VirtualU

VirtualU commenced operations in 2012, originating from the entrepreneurial environment of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. The company was established by a team of students and recent graduates, including Louis Cirillo, Nick Gagianas, and Caroline Pugh. Initially, the firm's strategy was centered on the retail sector, developing 3D scanners that would allow consumers to create accurate body models for trying on clothes in digital storefronts. This approach was intended to help online retailers reduce costs associated with merchandise returns by improving fit accuracy from the outset.

Over time, the company pivoted its focus towards the health and wellness market. The core business evolved to developing and providing a proprietary 3D body scanner for fitness centers and gyms. This service was designed for gym members to perform detailed body scans, enabling them to create and store digital versions of themselves. The platform's primary function was to track changes in body composition and other key health metrics, such as body mass index, over a period. The business model appeared to be B2B2C, where gyms would incorporate the scanning technology as a member benefit.

The company's primary asset was its 3D scanning technology, which was the subject of a patent application for a "Rapid and accurate three dimensional scanner". VirtualU successfully secured $1.7M in total funding, which included a seed round of $625,000 in April 2014. Despite these milestones, the company ceased operations, and is listed as out of business as of October 2017.

Keywords: 3D body scanning, fitness technology, health metrics tracking, gym equipment, body composition analysis, virtual try-on, retail technology, Virginia Tech startup, LOHAS & Wellness, HealthTech, 3D body modeling, fitness measurement, digital health, body mass index, wellness technology, athletic performance, body scanning for fitness, biometric data, posture analysis, health monitoring