PunchLab

PunchLab is a digital fitness company that has developed a mobile application focused on the at-home combat sports training market. Founded in 2017 by CEO Valerio Raco and co-founder Nicolò Paternoster, the company aims to make boxing and martial arts workouts more engaging and data-driven. Raco, a lifelong combat sports enthusiast, conceived the idea after struggling to stay motivated while training alone with a punching bag in his garage. He identified a gap in the market for a tool that could track workouts and provide accountability without requiring expensive, proprietary hardware. Headquartered in Rome, Italy, PunchLab has established a significant international presence, with over 90% of its customers located abroad, predominantly in the United States.

The company's core product is a mobile app that provides hundreds of on-demand, coach-led workouts for boxing, MMA, karate, and kickboxing. The business operates on a freemium model, where users can access a selection of workouts for free, with the option to unlock the full library through a premium subscription. A key feature of the PunchLab platform is its punch-tracking technology. This system utilizes a smartphone's built-in motion sensors to detect, measure, and provide real-time feedback on strikes thrown at a punching bag. To facilitate this, the company sells an elastic strap that secures the user's phone to the bag. This approach eliminates the need for additional electronic sensors, leveraging the advanced technology already present in modern smartphones. For users without a punching bag, the app offers shadowboxing routines that can be done anywhere.

PunchLab has secured funding through multiple rounds, including an initial accelerator round in 2019, a €300,000 seed round in May 2020, and a subsequent €840,000 round at the end of 2021 from investors including Primo Ventures, LVenture Group, and Azimut Group. These investments have fueled the app's development, team expansion, and international marketing efforts. The platform is designed to be highly interactive and gamified, offering features like personalized programs, progress tracking, and the ability to compete with other users, thereby addressing the motivation challenges of solo training.

Keywords: home fitness, combat sports, boxing workout, punch tracker, mobile fitness, fitness app, martial arts training, at-home workout, interactive training, gamified fitness, workout tracker, shadowboxing, punching bag, digital coach, HIIT workouts, sports analytics, freemium app, fitness technology, venture capital-backed, Rome startup