Polish startup ForActive Secures €1.5 million Pre-Seed in Funding

The money will be used by the business to advance the product and increase its market share in the US. The purpose of ForActive is to assist independent service providers, including teachers of dance, yoga, fitness, swimming, and gyms, by resolving two of the most significant problems they encounter: payment collection and client communication.

Due to a fragmented market that includes peer-to-peer programmes like PayPal and Venmo as well as business solutions, collecting money is a significant barrier for sports instructors.

Independent trainers also deal with late cancellations and unpaid invoices. By automating payments within the app, ForActive solves these issues and helps fitness practitioners stay financially stable while keeping their clients pleased and focused on their fitness objectives rather than worrying about the transaction.

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ForActive serves as a forum for communication for sports fans as well as between trainers and their learners. Service providers won't need to keep copying and pasting the same messages between applications or fielding calls from trainees who misplaced crucial information if they can utilise a single platform to communicate with their clients. Furthermore, training group participants have the ability to communicate with one another, forming communities of individuals who have similar interests.

Maciej Biegański, founder of ForActive said, “As societies have embraced sport and broadly defined physical activity as ways to live longer, happier, and healthier lives, they have also discovered it’s a platform for strengthening relationships and creating opportunities. This is especially noticeable in the US, filled with independent sports instructors. For many, sport is an opportunity for a brighter future, second only to top-tier education. Our detailed market research revealed that the biggest challenge instructors face is dealing with payments. If clients are consistently late in paying or fail to pay altogether, it can cause financial strain and disrupt the trainer’s ability to manage their business and personal expenses. We aim to provide relief by giving them control over their finances,”.

Dawid Kowalski, VP Marketing at ForActive said “Our goal is to build the largest app for active people in the USA, and I feel very confident facing this challenge together with Maciej. We both have experience from Booksy, where we’ve been building a product that empowers small business owners around the world helping them manage appointments. However, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for all industries. Sports and fitness coaching require developing and maintaining relationships, often not at an individual level but across groups of like-minded people. ForActive is a product addressing exactly these needs,”.

Mariusz Adamski, Partner at ff Venture Capital said, “Investing in ForActive, I was drawn by Maciej’s extensive experience gained from a decade at Booksy, deeply understanding the challenges of US service providers. Coupled with targeted market research revealing that over 52% of US sports instructors struggle with payment collection, ForActive’s approach is both innovative and essential. It’s crafted as a comprehensive solution, not just addressing payment issues but also enhancing overall service delivery for wellness professionals. This investment signifies more than capital; it’s a commitment to a venture poised to reshape the wellness and fitness industry with significant impact,”.

Michał Olszewski, Partner at Movens VC said, “At Movens VC, we firmly believe in the power of investing in the right team, at the right time, for the right market. Our decision to support ForActive with a substantial investment, even before their product launch, was made with confidence, thanks to the team’s deep industry experience and meticulous market preparation. The team at ForActive has demonstrated not only a profound understanding of the challenges faced by independent sports instructors in the US market but also the potential for significant market impact. We are pleased to have attracted such well-matched co-investors to the deal, who align closely with the company’s needs,”.

About ForActive

ForActive, Maciej Biegański, a former vice president of product and head of user experience at Booksy, an appointment scheduling tool for the wellness and beauty sector, launched the business. While developing the software, he spent more than ten years learning about the requirements and habits of independent service providers in the United States.