Spotlight Interview: Kinomap Founder Philippe Moity

Millions are pouring into Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games. Following last Friday's spectacular opening ceremony, Paris will be the world’s sports capital for the next month.

With the Olympics being a live event, the coming weeks shouldn’t normally be a busy time for an online fitness platform. Unless that startup is Kinomap.

On August 10 and 11, the interactive SportsTech startup will host tens of thousands of fitness enthusiasts on its platform as part of the Paris Olympics’ Marathon pour Tous (Marathon for All). A notable addition to the Olympic Games, Marathon pour Tours will allow amateur marathoners around the globe to run the same route as the official Olympic marathon from home or the gym via the Kinomap app. Runners of the marathon route will pass through 9 of the Île-de-France region’s districts, past some of Paris’ landmark monuments, through the region’s iconic parks and forests, all the way to the majestic Palace of Versailles, and back again.

It’s a big moment for Kinomap, an interactive training app for indoor cycling, running, and rowing. Kinomap is the official organizer of the Connected Marathon in partnership with the Olympic Games. The total number of marathon participants, both physical and digital, is expected to reach 300,000, making it the largest marathon race the world has ever seen – and giving Kinomap a moment on the global stage. 

I caught up with Kinomap founder and CEO Philippe Moity to understand Kinomap’s role in the Marathon Pour Tous, how the app will facilitate the race, and how the marathon will impact Kinomap’s trajectory.

Q: What is Kinomap and how does it work?

PM: Launched 13 years ago, Kinomap is an interactive fitness platform that transforms indoor workouts by simulating real-world experiences through a vast library of user-recorded geolocated videos. Compatible with various exercise equipment like bikes, treadmills, and rowing machines, Kinomap connects to pretty much any fitness machine and will adjust resistance and speed in real-time to match the video terrain, providing an immersive workout.

Kinomaps tracks users’ performance metrics, offers structured training programs, and fosters community through multiplayer modes and challenges. Accessible via mobile apps (smartphones and tablets) and smart TVs, Kinomap keeps workouts engaging and motivating by allowing users to explore diverse global routes from home.