New technology from startup ventures is transforming the global sports industry. The mission of this series is to introduce startup companies in the sports technology space to a broader audience and allow Founders of promising new ventures to tell their story and pitch their idea. Feel free to submit your startup’s answers to the below questions or contact us if you know of a startup that should be considered for inclusion in this series.
Company name: Trainerize
Founder(s): Sharad Mohan, Trevor Chong, Ricky Ying, John La, Farhad Gulamhusein
Headquarters: Vancouver
1. What is your elevator pitch?
Trainerize is on a mission to make the world a healthier place by making access to fitness professionals more affordable. Everyone wants a personal trainer, but very few people can afford one. By leveraging mobile technology, Trainerize is a client engagement platform that allows trainers and coaches to sell and deliver online training to their clients.
2. Problem & Solution
Trainerize is solving two problems for the health and fitness industry:
Problem #1: Studios, gyms, and health clubs make most of their profits from selling personal training services, while the monthly gym memberships keep the lights on. The problem is that on average, only 10 percent of clubs’ members purchase personal training, while the remaining 90 percent say refuse because it’s too expensive. Trainerize allows clubs to offer the remaining 90 percent an option B, a cheaper alternative. This option is Online Personal Training via a mobile app designed and customized for that gym that delivers custom workout programs for the client. The gym can now monetize a portion of that 90 percent, and members get what they want – personal training.
Problem #2: Personal trainers want to stay more connected with their clients to keep them continually motivated which will help retain them longer. Today, the only interaction trainers have with their clients are the handful of times they see them in person per month. Trainerize allows trainers and their clients to stay connected through a custom branded mobile app with Training, Nutrition, and Messaging.
3. Market – your target market and the overall market
Personal Trainers and Health Clubs/Gyms/Studios are the primary target markets for Trainerize. Clients or fitness enthusiasts are Trainerize’s secondary market.
4. Business Model – how do you make money?
Businesses on Trainerize pay a monthly subscription to utilize the platform. The business starts on a plan that’s based on the number of clients they have, and the plan grows as their business grows with more clients.
5. Management Team – with titles
Sharad Mohan – CEO
Farhad Gulamhusein – COO
Trevor Chong – Head of Product
Ricky Ying – Head of Engineering
John La – Head of Quality Assurance
Paula Bartis – Sr. Marketing Manager
6. What else do you want the audience to know about your venture?
Trainerize has more than 35,000 businesses running on Trainerize today. Each day there are over 15,000 workouts tracked, which means 15,000 people worked out today with a trainer, when previously they wouldn’t have been able to afford that service. This number is one we’re most proud of, as it ties back to our mission – to make the world a healthier place by connecting more people to personal trainers.