Australian app assists gym junkies to find a fitness centre
Vanessa Picker's brainchild, FitUsIn, connects people with fitness centres and personal trainers, enabling them to enjoy a casual gym visit without the shackles of a contract.
The whiz-kid from Queanbeyan witnessed the discouragement of potential casual gym customers during a two-year spell working in the fitness industry.
"I remember people walking up to reception ready to work out but walking away due to the high cost of a casual visit." This set the 22-year-old seeking a solution.
Seven months since it began, FitUsIn, of which Picker is the chief executive, has signed up more than 2500 subscribers around Australia. About 140 gyms and personal trainers are engaged with her product via the website and smartphone app.
"It costs nothing to sign up. And for our customers, they get access to the best fitness deals without the hassle of a membership," she says.
Picker's concept won Startup Weekend Sydney last year, which gave her an opportunity to test and refine the idea.
The website was launched late last year and FitUsIn gained momentum when selected for the ANZ Innovyz START accelerator program. Picker later earned a trip to New York as the only Australian finalist in the NYC Next Idea competition.
"It was a really good opportunity to build some great connections," Picker says. The smartphone app was released in March.
The business model is simple: "We take a small commission on each of the passes that we sell through the website and iPhone app."
The potential market in Australia is more than 3000 gyms. But Picker is looking to extend her app beyond the fitness industry to other professional sectors. Android and iPad versions of the app are also on the cards.
There has been keen interest in the product from the US. "International expansion is on the horizon in the near future," Picker says.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
FitUsIn is an Australian website and smartphone app that connects people with fitness centres and personal trainers, enabling casual gym visits without a long-term membership contract. Users can buy single passes through the platform to access gyms and trainers on a pay-as-you-go basis.
FitUsIn was founded by Vanessa Picker. Within seven months of starting, the business signed up more than 2,500 subscribers and engaged about 140 gyms and personal trainers across Australia, and the smartphone app was released in March.
FitUsIn operates a commission-based business model: the company takes a small commission on each pass sold through the website and iPhone app. According to the company, it costs nothing for gyms and trainers to sign up to the platform.
The article notes there are more than 3,000 gyms in Australia, representing the immediate addressable market for a fitness-aggregation app. FitUsIn’s early base of partners and subscribers indicates room to scale within this market.
FitUsIn won Startup Weekend Sydney, was selected for the ANZ Innovyz START accelerator program, and founder Vanessa Picker was the only Australian finalist in the NYC Next Idea competition, earning a trip to New York. These recognitions helped test the idea and build industry connections.
Picker has indicated plans to extend the app beyond the fitness industry into other professional sectors, and to develop Android and iPad versions. The company has also attracted interest from the US and says international expansion is on the horizon.
Relevant KPIs include subscriber growth, number of partnered gyms and trainers, monthly pass sales and commission revenue, geographic expansion (domestic vs international), and successful rollout of new platforms such as Android and iPad versions.
Based on the article, FitUsIn is an early-stage business (about seven months in at the time of reporting) with early but limited scale relative to the total Australian gym market. Investors should consider execution risks tied to scaling partnerships, converting user interest into repeat pass sales, and the challenges of launching new platforms and international expansion.
Call 1300 880 160
Start a chat
Schedule a call
