Any Distance
True to its name, Any Distance is inspiring movement in all forms.
The latest: The workout tracking and sharing app released its Active Clubs social network.
Designed for close-knit support, the spaces are limited to 100 users, or “close friends,” and operate without any ads, algorithms, or gamification.
According to CEO Luke Beard, with the addition of Active Clubs, Any Distance is doubling down on the concept of a privacy-focused social network, creating a no-expectation space for both personal growth and meaningful relationships:
“Our early testing has shown that small groups of friends motivate each other to be more active, send more encouragement and document their active life in creative ways. We strongly believe Any Distance will continue to have a positive impact on people’s lives.”
Count it. Syncing with Apple Watch, Garmin, and Wahoo, Any Distance awards digital collectibles to inspire movement. But, more than exercise, the company supports an active lifestyle, from walking and running to recumbent cycling and wheelchair-based activities, plus logging for meditation and recovery sessions.
Group chat. Notably, Any Distance isn’t the only activity tracker to tap social science for community-building. Strava recently partnered with Snapchat on an Activity Lens feature and is encouraging users to upload photos on recommended routes to crowdsource trail conditions.
Meanwhile, Spanish social cycling app Link My Ride just raised funding for its tool creating hubs for cyclists to organize and chat about group rides. And TikTok-born City Girls Who Walk eclipsed 30K participants for its IRL meetups taking on loneliness.
Looking ahead: After raising $1.5M last fall, Any Distance plans to launch public Active Clubs for groups, brands, and companies, while continuing to emphasize privacy and design — making its digital community a clear outlier.
Editor’s Note: Fitt Capital is an investor in Any Distance. We invest in health, fitness, and wellness companies. Learn more, and get in touch, here.
