New technology from startup ventures is transforming the global sports industry. The mission of this series is to introduce startup companies in the sports technology space to a broader audience and allow Founders of promising new ventures to tell their story and pitch their idea. Feel free to submit your startup’s answers to the below questions or contact us if you know of a startup that should be considered for inclusion in this series.
Company name: HorseCom
Founder(s): Hugo Kajdas, Founder and Chairman of HorseCom
Headquarters: Paris, France
1. What is your elevator pitch?
HorseCom is simple, effective and intuitive device that connects riders and their horses through the power of music. A wearable technology, the three part device consists of headphones for the horse, a rider headset and subscription to a smartphone application. HorseCom offers casual and professional riders a supplemental tool to help calm horses during training, transport and vet visits and was developed by founder Hugo Kajdas after he watched his equestrian sister struggle to tame an erratic new horse.
2. Problem & Solution
Anyone who has ever owned, ridden or trained a horse knows that sometimes they can be skittish and difficult. There are several scientific studies that connect the effect of music to horses’ behavior. For instance, when classical music is played for horses under stressful situations, a horse’s peak heart rate and response to stress can be lowered. Likewise, syncing horse and rider through shared sounds can improve training. And, masking outside sounds with music, such as in the case of trailer transport, can sooth a horse. HorseCom is designed to improve the focus and connection between horse and rider, and is specifically designed to enhance horses’ wellbeing.
3. Market – your target market and the overall market
Anyone who owns, rides, trains or cares for horses.
4. Business Model – how do you make money?
Revenue comes from:
- Sale of HorseCom devices
- Monthly subscriptions which include 4 training videos on hot industry topics and 8 tailor-made music pieces every month designed to aid riders working toward specific goals such as relaxing, walking, trotting, cantering. With subscription, device price is significantly discounted.
5. Management Team
- Hugo Kajdas, Chairman and founder
- Thomas Pandraud, Technical and operational director
6. What else do you want your audience to know about your venture?
Compatible with any iOS or Android smartphone, the HorseCom unit enables users to:
- Share music based training programs between a horse and a rider: the application allows the rider to organize already existing music content into playlists to be used with the horse.
- Leverage an amplified voice to command the horse.
- Connect with a coach managing the training session remotely, within a 320-foot radius.
- Answer a phone call safely and hands-free.
Coming Soon – new features are constantly added to the mobile application:
- Track and record horses’ training profiles.
- Adjust music tempos, accelerating or decelerating by -20% to +20%.
- Connect with the HorseCom community, gaining inspiration through exclusive training videos designed by partner instructors, trainers and top riders.
About Hugo Kajdas, Founder and Chairman of HorseCom
An electrical engineer, Hugo Kajdas developed the first Bluetooth connected headphones for horses with ethologists from the University of Caen’s Memory and Behavioral Plasticity Group (GMPC), the Hubert Curien Pluridisciplinary Institute (IPHC), the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the University of Strasbourg between 2013 and 2014. With an MSc in business management from ESSEC Business School, Kajdas founded HorseCom in 2015 to provide solutions for equestrians working to improve their horse’s well-being and performance across any riding style.