Lizcore, a Spanish startup focused on enhancing indoor climbing experiences, has secured €600,000 in pre-seed funding as it works to commercialize its innovative tracking and safety technology. The investment comes from a mix of venture capital, business angels, and state support, including an interest-free loan and grants. The funding will support Lizcore’s efforts to refine its hardware, expand its team, and develop a groundbreaking autobelay safety device.
Founded by climbing instructor-turned-entrepreneur Edgar Casanovas Lorente and co-founder Marçal Juan, Lizcore introduced its technology at MWC earlier this year. The system tracks climbers using a lightweight NFC bracelet that communicates with smart base units and top-out holds, allowing gyms to gamify climbing routes and collect performance data. This innovation eliminates the need for climbers to carry bulky devices, integrating seamlessly with Lizcore’s app for route tracking and progress monitoring.
Addressing Critical Safety Risks
While gamification remains part of Lizcore’s appeal, the startup has shifted its primary focus to developing a safety system for autobelays — mechanical devices that enable solo climbers to ascend safely without a belay partner. Lizcore’s safety system aims to mitigate the risks associated with climbers failing to properly clip into their harnesses, a common issue that has led to fatal accidents in climbing gyms.
The system will integrate digital credentials stored on the NFC bracelet, ensuring only qualified climbers can use autobelays. Cameras paired with Lizcore’s base units will employ AI to verify proper harness attachment and detect climbers attempting to ascend without being securely clipped in. An alarm will trigger if unsafe climbing is detected, adding an extra layer of safety.
Early Adoption and Future Plans
Lizcore recently demonstrated its technology at Drac de Pedra, a climbing gym in Rubí, Catalonia, which has become its first customer. The gym plans to install 10 devices across 30 routes. The startup, which has grown from two to nine team members, is targeting a 6–12 month timeline to complete its autobelay safety system, though challenges remain. “Hardware is hard,” co-founder Juan acknowledged, emphasizing the importance of reliability and accuracy in their AI models.
Looking ahead, Lizcore aims to make its safety system compatible with various autobelay brands, including those using retractable ropes instead of webbing. The startup hopes to address gym operators’ growing demand for improved safety measures while continuing to promote gamification as a complementary feature.
With climbing gyms facing increasing liability risks and safety concerns, Lizcore’s innovations have the potential to reshape the industry by combining cutting-edge technology with practical solutions to enhance both safety and user experience.
Featured image courtesy of TechCrunch
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