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Seeking Angels: Fitocracy Hits 16K. Users with 6K More on Wait List [Invites]

32 points by ccarella 15y ago

ccarella 15y ago
Reddit is a valuable tool for acquiring early users.
skizm 15y ago
They should get Tim Ferris to invest if they are looking for "fitness-oriented" investors. Although I think he may have bigger fish to fry.
Hisoka 15y ago
16K regular users, or 16K signups? if the latter, it's not that impressive
- brianmwang 15y ago
  Appreciate the thoughts. The 16k is total registered users at this point, though it's worth noting that we're invite only.
  - Hisoka 15y ago
    What % of users are engaged on a daily basis? Can I get an invite code? email: vzhou218 at gmail dott com
jcampbell1 15y ago
Fitness is a ridiculously profitable niche. They don't need that many users to reach profitability. The margins for stuff like P90X, supplements, and powders is enormous. People who are into fitness spend $1000s per year on it, and they should be able to tap nice piece of this market.
- ryanfitz 15y ago
  I would consider myself as someone who is into fitness, or at least lifting(deadlift 400, bench 280). I honestly don't think fitocracy, as it is today, is for people who are into fitness, but rather a gimmick to get people to workout. For the most part, fitness people want tools that will help them improve their lifts, diet, overall looks and how they feel. Thus why some are willing to spend $1000's on supplements to assist getting them there. Knowing that I'll get a virtual badge if I pull 415 x 5 next time I'm at the gym gives me no extra incentive or edge towards accomplishing that.
  - brianmwang 15y ago
    I'll preface this by saying my partner and I have been actively living fitness/bodybuilding-oriented lifestyles for quite a while, so we understand the motivations behind why people use these sorts of tools. While some people are into Fitocracy simply because of what it is now, I think many are spending time on the site for the promise of what's to come. We're still very early stage and we have a lot more planned beyond simple points and badges. Many features on our roadmap are being designed precisely to help users push themselves and keep consistently progressing in their fitness.
    - ryanfitz 15y ago
      I remember looking at your fitocracy profile when it was first announced and you are certainly an active fitness/bodybuilding person, I believe you even follow a lot of the same things I do (5-3-1, massive cheat days). Its why I stated "as it is today" in my initial comment, I'm certain you guys will be building more tools in the future and I'm looking forward to it.
  - edkennedy 15y ago
    I think you're missing the point of Fitocracy. It's not to get badges. It's to share your progress and contribute to the journey of other people. Recipes, workout plans, diets, all get shared. There are challenges for people to try new exercises, to expand their workout plan and learn new things. You may think you have skills and strengths far beyond the average user on the site. However, many users from /r/fitness have migrated over there and are making immense lifts. I've learned about foam rollers, bridges, and countless other things about fitness by being a member. The actual weightlifting may be an individual journey and challenge, but gym culture has always been a social activity. To dismiss the entire site because it has colored badges which are provided for entertainment seems ignorant.
pbj 15y ago
My wife loves your app. She's been using it for a while now. Good luck with your endeavor.
- brianmwang 15y ago
  Tell your wife that the sentiment is very much appreciated.
mwphisro 15y ago
Those Asian nerds have some serious gunz. Talk about dogfooding your app! ruff ruff welcome to the DOGPOUND!
Aloisius 15y ago
This made me feel like I really need to work out. Sadly, judging by my history, my motivation for going to the gym lasts about five weeks. I've done boot camps for upwards of 18 weeks, but injured myself so badly that I had to stop.
- brianmwang 15y ago
  Why do you think your motivation wanes after a few weeks? I'm genuinely curious.
  - Aloisius 15y ago
    Frankly, I get sick of being tired all the time and it gets to the point where just going to the gym feels overwhelming. Once I decide to skip one session, it becomes a lot easier to skip another, and then another and pretty soon, weeks have gone by and I know if I go to the gym, it is going to really hurt.
wilshire461 15y ago
It'll be interesting to see if this actually does take off...in its current state though for firefox a lot of the ajax elements conflict and make for a terrible experience when trying to log activities which is why I stopped bothering with the site.

