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Launch HN: Charge Running (YC W21) – Social running app with real-time coaching

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Re: Launch HN: Charge Running (YC W21) – Social running app with real-time coaching

#31

Post by mknippen »

immy wrote: post #27

Why did you already build an Android app? You now have to maintain it as you iterate the product. Did you reach some growth milestone and decide to expand platforms in order to maintain growth? Or did you determine that the p2p nature of your app requires maximal network potential in order to have any traction? Congrats on your progress. This is a difficult and risky path you’ve undertaken! Having used RockMyRun earl…

Regarding Android, you hit the nail on the head. Nearly all of our customers were coming from word of mouth. Runners wanted to have their whole club do a run together, and not having an Android app made it impossible.

In addition, we've had requests for in-person races to offer a virtual option through Charge. This allows us to grow our user base with a unique go-to market strategy, and wouldn't be possible if we couldn't serve 50% of runners

Thank you for the kind words. Two notes for the live classes:

1. For me personally, having the runs scheduled has been one of the biggest reasons for me being successful on the platform. I plan all of my runs on Sunday nights, and they're on my calendar so I don't miss them. 2. If you can only run at another time, we do record many of the classes, and allow you to listen to them anytime you would like. You still get access to the leaderboard because we keep track on how far users have gone at different points in the run.

Re: Launch HN: Charge Running (YC W21) – Social running app with real-time coaching

#32

Post by mknippen »

Humdeee wrote: post #26

I used to be a marathoner, having logged over 10 thousand and some kilometers across various fitness apps. I'd led a few clinics and very much enjoy the running world. The running community sorely needs connectivity solutions like this imo. Especially with Covid, most communities have seen local running groups halt and essentially disperse. Strava is still strong however, and Zwift running is the closest thing I seem…

This is exactly it. I love Strava, however, if I want to feel like i'm connected with people. I'm definitely not a marathoner, and I'm someone who needs the motivation to put on my shoes in the morning.

Knowing that a coach is going to guide me, and that they see I'm signed up is great, but knowing that there's other people running at the same time make it even better.

Thank you very much for the kind words!

Re: Launch HN: Charge Running (YC W21) – Social running app with real-time coaching

#33

Post by ccmonnett »

snug wrote: post #21
qnsi wrote: post #2

Congrats on the launch. Because it is kind of hidden, I am pasting the pricing from the FAQ A one-month subscription is $29.99 and an annual subscription is $239.99/year ($20/month). Both options give you unlimited access to every Charge Running class, as well as our weekly “Club Races”.

These workout subscription cost seem insane to me. Why are these apps costing the price of a gym, with none of the access to equipment. I know it's the price of a drop in class or two, but given that these apps/coaches could do many x more people in one group should drive prices much lower imo. edit: to be honest though, it does sound like a fun app and good idea. Especially after I've gotten back into running this n…

I'm a runner, and I love it. Two things from my POV.

1) Gyms are no competition for my money because I have no interest in going.

2) I am continually relieved at how cheap running is relative to most hobbies - I just pay for shoes, some clothes (don't need many), and race fees. Personally I feel like I have plenty of headroom to give on what I'd be willing to spend on what is easily my favorite hobby, and would really consider paying for something like this (I just had a kid so I'm not doing a lot of training right now).

For comparison, I have paid ~$100 for 3-month training programs and would gladly do it again. So these prices are in line with what I'd expect to pay for a dedicated running training program.

Re: Launch HN: Charge Running (YC W21) – Social running app with real-time coaching

#34

Post by bluntfang »

snug wrote: post #21
qnsi wrote: post #2

Congrats on the launch. Because it is kind of hidden, I am pasting the pricing from the FAQ A one-month subscription is $29.99 and an annual subscription is $239.99/year ($20/month). Both options give you unlimited access to every Charge Running class, as well as our weekly “Club Races”.

These workout subscription cost seem insane to me. Why are these apps costing the price of a gym, with none of the access to equipment. I know it's the price of a drop in class or two, but given that these apps/coaches could do many x more people in one group should drive prices much lower imo. edit: to be honest though, it does sound like a fun app and good idea. Especially after I've gotten back into running this n…

>Why are these apps costing the price of a gym, with none of the access to equipment.

At least in tech, the biggest cost center is employee wages, it's possible that this is what's happening here, the cost of employees (coaches) is probably their biggest cost.

