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Every supporter will be entered into a raffle for the chance to win a seat (with +1) at dinner with our Olympians! (Worth £1000 or equivalent if unable to attend)
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Winner of the NatWest x CrowdFunder Back Her Business Competition
We are building Rowith, the first fitness app providing audio-guided rowing workouts to help people get the most out of the rowing machine. The best Olympic rowers, world champions and global personalities will help guide our members through each workout to reach their goals and make rowing fun.
THE PROBLEM
The fitness community recognises the benefits of indoor rowing but lacks the guidance and knowledge to use the rowing machine. Learning to row has often been made way too complicated and intimidating. We've all been there, getting a gym membership, but not sure what to do with the equipment. But you'd be crazy to avoid the machine altogether out of sheer embarrassment. Keep reading!
THE OPPORTUNITY
Rowing can burn up to 800 calories an hour and is extremely effective in working your whole body from head to toe. Quads, hamstrings, back, abdominals, arms, shoulders, and calves are all used in the rowing stroke. Depending on how you train, you can increase your aerobic fitness or focus on building muscle strength and explosive power.
Rowing's efficiency and effectiveness, plus its reputation for being a low-impact workout for all ages and body types, has made it increasingly popular in gyms and fitness studios across the world! Still not sure? Get this:
OUR SOLUTION
Rowith has the tools you need to row better. It gives you access to audio-based workouts incorporating the rowing machine and puts Olympic rowers and athletes right in your smartphone, providing you with the guidance and motivation to become fitter and stronger.
WHY NOW?
1. 15.8m people would consider using a rowing machine (UK), 13.3m of whom have used one before and 79% have access to a rowing machine.
2. Rowing is set to be the workout trend of 2019: dubbed “the new spinning”, gyms and clubs across the country are launching indoor rowing classes and studios due to its increasing popularity as a full-body workout (86% of muscle).
3. Audio is set to boom in the £430B fitness and wellness market and we offer a clear value proposition to fill in an underserved market segment.
Rowith has found a white space and is delivering against it. Indoor rowing and audio-guided coaching are booming and we believe Rowith is really on the pulse of that.
OUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
Aaptiv, the ‘‘Spotify of Fitness’’ is the closest competitor, though lacking indoor rowing, with 200,000 members and $52.1 million in funding. There is currently nothing similar to Rowith so we’re excited to be filling a gap in a growing but underserved market.
WHO IS ROWITH FOR?
MEET YOUR COACHES
WHO ARE WE?
Curious for more? Check out her website or reach out via Instagram.
Feel free to check him out or ask him any questions on Linkedin or Instagram.
OUR STORY
Morgan and Chaymae, enjoyed competing against each other using the Nike Run Club (NRC) app and trying out new running workouts, guided by celebrities and athletes. This joint passion for running created by the NRC was infectious for both. Morgan and Chaymae, began to share the app with friends and family demanding they try a guided-run.
The positive impact and influence these Nike athletes and guided-runs had on the people that downloaded the app was astounding. Whatever their fitness goal, if they were training for a marathon or trying to fit into their favourite dress again the app encouraged people to exercise. I know it works because it inspired me!
The pair began imagining how the same concept could be used to inspire exercise in different sports, recognising the perfect opportunity rowing presented for this style of workout. Rowith was born! Whether you wish to emulate the success of the GB rowing team, or just burn a few calories out, rowing is an easy to enjoyable sport for all.
Your pledge will help us roll out the first version of our audio-guided fitness app.
OUR VISION
There’s a lot of room for something new in the indoor rowing market—something that teaches technique, is full-body, doesn’t beat you up, and is fun and open to everyone from kids to the elderly. Ultimately, this is our vision:
1. Training that incorporates the rowing machine:
- Audio-coaching workouts by world-class athletes and industry leaders
- How to use the machine: technique and training programmes
- How to make indoor rowing work for them: to achieve goals and fit around our members' schedule
2. Raise the profile of indoor rowing:
- Launch indoor rowing classes: e.g. HIIT sessions, spin-style sessions that grab attention
- Develop indoor rowing challenges with partner gyms
- Position Rowith more prominently in the gym to get attention: empowering gym instructors to help gym-goers with the basics, creating drop in ‘tips and techniques’ sessions, providing downloadable technique videos and audio tips...
3. Sustain indoor rowing behaviours:
- Create a community: create tailored indoor rowing content, newsletter, events, gear, equipment etc…
- Tech-focused: track their performance and compete with others, that syncs with their machines or fitness trackers (Apple Watch or FitBit)
MORE ABOUT ROWITH APP
Watch our co-founder and ex- British rower, Morgan, talk all things Rowith, in a video interview with 'Rowing.Chat' host Rebecca Caroe.
Timestamps
03:00 Introduction to Morgan Hellen and his background in rowing
08:07 What does Rowith do?
12:50 When did you start the business?
13:36 Nike Run Club was the inspiration for Rowith and the introduction to Chaymae Samir your business partner
18:09 Raising money to build the business with Crowdfunding
21:35 How can RowingChat listeners help?
