Black Box VR
Startup Black Box VR was looking for global media coverage of its virtual reality fitness technology and chose CES to launch its product. They left with months of development work, a concrete business roadmap and industry buzz.
Through virtual reality and gaming principles, Black Box VR immerses users in a world that creates a serious, competitive and fun workout. It also tracks users’ form and provides real-time feedback and performance metrics with the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning.
“We transform people’s lives by creating addictive fitness experiences that leverage the power of immersive technologies,” said Preston Lewis, cofounder of Black Box VR.
Looking for global media coverage of a product that cuts across multiple and emerging technology categories, Black Box VR chose CES as the platform to launch its product.
Charles Westerberg, Vice President of Business Development Black Box VRWithout a doubt, hands-down, CES was the perfect opportunity for us to show our product to the world... Not only are there so many people there attending the show, but also with the global reach — that was huge for us.
In its exhibit space at CES Sports Zone, Black Box VR offered demos of the virtual reality gym to media, influencers and celebrities, and they held business development meetings with potential partners, distributors and investors.
Interest from CES attendees not only showed that there was a market for virtual reality fitness, but it also validated Black Box VR’s business plan.
“The opportunity to have the investor-class people, the media and the influencers use our demo machine all in one place and generate action items that furthered us on our roadmap was critical,” said Jim Bradbury, general manager at Black Box VR.
While exhibiting at CES 2018, Black Box VR was featured on the Today Show from the CES show floor and was covered by more than 30 media outlets. It was also named Best Startup of CES 2018 by Engadget and a 2018 Innovation Award Honoree by CES. The spike in media coverage that started at CES in January extended well beyond the show.
“We had a significant and sustained boost in media and PR coverage after the show,” Westerberg said. “There are aftershocks of positive things that continue to happen even four or five months after CES.”
Black Box VR left CES with months of development work, a concrete business roadmap and industry buzz.
“We went in with high expectations, and every expectation was crushed. We beat every single goal and metric we set out to accomplish by 10-fold,” Westerberg said.
Exhibit at CES 2025
