In this episode of the Connect Vegas Podcast, host Ben Laifsky sits down with James Richey, founder of JouleFit, a revolutionary fitness technology company based in Las Vegas. James shares his journey from mechanical engineering to entrepreneurship, and how he combined his lifelong passion for fitness, robotics, and data science to create a smarter, faster, and safer way to work out. Together, they discuss JouleFit's mission to transform fitness through AI-driven, robotic equipment — and how their ambitious plan could influence health outcomes on a global scale.

If you’ve ever wished you could get a full-body workout in just 15 minutes (without even breaking a sweat), this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Episode Highlights

• What JouleFit Offers:
  • A spa-like fitness studio with facial recognition
  • Robotic machines that automatically adjust to each user's body
  • 15-minute, data-driven workouts requiring only two sessions a week
• The Science Behind It:
  • Real-time force matching with robotic actuators (no weights)
  • 50,000+ data points collected during each workout
  • Gamified experience tracking your personal best performance
• James’s Background:
  • Grew up in Indiana without TV, focused on outdoor activities and reading
  • Mechanical engineering career combined with lifelong love of sports
  • Inspiration from Body by Science by Dr. Doug McGuff
• Vision for JouleFit:
  • Opening flagship locations in Las Vegas
  • Building 10,000 locations over the next 10 years
  • Collecting massive health and wellness data sets to optimize personal fitness and health outcomes
• JouleFit's Unique Approach:
  • Suitable for busy professionals, older adults, and athletes
  • Eliminates intimidation of traditional gyms
  • Focus on safe, injury-free training even for seniors
• Las Vegas Insights:
  • Growth of the tech and biotech community in Las Vegas
  • Favorite local spots like Red Rock Canyon and top networking groups like Fusion 42 and Tech Alley