Leuven AI platform for running analysis ‘Runeasi’ raises €1 million to fuel global expansion
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Leuven, 4th of February 2026 — Runeasi, the KU Leuven spin-off shaping the future of running and movement analysis, has raised €1 million in a new investment round. The round was led by Smarter Ventures, a next-generation Dutch venture capital fund. Existing investors Freshmen Fund, Gemma Frisius Fund, and the company’s founders also participated. With angel investor Sean Gourley joining the round, part of the new capital comes directly from Silicon Valley to Leuven. “This support allows us to accelerate our growth even further,” say co-founders Kurt Schütte and Tim Op De Béeck.
Runeasi enables physiotherapists, coaches, and specialty running stores to perform high-quality running and jumping analyses in just several minutes, without the need for expensive or complex equipment. The platform relies on an AI-driven motion sensor capable of capturing biomechanical data, which is instantly translated into a personalized report with actionable insights for rehabilitation and training.
Combining science, AI, and practical usability
“Runeasi builds exactly the type of software we like to invest in: a strong combination of deep domain expertise, proprietary data, and innovative AI. Their product is intuitive to use and mission-critical for customers. This perfectly aligns with our belief that the most successful AI companies create a flywheel that drives sustainable growth and innovation,” says Anton Loeffen, Managing Partner at Smarter Ventures.
“As an experienced runner, I was immediately impressed by the product. While as an investor, it was the strength of the team that truly stood out. The founders have a sharp understanding of their customers, make thoughtful product decisions, and are driven to learn and improve every day,” adds Kristian de Lange, Managing Partner at Smarter Ventures.
“Runeasi operates in a fast-growing market with a relevant, unique, and simple solution that helps people run better and smarter. We are happy to continue investing, as Kurt and his team have demonstrated their ability to build international traction and credibility with global players,” says Steven Spittaels, Managing Partner at Freshmen Fund.
Global growth and adoption as the next step
Runeasi is currently being used in more than 40 countries by sports physiotherapy practices and running specialists worldwide. To date, over 50,000 running analyses have been performed using the platform. The United States represents the company’s largest market. In addition, Runeasi supports major sports footwear brands by enabling fast, objective product testing and strengthening their scientific credibility.
With €1 million in fresh capital, the Start it @KBC alumnus is ready to accelerate its growth trajectory. “We are proud and grateful for the continued trust of our existing partners and the enthusiasm of several new investors. This funding enables us to speed up our next growth phase. We will be able to expand internationally at a faster pace, with a particular focus on the United States, where we see the strongest demand and fastest growth. At the same time, we remain committed to the Belgian market, where we have built strong customer relationships over many years,” explains CEO Kurt Schütte.
At the end of 2025, Runeasi was named among Belgium’s fastest-growing AI scale-ups. “A great recognition, but we keep our feet firmly on the ground. Our focus hasn’t changed: we remain committed to our core values of scientific integrity and validation. We use AI, but we don’t turn it into hype or a gimmick. In health technology, objectivity is paramount,” say CEO Kurt Schütte and co-founder & CTO Tim Op De Béeck.
Standout year
Runeasi had an exceptionally strong year in 2025. With the launch of the Jumping Module, the platform was expanded to include jump tests that assess reactivity and explosiveness, making Runeasi applicable not only to runners but also to athletes competing in other sports. The scale-up also strengthened its role as a knowledge partner through its own podcast and accredited education programs for physiotherapists in Europe and North America, including collaborations with the well-known education platform Physiotutors. On the branding and international expansion front, Runeasi created a unique running analysis experience with Swiss brand On in its Shoe Labs during the World Athletics Championships and expanded further into new markets such as Australia, India, and Singapore.
About Runeasi
Runeasi originated from research at KU Leuven. Together, the founders bring more than 70 years of combined expertise in biomechanics and AI. The company was recently recognized as one of Belgium’s fastest-growing AI scale-ups. Runeasi is dedicated to translating groundbreaking science and technology into practical tools that significantly improve health and human performance. The company supports physiotherapists, running coaches, and specialty running stores with high-quality running and jumping analyses, transforming biomechanical data into training opportunities and exercise programs via an AI-powered sensor worn in a sports belt.
Website: https://runeasi.ai/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/runeasi
About Smarter Ventures
Smarter Ventures represents a new movement in venture capital, supporting ambitious founders building essential AI solutions. As entrepreneurs themselves, the team understands what it takes to scale a company. Portfolio companies receive growth capital combined with hands-on experience in scaling software businesses, with a focus on sustainable growth.
Website: https://smarterventures.nl/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/smarter-ventures/
About Freshmen Fund
Freshmen Fund is a European boutique venture capital fund supporting B2C companies in Urban Mobility, Consumer AI, and Progressive Niche Brands, active across Europe and the United States.
Website: https://www.freshmenfund.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/freshmenfund
About Gemma Frisius Fund
The Gemma Frisius Fund (GFF) is a seed capital fund founded in 1997 as a joint venture between KU Leuven, KBC Bank, and BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity. The fund combines the university’s academic expertise with the financial and investment know-how of its partners to provide early-stage capital to innovative, research-driven companies based on KU Leuven technology.
Website: https://lrd.kuleuven.be/en/spinoff/gemma-frisius-fundLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kuleuven-research-development/
About Sean Gourley
Sean Gourley is a San Francisco–based angel investor, serial deep-tech entrepreneur, Oxford-trained physicist, and former national decathlete. He founded Quid and Primer and scaled both companies into leaders in AI-driven data analytics.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgourley/
