Strava, the popular fitness social media app, is acquiring Runna, an AI-powered running training app, in a move that addresses Strava’s lack of modern, in-app training plans, a noted weakness.
Runna, launched in 2021, provides users with training plans for 5K, 10K, and marathon running and has secured $6.3 million in funding. The app has quickly gained popularity among runners, with users spanning 180 countries. Strava’s acquisition of Runna is seen as a win-win for both companies, with Strava shoring up its weakness in training plans and Runna gaining access to Strava’s large userbase.
Strava CEO Michael Martin stated that the acquisition is a “growth and investment play,” not an efficiency measure. He explained that Strava had previously created static, document-based plans for runners, but they were used infrequently. The company’s research showed that the lack of guidance was a pain point for users, and training plans were the key to addressing this issue.
Initially, there will be no immediate changes for users of either app. Martin said that the plan is to further invest in growing the Runna app and its team, operating independently but in an integrated fashion. Runna’s co-founder and CEO, Dom Maskell, envisions a more seamless user experience where users can easily transition between Runna for training plans and Strava for route finding and activity recording.
The acquisition raises questions about subscription details, which are still being determined. Strava currently has a free tier and a $79.99 annual subscription, while Runna costs $119.99 annually. Martin suggested that the Runna acquisition could be similar to Strava’s acquisition of Recover Athletics, where the acquired product functions as a free perk, or FATMAP, where the acquired product was integrated into Strava and retired as a standalone app.
Strava users have previously expressed concerns about the app paywalling features and subscription price hikes. Both Martin and Maskell are aware of potential negative reactions from users regarding subscription changes and the acquisition itself. Maskell acknowledged the active Reddit community and the potential overlap with vocal users, stating that they will be transparent and open with them.
Runna’s AI-powered coaching utilizes algorithms to personalize and adapt training plans based on user performance and needs. The integration of Runna into Strava is expected to bring changes in the coming weeks and months, with the goal of creating a smoother user experience.
