Fitness tech startup Rolla secures €6.3M to remove barriers to a healthy lifestyle

Bosnia and Herzegovina-based Rolla, a fitness tech startup founded by Igor Krezic, announced that it has secured €6.3M in a seed round of funding.

According to Rolla, this is the largest investment ever made in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) for a fitness & health/wellbeing business, and a “record-breaker” for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s tech ecosystem.

Investors supporting Rolla

The round was led by Mate Rimac, a Croatian entrepreneur and CEO of Rimac Group, and Hellen’s Rock, the family office of Sacha Dragic. 

Rimac, a renowned inventor and entrepreneur, brings valuable expertise and resources to Rolla’s journey. With successful ventures like Rimac Automobili and Greyp Bikes, his involvement is expected to drive Rolla’s growth and innovation in the market.

Rimac says, “The two factors that led me to be part of Rolla were Igor Krezić and the importance of health in modern society.”

“I have witnessed which entrepreneurial miracles Igor has created in the past, which are even more impressive considering where and under which circumstances they were built. At the same time, I strongly believe that a data-driven, healthy lifestyle will become ever more important for people around the world.” 

“I also see a lack of a proper comprehensive solution for assisting people to live such a healthy lifestyle. I am sure that Igor and his team are on the path of delivering just that,” adds Rimac.

Capital utilisation

Rolla’s strong start at EUROBIKE (a global trade show for the bike business) has gained recognition from influential cycling personalities and platforms. 

With the newly raised funds, the company says it will expand its customer base, expand its teams, and establish development and commercial hubs for expansion into Western Europe.

According to Rolla, this investment signals a “seismic shift” in the Western Balkans’ tech ecosystem and can potentially catalyse the expansion and prosperity of the whole area, much like Rimac did in Croatia and UiPath in Romania.

Tackling the silent health crisis

Igor Krezic, founder and CEO of Rolla, has a personal journey of overcoming weight challenges and burnout having once weighed 136 kg, inspiring his vision for empowering individuals to take control of their health.

Growing up during the Balkans War in the 1990s instilled resilience in him. As a seasoned entrepreneur, he founded five companies generating over 400 jobs and €30M in annual revenue. Successfully exiting one venture, NSoft, he brings a strong track record to Rolla’s mission of providing effective health solutions.

Rolla sets itself apart in the health and fitness market with a focus on ease of access, integration of connected services’ data, user inclusivity, and a gamified approach. 

The platform offers a complete solution for users at different fitness levels, providing rewards and motivation through its gamification system. As a streaming solution, it eliminates the need for dedicated hardware, making it easily accessible to a wide range of users.

This engaging and inclusive approach encourages users to make steady progress towards their health and fitness goals as well as enhances the overall user experience and differentiates Rolla in the health and fitness market.

Krezic says, “The beauty of our system is in its balance and interplay – the Levels and Effort interact to create a continuous feedback loop, sustaining your engagement and rewarding you for both your everyday steps and long-term achievements.”

“We’re introducing a gamified experience that transcends the norm of data-driven health apps and provides a clear, navigable path towards health and fitness improvement,” adds Krezic.

Rolla launched beta versions of Rolla One and Rolla World apps for early adopters. The full versions, offering a complete gamified fitness experience, will be available in Q1 2024.