What inspired the creation of Walk15, and how does it combine health and sustainability?
As a mother and former professional athlete, I created Walk15 for our two kids. I wanted a way to spend quality time together – something that would get us outdoors and keep them active for their health and well-being. I envisioned a unique walking track filled with points of interest, stories, and fun facts to engage them as we walked.
What started as a personal project soon resonated with many other families seeking a meaningful and active way to connect. Today, Walk15 has inspired thousands of families to walk together, explore nature, and promote well-being.
But it didn’t stop there. Businesses, schools, government and non-government organizations, and sports teams began using Walk15.app to engage employees, fans, and their target audiences. It’s been incredible to see how a simple idea has grown into a community and a global movement.
How does Walk15 differentiate itself from other wellness apps, and what unique features do you offer?
Walk15 stands out from other wellness apps by combining physical activity, community engagement, and sustainability. We work with all wearables and smart devices, syncing steps without tracking user locations to ensure privacy. Key features include step challenges, a ‘Steps Wallet’ for redeeming steps as discounts, curated walking routes with audio guides, and CO₂ savings tracking for choosing to walk. Walk15 not only motivates movement but also fosters environmental awareness and healthy living, creating an inclusive community that leaves no one behind.
What strategies do you use to engage organizations and employees in adopting the platform?
With the trust of over 1,600 B2B and B2G clients worldwide, we engage organizations and employees by creating tailored, interactive wellness experiences. Custom step challenges, branded for each organization, foster team bonding and friendly competition. Our Steps Wallet feature offers redeemable rewards to motivate activity, while data insights allow companies to track engagement. By aligning with CSR and sustainability goals and seamlessly integrating into existing wellness programs, Walk15 becomes an impactful and engaging tool for organizations globally.
Walk15 has grown rapidly with almost 1,000,000 users and 1,600 companies. What factors do you attribute to this success?
Walk15’s success is driven by a dedicated team of 30 top professionals from diverse fields, all working together to make it the #1 well-being and sustainability tool worldwide. Guided by global goals for well-being, a sustainable health economy, and environmental responsibility – and supported by trusted investors such as EIT Urban Mobility by the European Commission, Coinvest Capital led by Viktorija Trimbel, Mantas Mikuckas, the co-founder of the unicorn Vinted, NGL, and Dailides family among others – we’re building an inclusive, privacy-focused platform that engages users and organizations through gamification while promoting well-being in the workplace, a healthier planet, and stronger communities.
Now that you’ve expanded into Germany, what are your main goals for this market?
With our expansion into Germany, our primary goals are to establish Walk15 as a trusted tool for businesses and communities to engage employees and target audiences, deepen partnerships, and foster health-focused initiatives. We’re proud to serve as a trusted tool for the 19th National Health Economy Forum 2024, organized by the amazing BioCon Valley team in Rostock, as well as a sustainable initiatives platform for major events such as the Euroleague Final Four, UEFA Euro 2024 in Berlin, and the Deutscher Schauspielpreis awards in Berlin. Additionally, we are honored to partner with organizations like the GreenTech Festival in Los Angeles and Berlin. Respected companies such as Munich Re Group and REWE Group leverage Walk15 to connect with employees and audiences, promoting well-being and sustainability. By tailoring our platform to Germany’s unique needs, we aim to strengthen our footprint and reinforce our commitment to promoting health and sustainability across Europe.
Can you explain Walk15’s reward system and why it’s so effective for companies?
Walk15’s reward system, the Steps Wallet, enables users to convert their physical activity into a sustainable currency – steps – that operates on a global scale. This innovative approach offers businesses a unique tool to drive engagement and incentivize behavior. For employees, it enhances motivation and productivity by fostering a culture of health and well-being. For customers, it provides an opportunity for businesses to offer their products or services as rewards, attracting health-conscious consumers and strengthening brand loyalty. By delivering measurable value to both workforce engagement and customer acquisition strategies, Walk15 positions itself as a highly effective platform for businesses prioritizing wellness and sustainability.
What are some recent partnerships, and how have they helped Walk15 grow?
We are excited to announce a transformative partnership in Germany with SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit, reflecting Walk15’s commitment to strengthening communities and promoting well-being. Our innovative IT solution will serve as a donation platform for businesses, enabling companies to engage all employees as decision-makers in their CSR initiatives. Through charitable Step or Cycling Challenges in our app, employees can actively participate while contributing 100% of the donations to SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit. This partnership seamlessly integrates wellness, team engagement, and social responsibility, driving meaningful impact in Germany and beyond.
With the recent investment from Mantas Mikuckas, what does this mean for Walk15’s future?
The investment from Mantas Mikuckas, co-founder of Vinted, in November 2023, has been pivotal for Walk15’s growth. This funding enabled us to expand into the German market, establishing a stronger presence and engaging more users and organizations. It also supported the development of new features, such as challenges for cycling and other activities compatible with smart devices, enhancing the user experience and broadening our appeal. Mikuckas’s expertise and support have been invaluable as we continue to grow and innovate in the wellness and sustainability sectors.
Are there plans to expand the app to include other forms of physical activity beyond walking?
With walking and cycling already in place, we’re expanding Walk15 to support even more inclusive activities, striving to become the #1 sustainable initiative platform for everyone. We’re enhancing accessibility with new features for wheelchair users and improving support for the hard of hearing community, making Walk15 a truly comprehensive tool that meets diverse fitness and mobility needs.
What feedback have you received from users, and how has this influenced your app development?
User feedback has been instrumental in shaping Walk15, guiding us to expand features and enhance accessibility. Today, our app offers a wide range of tracks and routes designed to be 100% inclusive, suitable for walking, cycling, wheelchair users, baby strollers, and more. This commitment to inclusivity, influenced by ongoing input from our diverse community, makes Walk15 a platform that everyone can enjoy, regardless of mobility or accessibility needs.
How does Walk15 contribute to companies’ ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) goals?
Walk15 promotes well-being and inclusivity in the workplace through physical activity and group challenges, supporting global goals like Good Health (Goal 3), Sustainable Cities (Goal 11), and Climate Action (Goal 13) via CO₂ tracking. Aligned with ESG priorities, Walk15 encourages eco-friendly commuting, inclusive wellness, and provides data insights to support companies’ sustainability and wellness objectives.
What are your long-term plans for Walk15, and how do you see the platform evolving?
Our long-term vision for Walk15 is to become the leading platform for well-being, sustainability, and community, expanding beyond walking and cycling to support diverse activities. We plan to introduce features for varied physical abilities, provide enhanced data insights for ESG tracking, and foster partnerships that deepen community engagement. As Walk15 evolves, we aim to empower individuals and organizations to prioritize well-being, environmental responsibility, and connected communities globally.
Picture: @Walk15
Thank you Vlada Musvydaite Vilciauske for the Interview
Statements of the author and the interviewee do not necessarily represent the editors and the publisher opinion again.
