Paris-based Kinomap, an interactive training app for indoor cycling, running, and rowing, has acquired Outside Interactive, a video simulation tech company for cardio equipment.

Kinomap, which has around 1.5m members (of which around 95 per cent are home users, with the rest mostly gym-based) was founded in 2004 by Laurent Desmons and Philippe Moity. Initially, the company was more focused on cycling content, but due to demand has expanded into running and rowing with a system that is compatible with over 200 brands.

Since 2011, Outside Interactive has produced patented course simulator technology for treadmills and other cardio equipment, allowing users to experience and visualise official race routes. The merger will bring founder and CEO Gary McNamee to lead Kinomap’s North American operations as MD.

“We’re very excited to have the Outside Interactive team become part of the Kinomap family,” said Philippe Moity, Kinomap’s co-founder and CEO. “Kinomap is currently in fifteen languages, with over one thousand active content creators around the globe to offer 300,000 miles of course content, and growing.”

Following the acquisition, Kinomap operates B2C and B2B2C business models. It offers content directly to end users through a subscription model, but also partners with endurance events to bring their races and courses to the athlete for training and official (paid) remote participation.

“The Kinomap platform will benefit races which may have a regional presence but wish to expand to a global stage and become a multi-sport event,” added Moity. “Imagine someone half a world away being able to officially participate in a local foot race not just through running, but through cycling, spinning or even rowing.”

One of the main goals as a result of the merger will be to bring endurance events to remote participants around the globe through a course simulation via the patented technology.

“We're the world’s largest geolocated video-sharing platform, with thousands of videos from the best tracks around the world,” said McNamee. “We pair to your equipment and respond to the inclines and resistance seen in the video on your screen. This isn’t ‘at home training’, this is the real thing.”

Short-term plans include launching hybrid races, allowing participants to ride, run, row the same race at the same time either on the road or from home.

“We've shared the same vision with Kinomap since the very early days, before connected cardio equipment or any of the names you currently associate with fitness even existed,” said McNamee. “Simply put, we were early. We’re not early anymore.”

According to Moity the team is also in preliminary discussions with the technical team for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. “They're looking for ways to create unique experiences for viewers, including e-sports and gaming, allowing for actual audience participation.

“It’s a very exciting time and we're here to help get the world moving.”

UPDATE – 18 July 2023

Kinomap has announced a new partnership with fitness equipment manufacturer, SportsArt.

The two brands will collaborate to improve and personalise the experience of cardio equipment users worldwide.

SportsArt, based in Taiwan, manufactures medical, performance and residential equipment, including treadmills, bikes, ellipticals and medical rehab equipment. Its products are sold in 70 countries.

“Every athlete has a personal workout experience. The Kinomap app, now available to use with a growing list of compatible SportsArt equipment, provides a flexible, versatile experience and adds to the value of our treadmills, ellipticals, cycles and other cardio options,” said Ruben Mejia, executive VP Americas at SportsArt.

The Kinomap platform is available in 15 languages, has 370,000 miles of geolocated routes and more than 40,000 training videos in over 195 countries worldwide. Road race simulations are also coming to the app in Q3 2023 and the company is inviting interested race directors to include their events.

The Kinomap app is equipment-agnostic, pairing to cardio devices and responding to the inclines and resistance of the course video on the screen.