Amsterdam's BRAVR Technologies secures €130K to develop VR-based mental resilience training systems

BRAVR Technologies has secured funding to further develop its VR-based system aimed at improving mental resilience for use in both defence and civilian contexts.

Amsterdam-based BRAVR Technologies has secured €130K in pre-seed funding to develop portable VR-based mental resilience training systems for military and civilian personnel.

Founded in 2025, the Dutch startup aims to provide scalable mental readiness training that has traditionally been reserved for special forces, making it accessible to millions of soldiers, police officers, and firefighters worldwide.

While specific investor details have not been disclosed, the startup has attracted high-profile military advisors, including Maj. General (Ret.) Cornell A. Wilson Jr. of the US Marine Corps and Captain Jens Serup, former head of the Danish Army’s “Conduct After Capture” program.

Maj. General (Ret.) Cornell A. Wilson Jr., says, “BRAVR offers an interesting tool for NATO soldiers and civilians. This tool can help develop an individual’s skill to keep calm during chaotic moments, critically assess the situation, and deliver results based on professional training.”

Capital utilisation

The funding will be used to transform BRAVR’s demonstration technology into a plug-and-play product ready for testing and evaluation.

The company plans to develop systems that can train and maintain mental readiness across large-scale operations, addressing the gap in effective stress resilience training for mainstream defence and emergency personnel.

Ken Koontz, co-founder of BRAVR Technologies, says, “Effective stress resilience training means simulating extreme environments, which is dangerous, expensive, and usually reserved for special forces – leaving most recruits vulnerable.”

“This funding allows us to turn our demonstration technology into a plug-and-play product ready for testing and evaluation. Ultimately, we are aiming to give instructors the tools to train and maintain mental readiness across millions of police officers, firefighters, and NATO soldiers.”

Addressing critical gaps in stress resilience training

BRAVR’s system addresses a significant challenge faced by soldiers, police, and firefighters who encounter extreme scenarios as part of their duties. The acute stress triggered in these moments can impair decision-making, cause physical shutdown, and lead to long-term mental health issues.

Traditional stress resilience training requires simulating extreme environments, which is dangerous, expensive, and typically limited to elite units. This is where BRAVR Technologies looks to make a difference.

The company’s solution activates the body’s stress response using immersive VR while measuring heart rate variability (HRV) in real time. This biofeedback is integrated into gameplay, helping users recognise and train their automatic physiological response to stress.

The goal is improved performance in pressure situations and enhanced long-term resilience.

Founder brings vision for scalable mental readiness

BRAVR co-founders include Thijs Doornbos, a full-stack engineer turned game and VR developer with experience in bioinformatics in both commercial and academic markets; Ken Koontz, a designer with over 15 years of experience creating applied behavioural science games for research and mental healthcare; and Peter Barker, who has a background in gaming and experience taking companies from startup to IPO, focusing on scaling teams and solving operational challenges.