Aescape Secures $83M in Strategic Funding & Announces US Expansion With Equinox - Athletech News

[Elizabeth Ostertag]

The robotic AI-powered massage company has seen explosive growth through partnerships with major fitness and wellness brands​

Aescape, a lifestyle robotics company pioneering AI-powered massage for recovery, has secured $83 million in a strategic funding round led by Valor Equity Partners. With this latest investment, Aescape’s total funding reaches $128 million to help with national expansion and operational growth. The round also saw continued investment from firm Alumni Ventures, as well as NBA Champion and All-Star Kevin Love.

Aescape first introduced its AI-powered automated massage technology in select Equinox locations across New York City. Equinox then extended its partnership with Aescape to 60 locations nationwide and is now the first fitness brand to integrate AI-driven massage technology at scale.

“Aescape immediately resonated with our members, offering a private, effective and highly personalized massage experience—on their time,” said James Gu, Sr. Director of Spa at Equinox. “This partnership reflects our commitment to providing the most advanced recovery solutions available and we’re excited to bring it to more locations across the country.”

Beyond Equinox, Aescape has secured partnerships with major hospitality and wellness leaders, including select locations of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Marriott and Ritz-Carlton properties across North America. It also recently partnered with World Spa in Brooklyn, a luxury spa with Eastern European banyas, Finnish saunas and Moroccan hammams. The expansion comes as the $19 billion massage therapy industry faces a labor shortage, with over 29,000 unfilled therapist positions.

“Aescape has demonstrated remarkable growth in just six months since its launch,” said Jonathan Shulkin, Partner and Co-President at Valor Equity Partners. “Their AI-driven approach is unlocking new possibilities in data-informed, personalized care, driving revenue for partners while delivering precision-tailored experiences. Eric and his team are creating an entirely new category of robotics-powered wellness and we’re delighted to continue to support their expansion.”

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Aescape has bolstered its leadership team with key hires from Apple and The Economist Group to support its rapid expansion. Kimberly Miller joined as Chief Marketing Officer, bringing over two decades of experience in scaling high-growth brands. Eswar Priyadarshan, formerly of Apple and Adobe, has been appointed Senior Vice President of Engineering.

Aescape has also introduced a new tiered B2B model, allowing small and medium-sized businesses to offer AI-powered massage experiences. The model includes Aescape Essential, for general wellness businesses and Aescape Lux, for high-end wellness centers and premium hospitality partners, with exclusive features and premium app customization.

“Our first six months focused on strategic partnerships and introducing fully autonomous robotic massage to consumers, driving high utilization and repeat usage rates,” said Eric Litman, Founder and CEO of Aescape. “Now, we’re doubling down on deepening relationships with existing partners, onboarding new ones and expanding our library of massage offerings as member needs evolve.”