32 points by ccarella 15y ago

Reddit is a valuable tool for acquiring early users.

skizm 15y ago

They should get Tim Ferris to invest if they are looking for "fitness-oriented" investors. Although I think he may have bigger fish to fry.

Hisoka 15y ago

16K regular users, or 16K signups? if the latter, it's not that impressive

brianmwang 15y ago
Appreciate the thoughts. The 16k is total registered users at this point, though it's worth noting that we're invite only.
- Hisoka 15y ago
  What % of users are engaged on a daily basis? Can I get an invite code? email: vzhou218 at gmail dott com

jcampbell1 15y ago

Fitness is a ridiculously profitable niche. They don't need that many users to reach profitability. The margins for stuff like P90X, supplements, and powders is enormous. People who are into fitness spend $1000s per year on it, and they should be able to tap nice piece of this market.

ryanfitz 15y ago
I would consider myself as someone who is into fitness, or at least lifting(deadlift 400, bench 280). I honestly don't think fitocracy, as it is today, is for people who are into fitness, but rather a gimmick to get people to workout. For the most part, fitness people want tools that will help them improve their lifts, diet, overall looks and how they feel. Thus why some are willing to spend $1000's on supplements to assist getting them there. Knowing that I'll get a virtual badge if I pull 415 x 5 next time I'm at the gym gives me no extra incentive or edge towards accomplishing that.
- brianmwang 15y ago
  I'll preface this by saying my partner and I have been actively living fitness/bodybuilding-oriented lifestyles for quite a while, so we understand the motivations behind why people use these sorts of tools. While some people are into Fitocracy simply because of what it is now, I think many are spending time on the site for the promise of what's to come. We're still very early stage and we have a lot more planned beyond simple points and badges. Many features on our roadmap are being designed precisely to help users push themselves and keep consistently progressing in their fitness.
  - ryanfitz 15y ago
    I remember looking at your fitocracy profile when it was first announced and you are certainly an active fitness/bodybuilding person, I believe you even follow a lot of the same things I do (5-3-1, massive cheat days). Its why I stated "as it is today" in my initial comment, I'm certain you guys will be building more tools in the future and I'm looking forward to it.
- edkennedy 15y ago
  I think you're missing the point of Fitocracy. It's not to get badges. It's to share your progress and contribute to the journey of other people. Recipes, workout plans, diets, all get shared. There are challenges for people to try new exercises, to expand their workout plan and learn new things. You may think you have skills and strengths far beyond the average user on the site. However, many users from /r/fitness have migrated over there and are making immense lifts. I've learned about foam rollers, bridges, and countless other things about fitness by being a member. The actual weightlifting may be an individual journey and challenge, but gym culture has always been a social activity. To dismiss the entire site because it has colored badges which are provided for entertainment seems ignorant.

pbj 15y ago

My wife loves your app. She's been using it for a while now. Good luck with your endeavor.

brianmwang 15y ago
Tell your wife that the sentiment is very much appreciated.

mwphisro 15y ago

Those Asian nerds have some serious gunz. Talk about dogfooding your app! ruff ruff welcome to the DOGPOUND!

Aloisius 15y ago

This made me feel like I really need to work out. Sadly, judging by my history, my motivation for going to the gym lasts about five weeks. I've done boot camps for upwards of 18 weeks, but injured myself so badly that I had to stop.

brianmwang 15y ago
Why do you think your motivation wanes after a few weeks? I'm genuinely curious.
- Aloisius 15y ago
  Frankly, I get sick of being tired all the time and it gets to the point where just going to the gym feels overwhelming. Once I decide to skip one session, it becomes a lot easier to skip another, and then another and pretty soon, weeks have gone by and I know if I go to the gym, it is going to really hurt.

wilshire461 15y ago

It'll be interesting to see if this actually does take off...in its current state though for firefox a lot of the ajax elements conflict and make for a terrible experience when trying to log activities which is why I stopped bothering with the site.