Aescape, a lifestyle robotics company, recently secured $83 million to fund its fleet of “massage robots.”
The $83 million backing was led by Valor Equity Partners, bringing total funding for the project to more than $100 million. Along with funding, the technology, programming, and partnerships are already in motion. Aescape will partner with the Equinox gym franchise to install its AI-powered massage robots in approximately 60 US locations. The Aertable massage robot already had a trial run at 10 Equinox locations last year.
Aescape’s fully automated, AI-driven massage table delivers “targeted bodywork” via more than 1.1 million data points through a body scan. Each body scan and proceeding treatment can be customized to each person. Two arms on either side of the table deliver percussion, movements, varying force, and pressure.
Aescape CEO Eric Litman called it a “novelty” at launch, but the idea has gained speed in the massage, wellness, and hospitality industries.
Clients will wear special compressive clothing that allows the robot to work without lotions or oils and will book through an app similar to Uber.
The robot arms deliver treatment according to a person’s scan and body type. Clients can change their preferences for pressure or treatment area in real-time.
“The system will remember you, so there’s an opportunity for ongoing personalization,” Litman adds. “There’s a relationship like you’d have with a practitioner that’s now technologically enabled.”
Many massage therapists and spas are already adopting tech-driven services, like percussive therapy tech, AI-booking platforms, and AI-customized treatment plans. So a $60, on-demand robot massage may not be a thing of the distant future.