Manchester-based virtual reality start-up MiHiepa has opened a New York office and launched a new platform after securing a "significant investment". MiHiepa is a virtual reality training and cognitive development tool for elite football. The platform, which is installed at football clubs across the Premier League and top European leagues, builds a picture of player capabilities across several areas by using millions of natural movement data points. The company has opened a new base in New York as part of an investment deal from US venture firm Channel Mark. It has also developed a new platform, REZZIL Academy, aimed at identifying and improving talent. It comprises of four key drills that simulate real game pressure in challenging environments and gives coaches insights into a player's ability to cope with pressure and make in-game decisions. Adam Dickinson, development director at MiHiepa, said: "We're excited about the opportunities working with an investment partner such as Channel Mark brings. Not only will MiHiepa now have an established base and employees in the USA, we will also benefit from the knowledge and contacts their high tech team bring with them. "This now enables us to have a foothold, and most importantly constant presence in the rapidly developing and innovation receptive US Soccer Market." Brendan O’Shea, COO of Channel Mark, added: "We have been impressed since the very first time we saw MiHiepa 10 months ago, and after meeting the team behind the product we felt compelled to make a more solid partnership and investment. We believe this space is poised for very significant growth. "With 22million registered soccer players in the US and four million registered with the US Soccer Federation this is a big opportunity; literally and figuratively. The new Rezzil product is the tip of the iceberg for where the team intend to take innovation in elite sport across all ages and genders."
UK-based virtual reality start-up MiHiepa has opened a New York office after receiving "significant" investment. MiHiepa's technology is used by a host of top European clubs and assesses players' capabilities, using VR to process natural movement data points. The start-up has also launched a new platform dubbed REZZIL Academy. The platform is aimed at identifying youth talent and uses millions VR-generated football drills simulating pressure scenarios within games to give coaches an insight into a player's abilities.