Maramara, a mobile app that helps marathon runners manage running activities and events, received tens of millions RMB (a few millions of USD) in combined funding from Toread and Hetong Capital. The specific amount of investment was not released.
Toread is a leading outdoors brand in China, considered as a local equivalent of “The North Face.” It has invested in several outdoors related media events companies.
The app provides users with marathon information around the world, it provides a running event application channel, where users can apply for events through the app, it shows the user’s daily running data, as well as showing personal marathon scores, certificates, medals, and equipment.
“We have some competitors in providing runner services, but we’re deploying a top to bottom customer targeting model. That’s the difference. Initially, our target users are runners who can complete at least a half-marathon, and key opinion leaders in this circle of runners,” said Si Qiang, Maramara CEO.
Si Qiang, 29, is a seasoned entrepreneur, who started 360 games, the game sector of China’s leading internet company Qihoo 360. He began his own startup business after Qihoo 360’s IPO in 2011. He worked in a startup TV program before starting Maramara in 2015.
The app has gained over 100,000 users in three months since it was founded in 2015, mainly by providing the application channel for Wuhan Marathon. Since then this app has become the only application channel and data service provider for Beijing Marathon and Wuhan Marathon.
(Top photo from Baidu Images)