From Injury to Innovation: An Immergo Labs Story

How a judo injury sparked a mission to democratize movement care

Sometimes the most transformative innovations emerge from personal struggle. For Aviv Elor, co-founder, President & Chief Research Officer of Immergo Labs, that moment came during a national judo competition when he ruptured his elbow. We're excited to share a new video that captures Aviv's journey behind Immergo Labs. Directed by fellow UC Santa Cruz alumnus Jacinto Salz of Opn Roads Media, the video explores how personal experience, research, and mission-driven innovation came together to create something that could help millions.

The Journey Begins

The injury itself was devastating for a nationally competing athlete. But what followed revealed an even deeper problem: the challenges of accessing quality rehabilitation care. Long drives to the clinic. Scheduling conflicts. The inability to receive real-time feedback between appointments. For Aviv, these barriers weren't just inconvenient; they highlighted a fundamental gap in how we deliver movement care.

That experience planted a seed that would grow over six years of research at University of California Santa Cruz, where Aviv explored the intersection of virtual reality, biomechanics, and human-centered design. His early work, including Project Star Catcher, an award-winning VR therapy game, demonstrated that immersive technology could transform rehabilitation from isolated, clinical experiences into engaging, accessible journeys.

Building Something Bigger

In founding Immergo Labs alongside co-founders Michael Powell and Ash Robbins, the mission became clear: redefine how people access and experience physical rehabilitation. The team brought together expertise in VR development, biomechanics, and healthcare delivery to tackle a challenge affecting millions of Americans.

Today, more than 30 million Americans live in medical deserts, areas where accessing quality movement care requires significant travel, time, and resources. For many, this means delayed treatment, incomplete rehab programs, or foregoing care altogether.

How Immergo Works

Immergo creates shared virtual spaces where care providers and clients can meet regardless of physical location. Using full-body avatars and real-time movement analysis, therapists can observe, guide, and assess movement patterns with precision. The platform brings accurate biomechanical analysis to consumer VR devices, making professional-grade movement assessment accessible from home.

The result is care that's more:

• Accessible: No need to travel long distances or navigate scheduling conflicts

• Engaging: Immersive environments that make rehab feel less like a chore

• Accurate: Real-time feedback and detailed movement analysis

• Continuous: Ongoing connection between sessions, not just isolated appointments

Recognition and What's Next

Aviv's journey recently earned recognition as a UC Santa Cruz Outstanding Alumni for 2025, an honor that celebrates innovation, social impact, and commitment to serving underserved communities. But this is just the beginning. With support from the National Science Foundation and recognition on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in Healthcare, Immergo Labs continues to expand access to movement care for communities that need it most.

Join Us

Whether you're a healthcare provider looking to expand your practice, a person seeking better access to care, or someone who believes in democratizing healthcare, we'd love to connect. Book a demo to see the platform in action, join our alpha program, and or back our mission if you interested in supporting Immergo.

Together, we can bring quality movement care to everyone, everywhere.