by A COACHING app for runners, founded by two friends from the University of Southampton, has raised £1.9m after backing a number of famous athletes.
Runna has impressed investors including double world record holder and former Made In Chelsea star Joshua Patterson, as well as British Olympic marathon runner Stephanie Davis and Irish rugby player Gregory O’Shea.
Designed by best friends Dom Maskell and Ben Parker, Runna is a personalized coaching app that aims to change the way people train. It uses technology combined with real-world conditioning, running and strength plans, and workouts from top trainers, personalizing each user’s experience based on ability, goal, and schedule.
He received early support from Joshua Patterson.
Dom Maskell said: “Everyone at Runna is thrilled with the progress made in such a short time and we have to thank our users and investors for their unwavering support. By making the benefits of running as accessible as possible to people of all backgrounds, body types and fitness levels, we can bring the benefits of running to as many people as possible. We are committed to spreading.
“The support of Joshua Patterson, Gregory O’Shea and Stephanie Davis, among others, is a great endorsement and proof that athletes in their peak physical condition also support our approach and attitude towards running. We look forward to continuing to grow our community and meeting more great people in 2023.”
The business has raised £650,000 in pre-seed funding in late 2021 and early 2022, including investment from Stephanie Davis.
The most recent round was led by Eka Ventures and provided by various angel investors and athletes, including Gary O’Shea, with total funding to date reaching £2.55 million.
The funding will be used to expand Runna’s product in the UK and expand into the US market in 2023.
Runna aims to appeal to anyone who needs a free “5k couch” training plan, for those who want to prepare for a marathon or work up to their multi-day marathon and ultramarathon plans.
The app currently syncs with Apple, COROS and Garmin watches and is available for free download via the Apple Store and Google Play.
The investment round was led by Jon Coker, co-founder of Eka Ventures, which has also invested in brands such as Bloom & Wild, Interactive Investor and Gousto.
