MBA team's MoveMe app continues evolution after funding win

July 12, 2017

Need a workout buddy? A new mobile app developed at the University of Louisville can do the heavy lifting.

The app, MoveMe, was created by a team in the Entrepreneurship MBA program at the UofL College of Business. The idea is pretty simple — like a sports version of Match.com or eHarmony, the app matches people with others who share their schedule, interests and level of fitness.

"It's not just pairing you with anyone," said co-founder Eric Reskin. "It's pairing you with the most compatible partner to help achieve your goals."

Reskin and partner Andy Ortegon came up with the idea after surveying about 100 people around Louisville about pain points that might keep them from getting a good workout. They found that most people needed a buddy for accountability, but had trouble finding others who were compatible.

The team developed their product and business plan in the Entrepreneurship MBA program, which walks students through launching a startup step-by-step. They're given guidance, legal services and practice pitching to investors.

"By the time many of our students graduate, they already have investors lined up, too," said Dr. Van Clouse, chair of the Forcht Center for Entrepreneurship. "They know what investors look for, they know how to pitch to investors and they and they're designing their businesses to enable them to raise money to support their dreams."

Teams also compete for funding at competitions. MoveMe, for example, won Kentucky's statewide 2016 Idea State U competition, and took home $25,000 to continue work on their app and company — which Reskin says they certainly plan to do.

"MoveMe started just as an academic thing, but we really fell in love with the idea," he said. "And we tried day after day to find someone to tell us we're idiots and we need to stop, but it hasn't happened yet. So, we're going to continue and now we get to really focus on the true development of the app and the business itself."

Check out more about the app:

Baylee Pulliam

Baylee Pulliam leads research marketing and communications at UofL, building on her experience as an award-winning business, technology, health care and startups reporter. She is a proud product of the UofL College of Arts and Sciences, where she earned her undergraduate degree in English. She also holds an MBA, a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership and is pursuing a Ph.D. in the latter with a focus on corporate innovation.