We all remember those old tele-shopping, often parodied, which extolled the merits of obscure electro-stimulation machines, supposed to put us in sport without too much effort. This technology, star of television shops, has since evolved. In Montpellier (Hérault), the start-up Overpower Techfounded by Vadim Gouty and François Garcia, even propels electrostimulation into the new millennium.
It is no longer worth sticking to the body of dozens of sensors, connected to a device plugged into an electrical outlet. All you have to do now is put on a suit to enjoy the benefits of electrostimulation during a sports session. “We have had our product tested by many top athletes for several months, and the feedback is always very, very positive,” rejoices Vadim Gouty. I remember that I was quite anxious, hoping that all this time, and all this money that we had invested in this project would bear fruit. And finally, the bet seems successful.
Test and create their own technology
Fulgurance Tech has won support from Bic, the prestigious Montpellier incubator, and has won aid from the Occitanie region and the Public Investment Bank (BPI). Now, the entrepreneurial duo is preparing to deliver the first suits to its first customers, mainly sports coaches, who want to test this innovative technology. Because it is a tremendous leap forward that Fulgurance Tech offers electrostimulation, which has enjoyed some success since the 1980s and the marketing of the first abdominal belts.
It was by testing the products available on the market a few years ago, in the electrostimulation center they had created in Montpellier, that Vadim Gouty and François Garcia had the idea of developing their own technology. Outdated, not very practical, faulty, connected to countless embarrassing wires… The devices tested by the duo were not very convincing. “We said to ourselves that we were going to look for engineers to create our own product”, continues Vadim Gouty.
With this combination, “there is no cable, nothing”
Thus was born, after years of research, the combination of Fulgurance Tech, NanoPulse. This “second skin”, available in ten different sizes, thinner than a diving suit, is made (in France) in High muscle compression lycra, with shape memory, which allows it to adapt to all body types. . “It is equipped with the latest generation nanoelectrodes,” continues the entrepreneur. They are integrated into the suit. There is no cable, nothing. All you have to do is connect a box, at waist level. Here we go. This equipment, which has a 12-hour autonomy (that is three marathons!) is rechargeable, thanks to an electric battery, before the session. This combination has been designed for those who want to increase their efforts tenfold, when doing fitness, crossfit, boxing or cycling, for example.
“In twenty minutes, we do the equivalent of four hours of sport, promises the entrepreneur. There are voluntary contractions of the muscle, because we are doing real exercises. And there are the involuntary contractions, thanks to the electrical impulse, which are added. It brings something extra. » It is for sport, muscle building, weight loss, recovery and rehabilitation that this suit was designed. Not really for those who think they’ll create a body summer by lounging on the couch. “Someone who says to himself ‘I’m going to put on the jumpsuit, and put myself in front of the television, I’m going to lose weight’, I don’t believe it at all,” smiles the entrepreneur.
For now, the suit developed by Fulgurance Tech is sold for just over 300 euros. The start-up hopes, however, that it can lower prices a little in the medium term. And Vadim Gouty and François Garcia do not intend to offer their high-tech suit only to the French. Fulgurance Tech is also trying to approach a particularly fruitful market: the United States. And maybe even their suit will fly off into space one day to give astronauts a boost, once at an altitude of several hundred kilometers they are faced with major muscle deficiencies. “That would be amazing! », smiles Vadim Gouty.