>> ... Next Generation ...
Setting The Pace
MSU grads' running app hits the market.
LESLIE SPECTOR I JN INTERN
fter nine months of hard work,
TempoRun, created by recent
Michigan State University
graduates Josh Leider and
Benny Ebert-Zavos, finally hit the app store
on May 20.
TempoRun was designed to help runners
run to the beat of their music, creating an
easy and enjoyable workout.
"Running is such a love/hate
relationship,"said Leider of Farmington Hills.
"We are trying to beat the pain of actually
doing it and make running more enjoyable.
"People really enjoy listening to their
music, and being able to combine working
out to a song that matches the same tempo
as their run is a win-win."
Leider came up with the idea of TempoRun
last summer when he was on a run and
a song came on that completely matched
his pace. After winning the Michigan State
University Eli Broad Pitch Competition in
December 2012, TempoRun kicked into gear.
In March, the duo headed to Austin, Texas,
where they pitched their idea to a panel
of investors and entrepreneurs to compete
for technology tools supported by Google
J
developers. TempoRun won, beating out
young inventors from universities such as
Stanford and Emory.
"Competing against students from
Stanford and Emory was intimidating. We did
not think we had a chance. The judges loved
us, however. They loved the uniqueness of
the idea," said Ebert-Zavos of Frederick, Md.
"Running is such a popular sport and the
fitness industry for apps is growing; there is a
huge demand for these fitness tools."
As a way of promoting TempoRun, Leider
and Ebert-Zavos teamed up with Susan G.
Komen and MSU Hillel in April to create a 5K
run in East Lansing. The team raised close
to $5,000, which all went to the Susan G.
Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
For another promotion, the pair created a
TempoTour. Leider and Ebert-Zavos started
out in Ann Arbor, making their way to St.
Louis, Mo., Nashville, Tenn., and Atlanta, Ga.
They are currently on their way to New York
City. After the Big Apple, they'll continue on
to Boston.
"We are traveling the U.S. and sporting
our TempoRun T-shirts and getting our name
out," Ebert-Zavos said. "We see people
"We want to honor and thank our
developers Phil Getzen, Adam Proschek and
Ryan Tempas,"Leider said. "They really took
the idea, ran with it and made it a reality.
"We've been working on TempoRun for
a long time and we were pretty confident. It
has been really cool hearing how it's making
people happier and improving their running
ability. It really does work."
To learn more, visit the website www.
temporunapp.com .
❑
Soon!
The JN readers will be
invited to celebrate with the
'Best Of 2013' winners from
6-9pm Wednesday, Dec. 11 at
the Planterra Conservatory.
one 13 • 2013
The TempoRun team: Phil Getzen,
Benny Ebert-Zavos, Adam
Proschek and Josh Leider.
DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
. 4
34
from all over wearing our T-shirts, and hope
to start a gallery called 'Where do you
TempoRun?' with photos of runners from all
over the world wearing a TempoRun shirt."
TempoRun was downloaded 2,100 times
within the first three days of its launch.
Downloads have been from all over the
world, including the United States, United
Kingdom, Canada, China, Japan, Korea and
India.
Comments on the app have been positive.
"I used to hate running outside, but today
I went on a TempoRun and I loved it! The
app really made the run easier and kept me
going," said Jason Dovitz of West Bloomfield.
TempoRun uses SoundCloud as the
streaming source of music. Leider and Ebert-
Zavos note that a solid connection is needed
on your phone in order for the music to
stream through TempoRun.
The two hope to start a partnership with
Pandora or Spotify because they want to
work with a streaming source that has more
music options and a stronger connection.
Currently, TempoRun is only available for
iPhone and iPod Touch. The download cost
is $2.99.
JN
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