Fitness wearable and software maker GOQii raised $13.4 million Series A to brings its offering to the U.S. and China. New Enterprise Associates (NEA) led the round with participation from Cheetah Mobile; Great Wall Club (GWC); DSG Consumer Partners; Supercell co-founder and CEO Ilkka Paananen; angel investor Pravin Gandhi; and GOQii’s co-founder and CEO Vishal Gondal.

Beyond making wearable devices – the Menlo Park, California and Mumbai, India-based company also has a cloud-based platform that connects users with real coaches, who provide feedback to help users meet their health goals. The service includes a free wristband, but it can also work with competing activity trackers, including those made by Fitbit, Jawbone and Misfit.

GOQii launched its U.S. beta program in January with plans to open it to the public by the first quarter of next year.“We believe that there is an inherent flaw in the wearable market. They are trying to sell you a piece of hardware, which most people stop using in a matter of weeks or months. But GOQii flips that,” Gondal said. “Most people have all the data they need about their health and fitness, but they don’t know what it means and that is how our coaches help them.”

Said coaches welcome users by setting up an audio or video call and then continue to give them feedback every day based on their goals. GOQii’s platform streamlines this (feedback) process, enabling every coach to server up to 60 to 70 users each day.

The company hasn’t disclosed its user metrics, but Gondal says this approach ensures strong engagement rates. GOQii launched its U.S. beta program in January with plans to open it to the public by the first quarter of next year.

According to recent IDC figures, shipments of wearable devices will hit 76.1 million units this year, representing a 163.9 percent jump from the to 28.9 million shipped in 2014. By 2019, that figure is expected to reach 173.4 million units.

[Via: TechCrunch]