Jan Goetgeluk - Founder and CEO of Virtuix: Revolutionizing VR with the Omni (Ep. 72)

Jan Goetgeluk - Founder and CEO of Virtuix: Revolutionizing VR with the Omni (Ep. 72)

Author: Dustin Sutton March 25, 2025 Duration: 39:29

From Viral Demo to VR Hardware: Jan Goetgeluk on Building the Virtuix Omni

VR, Virtuix Omni, omnidirectional treadmill, Kickstarter success, hardware startup lessons. Founder & CEO Jan Goetgeluk shares how a viral demo and a $1.1M Kickstarter lit the fuse for Virtuix—and what it really takes to design, fund, and scale a hardware company in a fast-moving market.

🚀 What You’ll Learn

  • How the Omni lets users walk/run 360° in VR (and why that matters)
  • The real design timeline (6–7 months) and early engineering tradeoffs
  • Kickstarter → equity crowdfunding: capital + community (and hidden challenges)
  • Pivoting from consumer to commercial to survive and grow
  • Why focus, problem-solving, and taking action beat perfect plans
  • Work–life balance, gratitude, and staying mentally steady in tough stretches

⏱️ Chapters

⏰ 02:08 – The Birth of the Omni Treadmill ⏰ 05:48 – Designing the Omni: The Discovery Phase ⏰ 06:25 – Jan’s Background & Early Career ⏰ 09:10 – Lessons from Investment Banking ⏰ 12:30 – Finding Opportunities & Solving Problems ⏰ 16:40 – Going Viral: The Power of a Demo Video ⏰ 21:36 – Kickstarter Success & Community Building ⏰ 29:04 – Product Development: Hard Lessons ⏰ 32:01 – Transitioning to Commercial Markets ⏰ 34:10 – Equity Crowdfunding: Community & Capital ⏰ 39:45 – Focus & the Entrepreneurial Journey ⏰ 43:06 – Finding Gratitude Amidst Challenges ⏰ 44:57 – Taking Action: The First Step to Success

🌐 Links

Virtuix: https://virtuix.com/ Show site: https://toolstalentstechniques.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the3tpod/ Music by C€$: https://open.spotify.com/artist/21zXwxV9nWaiE6iAleU6ww?si=yNBmIPqIT7-56hAmfvqShA

💬 Question for You

What’s the first tiny step you could take today to move your hardware idea forward?

#VR #HardwareStartup #The3TPod


Dustin Sutton hosts TOOLS TALENTS AND TECHNIQUES, a podcast built on the idea that success in any field is a blend of the right resources, innate abilities, and learned methods. The conversations here roam across a wide landscape, from the concrete strategies of real estate and business to the evolving dynamics of technology and the revealing parallels found in sports. Rather than offering quick tips, each episode settles into a detailed discussion with a genuine leader or innovator, unpacking the specifics of their path. You’ll hear how they’ve scaled ventures, managed personal evolution, and applied financial insights, all framed by their unique experiences. This isn't about abstract theory; it's about the tangible, often hard-won lessons that actually move the needle. The result is a collection of dialogues that feel both broad in scope and deeply practical, whether you're building a company, honing a skill, or simply curious about the mechanics of achievement. Tune into this podcast for those unscripted moments where real strategy and personal insight intersect, providing a useful perspective no matter your own professional arena.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

TOOLS TALENTS AND TECHNIQUES with Dustin Sutton
Podcast Episodes
The Art of Sales: Insights from Keith Carson (Ep. 58) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:08
In this episode, Keith Carson shares his extensive journey through business development and sales, reflecting on his early life, education, and the transition from ministry to the corporate world. He discusses the challe…
Ross Marshall  - Head of Community Engagement at Bioversity (Ep. 57) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:05
Empowering Future Generations in Biotech with Ross MarshallIn this episode, Dustin Sutton interviews Ross Marshall, an executive at Bioversity, focusing on his journey from the energy sector to the biotech industry. They…
Donnie Dee - President and CEO of San Diego Rescue Mission (Ep. 56) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:23
Donnie Dee, the president and CEO of San Diego Rescue Mission, shares his journey from working with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes to leading a mission to help the homeless. He explains how he developed a burden fo…
Craig Robinson (Finding Your Path with the GEL Framework) Ep. 54 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:51
Craig Robinson's career in commercial real estate has been varied and impressive. He has worked in various roles, including corporate services, investment development, advisory, and global division management. His journe…
Chris Campbell - CEO of Simpli-Fi Automation (Ep. 53) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:47
Chris Campbell, CEO of Simpli-Fi Automation, discusses the concept of technology transfer and how his company helps bring advanced technologies from government agencies to the commercial market. He shares his journey of…