Thanks to an application based on artificial intelligence and the training philosophy ofEliud Kipchogemarathon legend and first man to run the distance in less than two hours, Kotcha wants to make professional coaching accessible to all runners. Designed in collaboration with the NN Running Teamthe application aims to recreate the complete experience of elite sports coaching, through a conversational interface that evolves according to the performance and needs of each user.
Kotcha targets the market of amateur runners looking for personalized support without the cost of a human coach. By combining athletic expertise and AI, the platform is positioned between low-cost generic programs (around €20 per month) and individual monitoring (nearly €100). The app features four virtual coaches, a trainer, a nutritionist, a data analyst and a fitness coach, inspired by the methods of Kipchoge’s training camp in Kaptagat, Kenya.
Founded by Eliud Kipchoge, Ben Dupont (CEO), Michel-André Chirita (CTO), Dimitri Dor (CMO) and the NN Running TeamKotcha is based on a synergy between sporting know-how and startup experience. The team worked on site in Kaptagat to translate the psychological and physiological approach of the Kenyan runner into algorithms. The application targets runners preparing for distances from 10 km to marathons.
Kocha raised 3.5 million euros in pre-seed near Root2 (operated by Serena And makesense), with the participation of True Global, Motier Ventures and investors from the sectors health, sport and consumption. This funding should enable the company to strengthen its technological capabilities, accelerate the personalization of its training algorithms and prepare for its international deployment.
