We’ve all been there. We’ve all had moments where we want to exercise but just can’t. Maybe you had a long day at work, maybe you need to sleep in, maybe you have to watch the kids, maybe you’re just too lazy. Every once in awhile these excuses might fly but they’re notorious ones, infamous justifications that tend to snowball from one day of rest to weeks or months of idling. Say hello to Wello, the company–launching today– that’s bringing a live-stream workout directly to your computer screen and completely rendering your excuses obsolete.
The idea behind Wello seems more elementary than it really is. In fact, I heard about Wello and thought “Nobody’s done that already?” But really the Wello team has had their ideas in the works for a while and have been waiting for the right time to launch. In an interview with co-founders Leslie Silverglide and Ann Plante, they commented,“The timing is perfect for log-interactive video. People are used to using it enough, and bandwidth is good enough.”
How It Works
So how does it work? Wello users simply search for trainers and workout programs that best suit their lifestyle, fitness level, schedule, price, and even trainer personality. Users then log into their training session and a live video feed streams the trainer of your liking directly to your device. All you need is sturdy internet connection and a device that contains a camera, a mic, and a screen. The days of monotonous workout videos are numbered. And really, it was those same workout videos that inspired Wello’s conception.
The two Stanford Graduate School of Business alumni went to California with “the intention and vision to start a company” but weren’t really sure what would become of it. While living together, along with four other roommates, they took on the daily challenge of a 90-day program every morning in hopes of stirring competition and innovation within the household; however, it proved to be bleak at the start. “It was a disaster. For some, the dvd was way too hard. They became monotonous and forever became a running joke that they knew what was going to come next on the videos,” the two told me. They realized that most people want to become fit but either don’t have the time, don’t have the motivation, or are on different levels than their workout partners.
Starting and running a company are not new concepts to the duo. Silverglide founded Mixt Greens, a quick-service restaurant concept that serves tossed-to-order organic salads and focuses on a health conscious clientele. She sold it to Nestle. Plante formerly worked for Bain & Company and conducted due diligence for private equity clients as a strategy consultant. Together they came up with Wello and don’t plan to stop at just real-time workouts. “Our plan for the future is to focus on health and wellness more than fitness, enabling people to connect with health and wellness institutions, as well as nutrition and wellness, baking and cooking, and sports psychology,” they commented.
Still not motivated to workout with Wello? Consider its cost. Wello is a fraction of the cost of traditional personal training even before factoring in gym and trainer fees, travel time, gas, and parking. Plus, you pay per session or per package of sessions on Wello – session rates start at $5 and the average hour session is $40. And, they have contracted out celebrity trainers like those of Reese Witherspoon and Julianne Moore.
To find out more about Wello, check out their website (www.wello.co) or find them on Twitter (@WeAreWello). They will be offering a 25% discount for your first session as part of their launch promotions.
