An estimated 50 million Americans jog or run regularly, but few of them get professional coaching to help them improve.
A San Francisco startup is hoping to make it easier and more affordable for those runners to get personalized training. Perform Inc. offers an app that pairs users with running coaches who create for them customized workout plans. The company, which officially launched its app Friday after beta testing it previously, charges between $39 and $149 a month for its service; those who pay more get more frequent and ready access to their coaches.
By contrast, coaches offering their services directly to runners can charge $200 or more a month.
"We've seen how Perform's affordable coaching addresses gaps in today's market and makes a real impact in athletes' lives," CEO Eric Brownrout said in a news release.
The company, which also offers an app that automatically creates workout music playlists for users, has some new funds to further develop its services. In its launch announcement, it also said it's raised $1.2 million in a pre-seed round led by defy.vc.
Read on for details about Perform's new round and other seed funding news from this past week.
Rocketplace Inc., Palo Alto, $9 million: Launchpad Capital led the round for this cryptocurrency exchange that offers commission-free purchases and sales. TTV Capital, Accomplice, Menlo Ventures and Soma Capital also participated.
Bearing Inc., Palo Alto, $7 million: Mitsui & Co. and AI Fund invested in this provider of software that helps maritime shippers calculate and reduce their carbon emissions.
Trial Library Inc., San Francisco, $5 million: Lux Capital led the round for this provider of a service that helps alert cancer doctors to clinical trials in which their patients — particularly those from underrepresented groups — can enroll. Next Ventures and Unseen Capital also invested.
Complete Applications Inc., San Francisco, $4 million: Accel led the round for this provider of employee compensation software. Y Combinator also invested.
Violet Labs Inc., San Francisco, $4 million: Space Capital led the round for this provider of engineering software for hardware designers. MaC Venture Capital, Felicis Ventures and V1.VC also invested.
Reverberation Tech Pvt Ltd. (dba Urban Health), San Francisco and India, $3.4 million: 3one4 Capital led the round for this provider of a wellness app. Venture Highway, Founder Bank Capital and Ajay Arora also invested.
Perform Inc., San Francisco, $1.2 million: Defy.vc led the pre-seed round for this provider of fitness apps, including one that offers personalized coaching for runners. Techstars also invested.
