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Styku CEO Raj Sareen was a research scientist searching for new planets and stars before he found his way to the fitness industry.
It was that background working with cameras and imaging systems that inspired Sareen to invent his first 3D body scanning device with 21 consumer-grade webcams in 2009. He then hacked Microsoft's Kinect camera to create what would become Styku, developed a relationship with Microsoft, filed several patents in 2011 and was accepted into the prestigious Techstars startup accelerator program in 2012.
Techstars resulted in Styku's unsuccessful two-year pilot with Nordstrom to develop a sort of virtual fitting room. But where Styku failed to take hold with Nordstrom, it and other digital 3D body scanning device manufacturers such as Fit3D and mPort have found opportunities in a variety of health clubs.
"It's [3D body scanning] just a great way for clubs to sell personal training, sell memberships, retain members, help their members reach their fitness goals, and be able to track it in a way that's easy to communicate," Sareen told Club Industry.
Sareen is bullish about the potential of 3D body scanning technology in the fitness industry. Styku will introduce a new model at the IHRSA show in March and is experimenting with different pricing models in an effort to make the technology more accessible to the industry, Sareen said.
"This year could be a massive year for us and for the category more importantly," he added.
Styku's 350 worldwide clients since its 2015 IHRSA show debut include Anytime Fitness, Gold's Gym, World Gym and Workout Anytime.
Fit3D, another 3D body scanning company, told Club Industry it is growing at a rate between 30 and 40 new units per month, and its approximately 450 clients include Equinox, Joe Cirulli's Gainesville Health and Fitness and Fit Body Bootcamp.
Last year, Australian-based 3D body scanning company mPort announced it would roll out its kiosks at LA Fitness locations in California with intentions of being available in 300 to 400 of its clubs by the end of 2017, according to a Financial Times report. The deal is expected to be worth $80 million over seven years.
The Styku purchase price is just under $10,000, Sareen said. Fit3D declined to disclose its cost for this story...