Yves Benchimol's WeWalk App: 30 Million Users

Yves Benchimol invented WeWalk — an app that gets people moving

Yves Benchimol, an engineer from France, pioneered WeWalk, an app turning steps into rewards. He paid 30 million people to walk as part of his data analytics work, but the technology had a better purpose. Yves wanted to build a company that impacted millions of lives, so he built WeWalk. Instead of encouraging phone use, it rewards users for walking. Today, the app boasts over 3 million active users daily. Yves Benchimol, built a technology company to counter the sedentary lifestyle that stems from spending most of our time behind a screen. WeWalk is a unique app because while most technology companies try to hold your attention on the phone, the app has 30 million people who use it to walk away from the phone.

The rise of apps that encourage spending time on the phone vs. one that encourages walking

This is a trend of apps that encourage spending time on the phone versus apps that compel people to disconnect from their screens. Most apps are built to engage users which adds to screen use, but WeWalk is the opposite. Yves said he realized that people are spending most of their time behind a screen. He notes that WeWork pays 30 million people to walk. WeWalk users earn points by walking anyone over 15 minutes per day. The app then turns these points into cash, gifts, or donations, motivating users to keep moving.

The difference between WeWalk and an app that encourages walking on a treadmill

The app uses technology to reward users for walking while others use it to reward users for being sedentary. Yves said the start of his journey was as an entrepreneur that did data analytics for large retailers. He built an app that uses GPS to determine that you are walking, to further encourage you to walk. WeWalk doesn't require you to use a treadmill but instead encourages you to walk using GPS to detect your steps. In a world where most apps are built to keep you glued to your screen, WeWalk is a reminder that technology can also be a tool for encouraging movement and outdoor activities in a world where most people struggle to find the motivation to exercise.

WeWalk rewards

The program yields a range of benefits for users. Apart from motivating them to exercise, WeWalk rewards its users for their active lifestyle. For instance, for walking, you earn points. These points can become cash, gifts, or can get donated to charity. You can support people in need while being rewarded for your steps. This makes WeWalk an innovative app that does well by combining two aspects of life that often contradict each other: technology and human health.

WeWalk vs. exercise apps

To encourage walking, most apps require you to sit on a treadmill but that's not the case for WeWalk. WeWalk is a health and wellness app that rewards exercise and daily activity and is not linked to such commercial brands, according to Yves. The app turns steps into points that can later be redeemed for cash, gifts, or donations. Most fitness apps are commercial brands but WeWalk is different because it has no commercial affiliations. WeWalk has over 3 million daily users.

Taking control of your health

WeWalk allows users to take an active role in managing their health by encouraging an exercise routine. Essentially, it forces you to be in control of your health; you can track your mileage, see your milestones, and even share them with your friends. Yves said, "So, it is rewarding you for walking, and it is a way to break your routine and bring more into your life."

How to turn walking into a habit

Walking is a great way to stay fit and healthy. WeWalk helps turn walking into a habit. There are different ways to do it, and they are achievable such as:

• Download Wewalk: The app is available for download on the App Store and Google Play.
• Track your steps: You can track your walking steps right from your phone.
• Earning points: The more you walk, the more points you earn. The best part is that you can convert these points to cash, gifts, and even donate to charity.This way, walking becomes a purposeful activity. Don't forget to put your phone away when walking so that you can enjoy the outdoors and keep track of your steps. With WeWalk, you’re not just taking care of yourself. You're making every step count.