Card.io has turned cardio into a fun, competitive, and engaging experience for communities and running clubs—and now it will target corporate wellness programs
A gamified cardio fitness app has secured an investment on the Season 16 premiere of ABC’s “Shark Tank.”
With an emphasis on community, Card.io allows people to come together and form teams to engage in outdoor fitness and competitive social games such as Turf Wars, where they claim an area of town and defend it from others as they walk, run, and cycle. Users can also connect with local running or walking clubs to participate in challenges or coordinate a competition to win prizes from brand partners and local stores.
A commercial explains the concept, showing a Card.io user sitting on a couch. He gets a notification that part of his turf was stolen, prompting him to go for a run.
Bell pitched Card.io to the Sharks, seeking $150,000 for 5% of his Texas-based company. Daymond John and “Shark Tank” guest investor and venture capitalist Rashaun Williams offered Bell $150,000 in exchange for a 15% stake.
“The idea from Card.io came from imagining if an app like Pokemon Go could be a fitness app,” Card.io CEO and founder Destin George Bell said. “A year later, Pokemon Go parent company Niantic gave us our first investment, and that was all the confirmation I needed to believe we were onto something. Not only being invited onto “Shark Tank” but getting a deal from [John and Williams] has made that even more obvious to us that we’re making something people want!”
The app also makes it easy to schedule events, create internal challenges for members, and track data such as miles covered and pace trends.
The investment will be used to expand the Card.io user base, enhance app features, and fuel new partnerships with global fitness brands. Card.io also plans to launch the app within the corporate wellness market to drive employee engagement.
The app also integrates with popular fitness trackers and apps like Strava and Garmin, allowing Card.io users to sync their activities. So far, Card.io has over 25K users across the U.S. and over 70 countries, according to the platform.
“We have over 350 run clubs around the U.S. using our product as a fun way to engage with their club members, and we see a huge opportunity for corporations employee wellness programs,” Card.io COO Joe Kania said. “Our product has shown the ability to drive people who usually aren’t the biggest runners into action, a factor that weighs heavily into what employers offer to keep their employees active. Card.io can potentially become a big player in the US market for a cardio challenge that is more engaging than just counting steps or walking on a treadmill.”
Card.io is now available on the Apple App Store. A waitlist is available for Android users.