Re: Launch HN: Charge Running (YC W21) – Social running app with real-time coaching

#35

Post by bruceb »

"I quit my job as an iOS contractor for a big company to focus on a start-up full time, at the same time my wife was 8 months pregnant with our first child."

If you are willing to share, leaving Big Co, at this delicate time, how did you plan family health insurance?

Re: Launch HN: Charge Running (YC W21) – Social running app with real-time coaching

#36

Post by mknippen »

bruceb wrote: post #35

"I quit my job as an iOS contractor for a big company to focus on a start-up full time, at the same time my wife was 8 months pregnant with our first child." If you are willing to share, leaving Big Co, at this delicate time, how did you plan family health insurance?

To be totally honest, health insurance has been awful as a contractor, and as a start-up entrepreneur. I was working for this large company for over a year, but because I was labeled as a contractor, health insurance was not provided. I have a healthy family, yet we have to pay a ton of money because we're not on a corporate plan.

The solution to the problem was saving up money. I built up 6 months of runway where I knew my family could go without income. We made it last 7 months, and then I found another job to pay the bills while I continued working on start-up.

After literally years of trying to do both, Charge is finally at the stage where it can pay the bills and be my sole focus, but there was way more blood sweat and tears that went into it than I would have ever dreamed.

Re: Launch HN: Charge Running (YC W21) – Social running app with real-time coaching

#37

Post by Grustaf »

ccmonnett wrote: post #33
snug wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

These workout subscription cost seem insane to me. Why are these apps costing the price of a gym, with none of the access to equipment. I know it's the price of a drop in class or two, but given that these apps/coaches could do many x more people in one group should drive prices much lower imo. edit: to be honest though, it does sound like a fun app and good idea. Especially after I've gotten back into running this n…

I'm a runner, and I love it. Two things from my POV. 1) Gyms are no competition for my money because I have no interest in going. 2) I am continually relieved at how cheap running is relative to most hobbies - I just pay for shoes, some clothes (don't need many), and race fees. Personally I feel like I have plenty of headroom to give on what I'd be willing to spend on what is easily my favorite hobby, and would reall…

> Gyms are no competition for my money because I have no interest in going.

Sure but at a gym you also get unlimited access to coach led group training _in person_, as well as unlimited access to large and expensive facilities, so it doesn't really make sense that this costs as much as a gym membership.

Re: Launch HN: Charge Running (YC W21) – Social running app with real-time coaching

#38

Post by SkyPuncher »

bruceb wrote: post #35

"I quit my job as an iOS contractor for a big company to focus on a start-up full time, at the same time my wife was 8 months pregnant with our first child." If you are willing to share, leaving Big Co, at this delicate time, how did you plan family health insurance?

You can buy it directly from healthcare.gov.

I did it for 3 years as a contractor. It really wasn't that hard.

Re: Launch HN: Charge Running (YC W21) – Social running app with real-time coaching

#39

Post by rrose »

Grustaf wrote: post #37
ccmonnett wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm a runner, and I love it. Two things from my POV. 1) Gyms are no competition for my money because I have no interest in going. 2) I am continually relieved at how cheap running is relative to most hobbies - I just pay for shoes, some clothes (don't need many), and race fees. Personally I feel like I have plenty of headroom to give on what I'd be willing to spend on what is easily my favorite hobby, and would reall…

> Gyms are no competition for my money because I have no interest in going. Sure but at a gym you also get unlimited access to coach led group training _in person_, as well as unlimited access to large and expensive facilities, so it doesn't really make sense that this costs as much as a gym membership.

most gyms won't have coaching geared towards distance runners, though. Competitive distance runners are specialized enough that most fitness classes won't really give them what they're looking for.

If you're somebody who goes for a couple runs a week to supplement their main forms of exercise I agree that this is a pretty steep price to pay.

Re: Launch HN: Charge Running (YC W21) – Social running app with real-time coaching

#40

Post by rrose »

crazypython wrote: post #18
mknippen wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Great point, thank you! Because this is a live experience with a coach in your ear, there is a cost involved

What if you used GPT-3 and 15.ai (currently down, but it produces voice-actor-quality audio) to offer your service?

I wonder what the liability concerns with this are. Could a runner that gets injured because the AI coach bugs out and tells them to do something dangerous (e.g. extreme overtraining) sue?
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