In the previous episode of Tech Odyssey, we visited Startup Portugal to understand how this small European country built a tightly connected innovation ecosystem. This time, we looked at one of the startups emerging from that environment: Bhout.
At first glance, the punching bag inside Bhout’s Lisbon gym looks ordinary. But once you throw a punch, the difference becomes clear. The bag barely swings, and the impact feels surprisingly close to striking a human body. A nearby screen instantly displays the data behind each strike—power, speed, location, and movement accuracy.
Bhout describes the device as the world’s first AI-powered punching bag. According to founder Mauro, the idea started with a dream 11 years ago.
Mauro is not an engineer. His background is in martial arts and the fitness industry, where he spent years observing the same challenge: retention. Getting people to join a gym is easy; getting them to keep coming back is much harder. Training often feels repetitive, and progress is difficult to measure. The concept behind Bhout was simple—turn training into something interactive.
The first prototypes were built in a garage. Over six years, Mauro and his co-founder developed a layered punching bag designed to mimic the resistance of the human body. Sensors embedded throughout the bag work with a 3D computer vision system to track each strike, measuring force, speed, accuracy, and fatigue in real time.
The data transforms training into a game-like experience. Users earn points for every strike and compare scores on gym leaderboards. The system also adapts workouts based on a person’s height, fitness level, and training goals, making it usable for beginners, children, and professional fighters alike.
Beyond gym settings, the technology has also been adopted for neurorehabilitation in Parkinson’s patients and hand-to-hand combat training for military personnel.
Four years ago, Bhout opened its first gym in Lisbon. According to the company, it has since become the most profitable boxing gym in Portugal. The model is designed to scale: there is no traditional front desk, and most operations—from booking to class management—are handled by software.
As of the end of 2025, Bhout has secured partnerships with more than 500 gyms worldwide, expanding from Portugal and Spain to the United States and Mexico. China is next. Mauro says the company plans to open its first location in Beijing in 2026.
Like many Portuguese startups, Bhout has had to think globally from the beginning. The domestic market is small, and growth depends on international expansion.
For Mauro, however, the story still begins the same way it did 11 years ago—with a dream.
