Workouts don’t need to be solo with this ‘Tinder for fitness’ app

When sports teacher Jamie Butler and a friend were in Vietnam two years ago, they decided to exercise together.

Realizing that working out together helped them perform better, the duo eventually became two of the three co-founders of an app that motivates people to get fit.

After each pouring US$8,500 into the app over two years, the trio behind MotivatorMob is set to launch it this New Year’s.

(From L-R) MotivatorMob co-founders Matthew Zagrodnik, Tom Bennett, and Jamie Butler.

Tinder for fitness

According to a study by the Society of Behavioural Medicine in the U.S., having a workout partner can double performance, validating a popular psychological concept known as the Kohler Motivation Gain Effect. It is this idea that MotivatorMob leverages.

The first of its kind in Singapore, the free app allows users to create their own “sessions,” such as soccer or yoga, which other users can join. Users will also have their own Instagram-like profile, where they can upload pictures and follow each other. Along with this, personal trainers can also offer paid or unpaid sessions through the app.

MotivatorMob users can create fitness or activity sessions, which others can join.

The app’s “Instagram-like” profile.

While MotivatorMob is focused on fitness, other activities are also welcomed, said Jamie, a 38-year-old British national who moved to Singapore 12 years ago.

“I explain our app as a Tinder for fitness and other activities, such as a game of chess or even moms just wanting to push their strollers together.”

Challenges and future plans

Challenges that the three co-founders — who still hold full-time jobs — encountered in the past two years include refining the idea and improving the app, which was developed by an IT firm in India. “Along the way we had to send literally hundreds of recommendations to our developer for improvements,” said Jamie.

Advice for the long-term