Orobind raises pre-series A funding, launches Orobind Access
Bengaluru-based personal fitness coach app Orobind has raised pre-series A round funding from its existing as well as new set of investors. Launched in Dec 2014, Orobind had raised $200K angel round led by Harpreet Singh Grover (leading a group of angels) and Zishaan Hayath (leading Powai Lake Ventures) in March 2015. Satya Vyas, Co-founder and CEO of Orobind says,
This round was raised through a few high profile angel investors. Some of the investors from the previous round also participated in this round.
Successive rounds in five months
The company still has a bulk of the capital available from the previous round. The funds from this round will be used primarily to launch a new subscription service Orobind Access, which aims to reach a broader audience. The bulk of the cost will be allocated towards creating and curating the supply of high quality hyper local fitness options. Satya says,
Since there is extreme scarcity of high quality hyperlocal fitness/workout options - we needed the cushion of some funds as we intend to create the supply ourselves.
Developments at product side
Besides the android app, Orobind’s iOS app is now available on the App store. Orobind started with a strong focus on 'at home' services for fitness, but now the company is planning to extend its subscription services to group workouts. Users will be able to take sessions with Orobind partner gyms (clubs and fitness studios) around them. This service is calledOrobind Access. Satya shared some details about the same:
- User can either avail Proservices of "Coach - at - home" where the coach comes to their home to train them. This is what Orobind is doing right now.
- Users can buy "Access" which will give them freedom to be a part of group workouts and sessions around them. Most of the group classes are fulfilled by Orobind partner coaches to cover the shortage of quality supply of high quality hyper local workouts. The company is partnering with gyms, studios and stand alone running groups to bring them on its app. The closed beta is live only in Indiranagar and will be accessible to other parts of the city soon.
Growth and future
The fitness app was receivingaround 20sessions per day on its platform in March and is now witnessing close to 200 sessions/day.Satya is bullish on the hyperlocal nature of fitness as a service and mentioned that the app downloads will be touching the 10k mark soon.Currently, Orobind is live in 30 communities in Bengaluru and has recently launched in Hyderabad as well.The platform boasts of nearly 200 coaches.
Satya says,
We are planning to launch Orobind in 2 more cities this year, take the count of our fitness communities to 200 and increasing the count of Orobind coaches to 600.
