Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
A team of students from the RUDN University Graduate School of Management is developing Run Community, a digital aggregation platform for runners and race organizers. The project, which is participating in the RUDN.VC accelerator, has already received a grant of 1,000,000 rubles from the Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE).
Team composition:
Kirill Kovalev, a second-year undergraduate student at the Graduate School of Management, is responsible for project development strategy, product development, interaction with partners and investors, and overseeing the implementation of key stages. Natalia Zlatovchena, a fourth-year undergraduate student at the Graduate School of Management, is responsible for project promotion, brand development, target audience engagement, digital communications, and participation in marketing activities. Madina Shokirova, a first-year Master's student at the Graduate School of Management, analyzes user behavior, collects and interprets data, and prepares reports and analytics for product development and management decision-making.
Technologies for activity and health care
"The problem our project solves is that the mass running market in Russia is fragmented: event information is posted on dozens of disparate websites, participant registration is often done manually, and organizers are forced to use outdated and non-automated tools. Athletes face difficulties finding relevant races, storing results history, and analyzing training, while organizers face significant time and resource expenditures on event administration and data management," says Kirill Kovalev.
The student-run project Run Community offers a comprehensive solution—a single web platform that will integrate the race calendar, online event registration, personal accounts for participants and organizers, and analytics and gamification tools. The platform will be complemented by a Telegram bot with an intelligent assistant for training analysis and personalized recommendations.
"Run Community isn't just a platform for registering for races. It's a step toward the systematic digitalization of mass sports and the creation of a community where technology helps people be more active and mindful of their health. Participating in the accelerator gave me valuable experience, helped me see the project from a new perspective, and significantly accelerated my development as an entrepreneur," says Kirill Kovalev.
First successes and plans for the future
The project has already achieved significant results. In addition to receiving the grant, the team successfully completed the first stage of development and is now working on creating a prototype of the web platform and key functionality. The students actively present their startup at pitching sessions and scientific conferences, such as StartUP.
The RUDN.VC accelerator helped the students structure their business model, refine their value proposition, and prepare for investor dialogue. The team also participated in the GEN AI MVP Lab, where they worked on creating a prototype using intelligent technologies.
The platform is expected to be in demand not only by private organizers, but also by sports communities, universities, municipalities, and corporate employee wellness programs, helping to promote mass sports and a healthy lifestyle in Russia.
"In a year, I expect to have a working service with its first users and partners. The main thing is to conduct a test launch and ensure the product meets the audience's needs. For me, this will be proof that my team and I are moving in the right direction," says Kirill Kovalev.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.