In the first episode of the new season of «The Lion’s Den» on Vox, the «Pakama Sports Bag» was presented – a mobile gym in a backpack, which can be combined with an individual training program via an app. FITBOOK spoke to one of the founders and found out what happened next for the team after the recording.
How did Pakama come about?
Patrick Kessel (28) and Maya Bach (43) founded their company «Pakama» for their own needs. That’s why there’s a lot of them in it: The name unites founders PAtrick, partner KAi and founders MAya, as the former tells FITBOOK. The three have been friends for four or five years. And of course the «Pakama Sports Bag» should also be the solution for others.
What is special about the «Pakama Sports Bag»?
The invention is intended for people who travel a lot and/or have little time to go to the gym, but don’t want to give up their sport because of that. They should now be able to simply take their personal gym with them in a specially developed backpack.
«Our product will change the life of every athlete,» says Kessel confidently – «if he is ready for it.»
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What does the fitness backpack include?
The product contains a ten-piece set that, according to the two founders, can be used to complete a functional full-body workout. Nevertheless, the weatherproof «Pakama Sports Bag» is hardly as big as a normal gym bag – but should still offer enough storage space for sports shoes and everyday things, such as the laptop. When fully packed, the backpack weighs around 3.9 kilograms.
Fitness enthusiast Bach presents the contents of the «Pakama Sports Bag» – as she says: the «ten best sports equipment for effective full-body training». These include
- a fascia ball «for regeneration training»,
- a mat for floor exercises or yoga,
- a bar that can be used as a barbell,
- two so-called «Pakama Slides» – round flat discs, for example for endurance and mobility units,
- a skipping rope,
- An anchor to hang in «so that you can work like a cable pull»,
- foot straps to train legs and bottom,
- two mini «bands» (two small bands) for combining different exercises
For whom is the invention suitable?
With their backpack, the «Pakama» founders are primarily targeting experienced athletes who do not need any instructions for their workout.
Everyone else should find the necessary support in the associated «Pakama» app. Customers can use it to put together a weekly training plan for their individual needs (e.g. building muscle or losing weight). The plan also indicates rest days depending on how often the client wants to train. The individual exercises are demonstrated in short videos, including written notes on details that must be observed when performing them.
just who all If you don’t have much time, but still feel like working out, you’ll find very intensive four-minute «quick and dirty» workouts in the app. After that you’re «flat», assures Kessel.
Investor Judith Williams takes a close look at the «Pakama Sports Bag».
How much does the Pakama Sports Bag cost?
The price of 199 euros includes the backpack and one month’s use of the app. There are then various subscription models to continue training with the app for either three months (EUR 12.99), six (EUR 9.99) or 12 months (EUR 6.99).
FITBOOK assessment: Is the product worth it?
Aids so that you don’t have to let the sport slide on the go are certainly a good idea. In addition, the backpack looks very chic and makes it possible to work out a bit in between without having to spend a lot of time or organization.
So if you like to train with straps, slides and the like, you will find everything you need for a solid strength and endurance workout in the «Pakama Sports Bag». On the other hand, if you like going to the gym and consciously take the time to attend courses or use the equipment, for example, you probably don’t need the product.
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Deal or no deal?
The founders need someone «who can really sell», they explained in the «Lion’s Den» – and an investment of 150,000 euros. For this they offered 15 percent of the «Pakama» company shares.
Carsten Maschmeyer, Frank Thelen, Ralf Dümmel, Judith Williams and Nils Glagau basically liked the idea, but complained that the individual products already existed or were easy to copy and that the invention could not be patented.
Frank Thelen, sports fan and declared “backpack fetishist” thought longest. In the end, however, everyone rejected the founders’ offer.
Also good without DHDL
For «Pakama,» the show’s outcome was hardly detrimental, Kessel revealed to FITBOOK. In fact, the record was already a year ago, since then the company has grown a lot – «probably no less than if a lion had struck back then,» he suspects. In order to reach a further level, «Pakama» will promptly start another round of financing.