WeGym is a new fitness app that helps you find a training partner. It empowers users to connect and workout together, helping them to reach their fitness goals and change their lifestyles for the better. It’s available to download today for android and iOS users.
Founders and Londoners Jack and Josh, both aged 22, had both entered the tech world via apprenticeships – one with a Microsoft certified partner, and one with Google.
Jack said: “We started WeGym to solve our own problem; Josh hated the de-motivation of going to the gym alone and believed there was a better way to find someone than paying a trainer or bothering his disinterested friends.”
They did some research into the correlation between fitness and motivation, and spotted a gap in the market for people to easily find new workout buddies who had similar interests, who were interested in doing similar workouts at similar times, or even just those who had similar goals. And so WeGym was born.
Their journey from apprentices to founders took them from London to Manchester, as they won a place on the Ignite100 accelerator programme in Manchester.
“Being on ignite is like studying for a business degree in 13 weeks,” says Josh. “It's the hardest we've ever worked, and least sleep we've ever had!”
“You start the program knowing you have to take on Goliath, and Ignite help upgrade your slingshot to a bazooka.
“It's ridiculous how much we've grown in such a short space of time.”
The move to Manchester was an eye-opener for the pair, who hadn’t planned to stay but now have no plans to leave the city as it becomes the launchpad for WeGym.
But it won’t be staying local for long, Josh said: “Our global vision for WeGym is to democratise access to motivation, we aspire to create a world where you can always find a partner to work out with – through us.
“By solving this problem we will change people's lives by helping them become more active and a better version of themselves."
And when they’re not busy refining and promoting WeGym, the duo are keen champions of the apprenticeship programme that gave them both their first break in industry.
For Josh in particular, he saw himself transformed from a teen who was excluded from school to ‘Apprentice of the Year’, all before he hit 20. They are both now ambassadors for apprenticeships.
“My apprenticeship experience taught me two things,” Josh tells me. “You can learn an incredible amount by simply ‘putting your hand to the plough and working it out as you go along’ - that hard work and patience creates success.”
“I would class my apprenticeship experience as successful, which was a result of my hard work and a bit of luck along the way.
“It now stands as a reference point for all of my future ventures - that nothing is impossible.”
