Katalyst

Katalyst offers the patent-pending “Katalyst Training System,” a fitness system based on electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) technology for strength, power, and cardio training. The system is designed to improve body composition, strength, and endurance and to enhance muscle tone. Its components include a suit (a vest, shorts, arm straps, and arm connectors), an impulse pack control center, and a base layer shirt and short set to be worn underneath the suit. Powered muscle stimulators are also considered a medical device in the US, and the company claims to be the only full-body EMS company cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for at-home consumer use.

Katalyst App, available on iOS, controls and manages the workouts, allowing users to access on-demand pre-recorded workout content. The device is available for USD 2,385 which includes access to basic workouts. Premium workout content is available for a monthly subscription fee of USD 39. As of July 2021, the product is in limited release, with the official launch yet to be announced. The product is also available in the US only, and the company is in the process of obtaining the necessary approvals to ship internationally as of July 2021. As of October 2022, Katalyst had shipped over 1,200 units of its Katalyst training system as part of an early access program and had a product waitlist of 75,000 potential users. 

Funding and financials 

In October 2022, Katalyst raised USD 26 million in Series A funding led by Stripes. The company planned to use the funds to scale up production, develop its brand, and expand its team.  

Key competitors: None comparable (Katalyst is the only startup in our coverage that offers a fitness system for strength, power, and cardio training).