Ben, with his friend and fellow Southampton graduate Dom Maskell (MEng Electronic Engineering, 2017), created Runna to make high-quality coaching accessible to a wider audience. Now the number-one rated running coach app in the world, Runna is helping hundreds of thousands of people to take their running to the next level.
A trial run for business
Runna is a personalised running coaching app that helps people of all abilities achieve their running goals, using technology to provide tailored training plans, expert advice and ongoing support.
But while the app focuses on running, it came about through lacrosse. Ben was involved in the University of Southampton’s lacrosse club, where he met his future Runna co-founder Dom. They became good friends when they did a half marathon together, and their shared passion for running and complementary skills would eventually lead to a fruitful business partnership.
Leading the lacrosse club in his final year also helped Ben develop skills for his future career. He likens it to a trial run, giving him experience of managing budgets, selling memberships, creating merchandise and organising events.
“My biggest takeaway was focusing on providing value. Rather than thinking about profit, I focused on making sure club members had a great experience. As a result, we got more members, more funding and became the largest club at the University.
The same principle applies to business: if you focus on delivering the best possible experience, growth and financial success will follow.”
Overtaking the competition
After graduation, Ben became a personal running coach, helping around 40 clients on a one-to-one basis. While he found this rewarding, he realised that as a business, the opportunities for scaling up were limited.
Dom, who had become one of his clients, suggested automating the coaching process. “We started working on a prototype in our free time – first on Monday nights, then Thursdays, and eventually every night for six to nine months.”
The result was the digital tool that evolved into Runna. “Fast forward to today, we have secured more than £8m in funding and Runna is the top-rated running coaching app in the world, helping hundreds of thousands of runners.”
Runna was also selected by Apple as one of three global finalists for the 2024 iPhone App of the Year.
Success follows when you do what you love, put in the work, and genuinely help people.
Ben Parker, BSc Geography, 2017; Co-founder and Head Coach, Runna.
Balancing work and wellbeing
Running a startup is intense, and Ben recognises the importance of physical wellbeing for himself and his team.
“I integrate fitness into my daily life, cycling 17km to and from work to help keep me active. At Runna, we also prioritise employee wellness. Every Wednesday we start work late so the team can participate in group runs or workouts. We even hold running meetings when possible.”
In the coming year, he’s keen to achieve his own fitness and business goals in parallel. “I’m doing the Paris Marathon and want to beat my best time, which I haven’t been able to do since launching Runna. I want both Runna and my running performance to be the best they’ve ever been at the same time.”