OmniPad Company

OmniPad has created the world’s first circular-moving, omnidirectional treadmill designed for exercise and virtual reality experiences.

Unlike traditional treadmills that limit how fast a user can run, and limit their ability to change direction, OmniPad’s treadmill enables users to walk, jog, or run in any direction. Users can also change direction, in real time.

The company has been granted a patent on its treadmill design, and is in the process of completing a prototype. According to OmniPad, there are very few ways to enable omnidirectional locomotion on a stationary surface. Therefore, there are a limited number of ways to create a functioning omnidirectional treadmill. This could potentially make OmniPad’s patent valuable.

Other companies including Virtuix, KatVR, and WizDish have developed sliding-dish devices that are referred to as treadmills. However, these products aren’t based on any moving or revolving tread. Instead, their design is based upon a stationary sliding dish or saucer that creates the locomotion. These products also require specialized felt-bottomed footwear.

Some companies have created square multi-belted omnidirectional treadmills, all of which contain several moving parts. This makes the treadmills more prone to breakdowns, and the devices are often heavy and difficult to transport.

OmniPad describes its treadmill as “lightweight, portable, and cost effective.”

The company is developing multiple versions of its treadmill, including consumer, commercial, and military models.

With OmniPad’s treadmills, users wear virtual reality display glasses to maneuver their way through virtual and augmented environments. This includes video games, terrain simulations, and architecture walk-throughs.

With the OmniPad:

Consumers can exercise by taking a jog on a tropical beach or far-off planet…

Real estate developers can walk through a new housing development before its built…

And military units can complete realistic training simulations in virtual hostile environments.

Multiple users can simultaneously be linked to a singular online 3D environment, providing video gamers, military trainees, and other consumers the ability to interact with other OmniPads in real time.

The consumer-grade units will be distributed via retailers and marketed toward homes and offices. These treadmills will sell for between $750 and $1,200 per unit, and the company projects to sell 2 million units over the next 5 years.

The commercial-grade units will be marketed toward fitness centers, real estate firms, virtual shopping malls, and tourist locations. Pricing could range between $5,000 and $10,000 per unit, with additional costs for software and mechanical upgrades. OmniPad projects to produce up to 100,000 units for this market over the next 5 years.

Military-grade units could be priced as high as $20,000. There will be additional fees for software and mechanical upgrades. OmniPad projects to produce up to 5,000 units over the next 5 years.

With funds raised, OmniPad will finalize production of its treadmill. Once completed, the company will present its treadmill to investment groups and tech companies for potential partnerships.

At the same time, OmniPad will convert its provisional patents to full utility patents. It will also begin to establish manufacturing, distribution, and marketing channels for its product line.

According to an October 2017 report from CB Insights, a research company focused on the private equity industry, a growing number of the world’s biggest tech companies are investing in virtual and augmented reality. These include companies like Facebook, Apple, Google, and Sony.

As the technology behind virtual and augment reality improves, OmniPad believes its product’s applications will grow. This could potentially make OmniPad an acquisition target for one of these large tech companies.

Team Background

Neil Epstein - Founder, CEO & President

Prior to starting OmniPad, Neil worked in the media industry, serving as 3D animation specialist for NBC Studios. During his time there, he won an EMMY award.

He studied at Rutgers University and earned a JD from Florida State University.

Co-Investors