It’s estimated that nearly half a million jobs were lost in the fitness industry during the pandemic. Some industry professionals were able to pivot to offer outdoor workouts and virtual offerings. While gyms start to re-open, many are still not comfortable attending crowded, sweaty facilities and are opting in for personal training. LifterRun is a two-sided marketplace to find personal trainers. Users can schedule training sessions in New York to take place at their homes or local parks. The company takes a small fee for each transaction and offers monthly subscriptions for discounted sessions. It’s a win-win for both customers and personal trainers; finding personal training typically required a monthly gym membership and trainers were required to give a cut of their personal training income to the gym. LifterRun hopes to optimize the process and make personal training more accessible for the masses.
AlleyWatch caught up with LifterRun CEO and Cofounder Justin Wolz to learn more about how his personal experience led to the inspiration of the business, how the pandemic has shifted behavioral habits, the future of the fitness industry, the company’s strategic plans, and much, much more.
Tell us about the product or service that LifterRun offers.
LifterRun is a mobile application that makes the process of finding and working with top personal trainers in New York City easy and affordable. In a few taps, users can schedule personal training sessions at their local park or from the comfort of their homes – and accomplish their unique fitness goals.
How is it different?
LifterRun removes expensive middlemen and unnecessary steps from the process of finding and working with personal trainers, making it easy and affordable for New Yorkers to accomplish their unique fitness goals while helping trainers keep more of their hard-earned commissions.
What market does LifterRun target and how big is it?
Our initial target customer profile is working professionals and parents in the New York City metropolitan area, accounting for a total addressable market of $500M. However, LifterRun has plans to expand to other markets including San Francisco and Washington D.C.
What is the business model?
LifterRun charges a reasonable commission for doing the job of a digital broker, connecting clients with local personal trainers. In addition, LifterRun offers a monthly subscription that unlocks reduced pricing for individual training sessions and added user features.
What inspired the start of LifterRun?
In 2011, while in high school, I was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder that impacts nearly ten percent of the U.S. In combination with support from my friends and family, my work with a personal trainer became a leading factor in his eventual recovery. Fast forward to 2021 after experiencing a pandemic that has negatively impacted the mental and physical health of millions, I started LifterRun with a group of tech-minded, purpose-driven leaders to help remove financial and technological barriers to quality personal training, a health service that was so impactful for my own recovery journey.
How has COVID-19 impacted the business?
COVID-19’s impact on people’s health and wellness actually served as the spark to start LifterRun. The world needs greater access to quality health and wellness services.
What are the milestones that you plan to achieve within six months?
Grow to several hundred/thousand monthly active users.
What is the one piece of startup advice that you never got?
Ignore unnecessary processes and distractions, especially in the early stages. Worry about finding product-market fit and solving customer problems first. Everything else comes second to that.
Ignore unnecessary processes and distractions, especially in the early stages. Worry about finding product-market fit and solving customer problems first. Everything else comes second to that.
If you could be put in touch with anyone in the New York community who would it be and why?
Would love to meet David Rose in real life!
Why did you launch in New York?
In addition to being the top fitness market in the world and ecosystem for up-and-coming startups, I launched LifterRun here because I’m a New Yorker.
What’s your favorite outdoor dining restaurant in NYC?
San Marzano.
