Exoligamentz, a spin-off from Ghent University, offers a revolutionary alternative to sports tape. Led by founder Ashkan Joshghani, the company is developing an innovative protective glove for athletes who expose their fingers to high loads, such as in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. By combining medical knowledge and athlete experience with academic research, Exoligamentz offers a durable and high-performance solution to a widespread sports problem.
From personal distress to spin-off
Ashkan Joshghani was at a crossroads between his career as a veterinarian and his ambition to practice Brazilian jiu-jitsu professionally. During his training sessions, like many other young athletes, he suffered frequent finger injuries - injuries that can have serious long-term orthopedic consequences. Sports tape did not offer an adequate solution: it is expensive, time-consuming to use, and quickly loses its effectiveness with intense sweating.
With his medical background and practical athletic experience, Ashkan developed the idea of a “second-skin” glove that allows functional movement but restricts abnormal movements. The result is an innovative glove that protects athletes better and is more comfortable than tape.
What does Exoligamentz do?
Exoligamentz develops and manufactures protective sports gloves specifically designed to support finger joints during sports activities. The glove was tested at UGent, where researcher Benny Malengier and his team analyzed the first prototypes using a tensile bench and simulated fingers.
The results showed that in many cases the glove offered better protection than classic sports tape. In a subsequent day of testing, the gloves were also evaluated in practice by 26 athletes.
What are the benefits?
- Effective protection: glove restricts abnormal movements without hindering functional mobility.
- Ease of use: faster and easier to put on than tape, with consistent performance during sports.
- More durable alternative: one glove replaces hundreds of meters of tape per season.
- Scientifically validated: developed and tested in collaboration with Ghent University, with support from the Industrial Research Fund.
Future prospects
In the future, Ashkan plans to expand the technology to other joints and make Exoligamentz a leading manufacturer of high-quality, protective sports equipment. He made it to the finals of the prestigious Sport Innovation Challenge: The Future of Play 2025 with his invention and got to pitch in front of an international jury at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. Exoligamentz is also in the international final of the Entrepreneurship World Cup after winning the Belgian final.
With Exoligamentz, Ashkan Joshghani proves how personal experience, academic research and driven entrepreneurship can combine to create solutions with a clear societal impact - in this case: protecting athletes from chronic hand injuries.
Contact information
Ashkan Joshghani
Email: info@exoligamentz.com
Website: www.exoligamentz.com