At Kabata, we're not just creating fitness equipment; we're pioneering a new era in strength training. Our journey has been driven by innovation, passion, and a deep commitment to revolutionizing how people train. To give you an inside look at this exciting journey, we sat down with our Co-Founder and CEO, Kareem Aly, to discuss the inspirations and challenges behind our AI-powered dumbbells. From the initial spark of an idea to the finely tuned product we're proud to offer, here's a peek behind the brand.

‍

Q: Where did the idea for Kabata come from?

A: With fitness being such a huge passion of mine, I kept thinking about how to revolutionize the space and move the industry forward. When the pandemic hit and all the gyms shut down, I realized home and hybrid fitness were here to stay. I saw all the bikes and rowers on the market, but I wanted something for strength training. I started thinking about dumbbells and how they were the perfect combination of familiar, compact, and iconic to fitness, yet hadn’t been radically innovated in nearly a century. Every home and gym has dumbbells - but what if we could improve them? From there, we were off to the races.

‍

Q: What has the process been like since you started working on the dumbbells?

A: We started by ideating on a bunch of different designs. With the help of my co-founder Brian, who spent six years as a Robotic Systems Engineer at iRobot building the Roomba smart vacuums, we 3D-printed several prototypes in early 2021. Once we were able to count reps and obtain some basic workout analytics, we took one of those first prototypes to investors. We successfully raised our first round of funding with some incredible names, including Naval Ravikant (AngelList), Zaza Pachulia (Golden State Warriors), Andy Dunn (Bonobos), Nakisa Bidarian (Jake Paul), Bryan Mahoney (Glossier), Bradley Chubb (Miami Dolphins), and more. We've grown the team since and raised a second round of funding in 2023 as we prepare for market launch! It's been quite the journey building a world-class user experience across hardware and software, and it's been so worth it.

‍

‍

Q: How has the overall design changed since conception?

A: It really hasn't changed much. We've made tweaks to make them more manufacturable. We also ditched a few of the super early concepts. But we always knew we wanted a sleek, hex dumbbell design that people would be proud to show off and use. We wanted the dumbbells to be flat so they wouldn't roll around. We performed extensive R&D on the knurled handle to get it just right. Rather than tuck your dumbbells away to the corner of your garage, under your bed, or in your closet, we wanted Kabata to be a statement piece in the home - and that's what we built.

‍

Q: What is your favorite feature in the Kabata dumbbells?

A: The AI-powered coaching, bar none. The critical difference between us and a lot of other at-home fitness products is that we actually analyze the user's workout data to coach and progress them. We track their metrics including reps, sets, velocity, volume, time under tension, and power, we analyze that data, and then we coach the user with the findings. That's the next generation in strength training - and that’s how it should be. A close 2nd would be the weight auto-adjust feature. Forget twisting a bunch of knobs and sliding weight plates on and off - Kabata's AI technology knows exactly what weight you need for each movement and changes the weight for you. It's unprecedented, it's the fastest weight change in the market, and we're giving precious time back to our busy Kabata users as a result.

‍

‍

Q: How do you see Kabata improving users' everyday lives?

A: We're revolutionizing strength training by making it more fun and more accessible than ever. So many people want to strength train but get intimidated, lose consistency, or don't progress as quickly as they’d hoped. We're fixing those issues with the most advanced free weight system on the market. Kabata tells you exactly what to do and how to do it, all while delivering engaging, effective, and enjoyable workouts. As our members progress, they'll see those results in the mirror and on their Kabata app but, more importantly, they'll FEEL those results. Our users will feel stronger, healthier, happier, more confident, more productive, and more energized than ever before. With Kabata, we're helping people feel like the best version of themselves, and that's a mission we absolutely love going after.

‍

Our brand's journey is a testament to innovation, dedication, and a deep understanding of what people from all walks of life need and want on their fitness journey. Kabata’s AI-powered, adjustable dumbbells are more than just a product; they're a commitment to revolutionizing how we approach strength training, making it accessible, enjoyable, and effective for everyone.

Welcome to the future of fitness. We're glad you're here.