GoJoe, a social fitness app for work and play, has raised £1.2 million led by Superbet Ventures.
Other investors in the seed round include European early stage venture capital investor Hellen’s Rock, global Web3 and gaming company Animoca Brands and professional athletes including ex-Manchester United captain Michael Carrick.
The London startup was founded by university friends CEO Will Turner (CEO) and COO Phil Steele (COO), who had created an annual sporting event with teams of friends and felt that there was a gap in the market for a more social product to help the global masses of ‘ordinary joes’ get motivated and to make exercise more enjoyable.
Together with technical co-founders Costi Predescu and Mihai Bucse, they created the GoJoe app.
Based on a gamified and AI-based platform which links to users’ wearable devices, GoJoe is a hybrid consumer and B2B app which enables workplaces and brands to connect and engage their people.
Aimed, for now, at replacing dated step challenges and expensive under-utilised corporate wellness platforms, GoJoe collaborated with Stanford University on psychology, data and gamification to build the app. It combines wearables, expert/celebrity content and unique team-based challenges and experiences to socialise everyday solo exercise for the masses of ‘ordinary joes’ and help people stick to their fitness and wellbeing journeys.
GoJoe has experienced significant growth on its corporate product, with 400% year on year growth in 2022, and with clients including Amazon, Diageo, Experian and PayPal, similar growth is expected in 2023.
According to the startup, companies using GoJoe find their employees are more socially connected, engaged and feel increased positive intent towards their employer.
“We are excited to become strategic investors, convinced by the vision of GoJoe’s founders,” said Paul Neagoe, VC at Superbet Ventures.
“They are exactly the type of start-up that we are looking for in the venture capital market. Having an unique and highly scalable business model, found at the cross-roads of wellbeing, sports and social apps, GoJoe has an impressive potential of organic growth with a wide range of demographics.”
Bev White, CEO of global professional services organisation Nash Squared, commented: “We’re a global organisation with people at our heart. GoJoe has helped connect our colleagues together and promote wellbeing in a unique, memorable way.”
To date, GoJoe has raised over £1.3 million in funding from a wider pool of angels and funds including Olympian Alistair Brownlee MBE and individuals from private and NHS healthcare.