Gritti, the web3 social fitness app building healthier habits through engaged communities and applied game design, is pleased to announce “the closing of $1.7M in seed funding.”
Lingfeng Innovation Fund led the investment round along with “thesis-driven” web3 natives Youbi Capital, Bixin Ventures, Orderly Network, Stratified Capital and CDI. The funding will “enhance Gritti’s ability to create a consistent and effective conversion channel between web2 and web3.”
Gritti’s access to the professional sports world – from marathon organizers to running influencers and athleticwear manufacturers – “sets it apart from any competitors.”
Gritti’s team previously “built one of the largest global running apps, with more than 100 million active users and 45,000 run crew communities.”
Gritti’s board of advisors is also “a testament to its network, including Founder of the Adi Dassler Legacy Platform Horst Bente, Former EA Sports China GM Jared Johnson, Former Vice China CEO Bryant Chou, Former HSBC London TMT Investment Banking Head Umar Ali, and Managing Partner at Atmos Ventures Sami Moughrabie.”
Co-Founder and CMO Joe Hung said:
“Unlike some apps, Gritti is built with runners in mind, owing to the team’s deep understanding of how runners move and interact. We create vibrant communities within the Gritti ecosystem where our users can meet others who share the same obsession with running. The mission is simple: Bring the unique benefits of web3 to as many runners as possible and become the world’s preferred ecosystem for people to acquire and maintain a healthier lifestyle. ”
Already known for its “revolutionary” designs in 3D and AR, Gritti is also “celebrating its first NFT sneaker drop.”
The “Gritti Genesis Sneakers” will “launch 2,000 pairs of NFT sneakers in the upcoming first phase. Ideal for crypto natives, runners, sneakerheads and artists, each of the drop’s three phases will include various levels of utilities, privileges and rewards.”
Advisor Bryant Chou, ex-CEO of VICE China, remarked:
“I’m very excited about Gritti and its potential to impact people of all ages and backgrounds. The platform balances numerous touchpoints in our lives today, from physical experiences to digital innovations, within an expansive ecosystem. Everyone should be on the lookout for Gritti as it connects the worlds of culture, content and lifestyle in a socially-active global community.”
Gritti is currently “holding its closed beta test.” The full open beta is “scheduled for later this year. For more, check out the blog and litepaper.”
As noted in the update, Gritti is “a web3-empowered social fitness app that actively assists users to achieve exercise goals and maintain a healthy lifestyle.”
Backed by deep experience fueling user growth in web2, Gritti understands “how to leverage social connections and digital incentives to bring runners together.”
Gritti will “define the golden standard of running in web3 by bridging the gap between the physical and digital worlds.”