How I founded SyncMove

Gym anxiety can be very discouraging for those starting to go. Whether its uncertainty about how to use equipment, the paranoia of people watching over you or even just the fear of what others think about your appearance and abilities. These are just some of the ways that a gym setting can provoke anxiety.

UoB Engineering student Florian Mealing with the help of his team of developers- Louis, Anish and Yousef- put a lot of work into developing SyncMove.

What is SyncMove?

SyncMove is a platform designed to help students connect with gym partners, build fitness-based friendships, and stay motivated through challenges. With a focus on wellbeing and community, SyncMove makes it easy for students to find workout buddies, participate in fitness competitions, and earn rewards.

How this can benefit students:

• Support for Student Wellbeing: Fitness is an important part of mental and physical health. SyncMove creates an environment that encourages students to stay active together.
• Community and Connection: Students can meet new people through shared fitness interests and group activities.
• Easy Access: With free access and a simple onboarding process, SyncMove is designed to make participation frictionless.

Building the app hasn’t been easy. Founder, Florian’s motivation to create the app began back in November 2023 following a workout, when he felt that the quality of his workout would’ve been much better with a spotter. After thought, he also came to realise the benefits that beginners in the gym would have with a partner.

Through his sheer motivation, he hoped to have the app up and running within a month, but this needed much more time to achieve what he wanted it to. After seeking the knowledge he required to start coding, in September 2024 the designing of the app begun.

While balancing the workload of his studies and designing the website, servers, app and marketing, advancements were made and ‘eager personalities’ were hired to help progression of SyncMove. Florian stated that:

‘Since December 2023, I haven't really missed a day of coding, so this has been a massive time commitment.’ 

‘My team and I get to build something that will help a lot of people. Everyone can benefit from exercise, and I truly believe that our startup will help fight loneliness.’

Developed by Florian and his team, the app encourages students to stay active and motivated while reducing feelings of isolation. By making fitness more accessible and enjoyable, SyncMove aims to make a positive impact on both mental and physical health, helping students build connections and confidence in their fitness journeys.