Almost 10 years of Valo Motion – How did we grow this far, Raine?

As we approach our 10-year anniversary in August 2026, it’s a good moment to revsit where we started, and where we are headed next. In 2016, Valo Motion started as a bold experiment: could technology and movement be brought together to make exercise fun for everyone? Today, that idea has grown into a global company showing the way for the active entertainment industry, with installations in more than 80 countries and a team of 50+ professionals in Finland and around the world. “We started out as pioneers, figuring out how to combine gaming and physical activity. Now, we’re the company people in this industry call first when they want to bring movement and play together”, says founder and CEO Raine Kajastila. 

From a small research-driven project at Aalto University to a globally recognized growth company, Valo Motion’s story is one of persistence, creativity, and conviction. As the 10-year anniversary is this year in August 2026, it is time to ask this question: where is Valo Motion headed next, Raine? 

Growing organically, step by step

Over the past decade, our growth has been steady, sustainable, and independent. We’ve been able to fuel our growth ourselves, relying on the strength and quality of our products and our exceptional team. 

“That’s been the natural path for us so far,” Raine explains. “Growing organically has allowed us to focus fully on what matters: creating unique products and helping people move. When you fund growth through your own success, you get to build on your vision with clarity.”

“Growing organically has allowed us to focus fully on what matters: creating unique products and helping people move.”

Although Valo Motion has only been self-funded with some grant support, Raine emphasizes that this has never been about avoiding investors, but about timing and direction.

“If the right moment and the right partners come along in the future, that’s something we can absolutely consider,” he adds. “But up to this point, growing on our own has served us well.”

Between 2020 and 2024, Valo Motion’s year-on-year revenue grew on average by almost 40%. We’ve reinvested every euro back into product development and improving both the operator and the player experience. 

“We don’t chase fast growth for the sake of it,” Raine says. “We build something that lasts, both for our customers and our team.”

The results speak for themselves: viral videos, global visibility, and loyal customers who not only trust the quality but actively request new products before they’re even announced. 

“We have customers who reserve space for our next product in their park before they even know what it is,” Raine says. “That kind of trust means everything.”

Creating games that move people globally

At the heart of our success are the products themselves: interactive mixed-reality games that blend digital fun with real-world movement.

Seeing them in use around the world still feels special for Raine. “It’s incredible to see our games giving exceptionally fun moments out there for the players. They’re not just fun, they’re reliable, durable, and safe. That trust is what allows them to thrive in so many countries”, Raine says.

Keeping the experiences fresh requires both creativity and technology. From day one, our systems have been designed to be updated remotely, allowing us to add new games, features, and full interface upgrades to products that have been in use for years.

“That’s how we make sure something installed back in 2016 still feels modern today,” Raine explains. “We actively bring end users into our development process. Classes from nearby schools visit ValoHalli, our activity park next to the HQ in Lauttasaari, to try new games, share feedback, and simply enjoy moving together. It’s an important part of our development process.”

And even the founder’s enthusiasm for innovation hasn’t faded: “Just a while ago, I had test sessions for our new game and ended up just wanting to keep on playing. When the testers and even the CEO feels that way, I think we’re on the right track”, Raine smiles. 

What has changed, and what stayed the same?

As we’ve grown from a small six-person team to a global community of more than 50 people representing many different nationalities, a lot has changed, and at the same time, the most important things have stayed exactly the same. Our scale is bigger, our markets are broader, and our products have now reached players in over 80 countries. But the core of who we are has remained steady: our culture, our values, and the way we build things together.

“Our values are part of everything we do, including recruitment. We always look for people who match the way we work. One of our values is that we are ‘serious about fun’, and it describes us well: we do serious business, but with a playful spirit. Our customers often say it’s fun to work with us, and that matters”, Raine says. 

“One of our values is that we are ‘serious about fun’, and it describes us well: we do serious business, but with a playful spirit.”

Keeping that culture alive takes intention. We create dedicated moments during the week simply to have fun together, and we remind ourselves constantly who we build for. Our end users are usually kids, which means our team needs to keep a playful spirit and childlike curiosity when testing our games. It’s part of staying connected to the joy we want our games to create.

Of course, growth hasn’t always been straightforward. 

The pandemic was one of the most challenging moments, forcing us to slow down hiring and adapt quickly. “We decided, and managed, to keep everyone on board and focus on building a new product,” Raine explains. “It taught us a lot about balance: when do we hire, and when do we improve processes instead? You don’t always need to grow the team, sometimes you need to remove friction so the current team can work better.”

Through all of this, seeing the team develop has been the most rewarding part.

“It’s amazing to watch our team members who are truly passionate about what they do,” Raine says. “When you bring together gaming and attraction industry professionals like industrial designers, game designers, artists, and engineers, all excited about their craft, something unique happens.”

What’s coming next, Raine?

Looking back at the past year, Raine feels especially proud of the momentum the team has built together. “We’ve entered a new phase,” he reflects. “We’ve recruited more people, added more structure, shipped new products and features, and got everyone pulling in the same direction. The pace has increased, but the feeling of working together has only grown stronger.”

Looking ahead, we’re not slowing down. Raine sees a future where our focus remains clear, but the scale grows much bigger. “We’re made to move, and that’s what we’ll keep doing,” he says. “We’ll continue doing what we’re good at: motivating people to move through play. The foundation doesn’t change, we just aim to do it on a much larger scale.”

One of the most ambitious targets is reaching 1 million games played every day.

“Right now, at the beginning of 2026, we’re at over 300 000, so there’s still a long way to go,” Raine notes. “But that’s exactly what makes it exciting. There are so many areas we can impact and improve over the coming years.”

The wider market is moving in the same direction to provide more and more active entertainment. After more than a decade working in this space, Raine has seen active entertainment shift from a niche idea to a global movement. “You can really feel it rising,” he says. “More people understand why this matters, helping people move while creating fun moments that connect people. The world is waking up to how important active play and active entertainment are.”

Sustainability also plays a central role in how we plan to grow. “We want to grow in a way that also respects the environment. Sustainability isn’t just a responsibility, it actually enables us to build better, and more scalable products”, Raine says. 

For Raine personally, the most exciting part of the future comes from his roots in research and curiosity. “With my research background, I’m excited about the new products and concepts our team will develop,” he says. “And it’s fascinating to see where this industry is heading. We want to be the ones pushing it forward.”

A concrete example of growth can be seen in the everyday life of our team in Finland. 

“We started in a big garage, then moved into a co-working space where we literally grew one room at a time. And now in Lauttasaari, we’re taking over our HQ building space by space as the team expands,” Raine smiles. “That says everything about our journey: steady growth, one room, space, location, and a new country at a time.”

Ten years in and we’re just getting started. With a clear mission, a passionate team, and games that keep people moving, we’re shaping the future of active entertainment. 

“We’ve built a strong foundation. Now it’s time to take the next leap: to reach even more people and make movement a natural part of gaming worldwide”, Raine sums up.