention and recovery—and Dr. Mike Clark, will integrate sports science, clinical application and cutting-edge technology in the testing and development of all Hyperice products. This will facilitate and further advance empirical data to ensure Hyperice product lines deliver effective solutions in decreasing injury, optimizing performance and enhancing recovery.

“In my opinion, Dr. Clark’s expertise in the field of sports medicine is unmatched and we are honored to have him join the Hyperice team,” said Katz. “Dr. Clark will spearhead and assemble our Scientific Advisory Board and his team at Fusionetics will be conducting the scientific testing on all current and future Hyperice products—several of which will be collaborative projects. At Hyperice, our mission is to develop world-class products that are rooted in empirical scientific evidence and Dr. Clark will be instrumental in helping us achieve that mission.”

Vyper
As people and animals age we get slower and lose dynamic motions. More and more people are less active because of work and family responsibilities. As a result, corporate wellness has caught fire. Preventive measures are considered smart health care expenditures which is why they invented the new Vyper.

The Vyper is a vibration pressure device or vibrating foam roller set to release in July at a cost of $160. It features three levels of vibration to simulate circulation. You may have seen or used similar looking foam rollers for yoga.

The Vyper will be manufactured in China then assembled in Orange County. It comes with a one-year warranty. Because of this new product, the management team is currently in the fund raising mode.

Nike Athletes
Athlete shareholders are part of this business model the dozen early partners have bought into. Katz feels like having athlete partners who are into the project pays big dividends and is a requirement. Athletes like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant are being asked to invest in products like energy drinks but the trend is moving towards what Katz says, “is a real product.” Blake paved the way for an introduction to AP and LeBron helping to set the corporate culture in the right direction.

Hope Solo had reconstructive shoulder surgery and was using the Hyperice, something unknown to Katz. So in early 2012 Solo became another early equity partner. Huether wants to market during the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil with Solo as a cross gender marketing opportunity since Hope is inspiring to both women and men soccer fans.

Rudy Gay was playing for the Memphis Grizzles at the time of his labrum injury, immediately began using the product and later invested as an equity partner. Volleyball and track & field stars are also onboard.

Investment
They are seeking to raise two million dollars with a heavy incentive to find investors who align with the company. Money raised will be used to help market the Vyper. Hyperice profits went towards paying down existing overhead and branding expenses. They are looking for a clean image, that looks and feels a certain way, similar to the App Store. I believe they have accomplished this.

I asked about Magic Johnson as a possible investor fit. He said Magic is his favorite and the Body Glove image of Ervin Johnson during the Lakers 1995 NBA Finals inspired him to start his company.

About Hyperice Inc.:
Hyperice is a recovery technology company specializing in portable high performance sports medicine and orthopedic devices that provide preventative treatment, accelerate injury recovery, and enhance muscle and joint performance. The company’s signature product is a two-part ice compression system composed of an ultra thin ice cell featuring patented air release technology and a specially designed compression wrap for each of the body’s major muscles and joints. The innovative two-part system acts together to harness the power of real ice, which optimizes cold compression therapy and enhances the body’s natural recovery mechanisms. Hyperice’s groundbreaking technology is setting the standard for active recovery systems and can be found on several of the world’s elite athletes, in professional and collegiate training rooms, and in rehabilitation facilities.

Twitter & Instagram: @HypericeUSA
Facebook: Facebook.com/HyperIce
Purchase at http://hyperice.com/

Contact: [email protected]

Sports Techie, The Hyperice compression device is a pillar of recovery for joints, tendons and muscles. Athletes all over the world love it because it is works and is portable. Designed and built to exacting standards using the highest quality materials available in the USA. Hyperice products have been rigorously tested by professional athletes and used by numerous professional trainers because it has proven to provide the highest level of performance.

Because they engage elite athletes, a trickle down to high school and college levels is underway. I am a huge fan of AP, Griffin and Solo. It is fun to tweet with the three of them. I wondered about baseball and Katz responded that finding the right partner has been difficult. He felt like MLB has less social relevance and no huge player at the moment on par with their existing team of NBA, NFL and other sport icons. Mike Trout came to mind but as I reflected on his assessment of baseball, I could understand why he felt that way.

Are these products priced too high? Not so far. They sell mostly through specialty retailers and online businesses, and to institutions, leagues and teams. Additional sales channels are in the works. As more and more companies enter this fast-growing niche look for pricing to come down eventually for consumers.

Next up for Hyperice will be manipulating muscles, the nervous system and neurons. I asked whether 3D and augmented reality are part of the future plans and was told to wait and see. As they continue to expand over the next six months, stay tuned for more exclusive Hyperice updates via the Sports Techie blog.

I will see ya when I see ya, THE Sports Techie @THESportsTechie – http://twitter.com/THESportsTechie

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