Kotcha
Kotcha (PACEUP SAS) is a Paris-based AI running coaching app that delivers adaptive, personalized training plans through four virtual coaches trained on NN Running Team methods, serving serious amateur and performance-oriented road and trail runners globally via mobile subscription.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Kotcha does
Kotcha (legally PACEUP SAS) operates an AI-powered running coaching platform delivered through a mobile app on iOS and Android. The platform provides adaptive, personalized training plans for serious amateur and performance-oriented runners targeting distances from 5K to marathon on both road and trail. Its core technology consists of four virtual AI coaches — Head Coach, Nutritionist, Data Analyst, and Personal Trainer — trained on methods from the NN Running Team, with plans that adapt weekly based on actual performance data rather than rigid templates. A conversational interface uses third-party LLM partners to deliver coaching in natural language, while predictive analytics monitor fitness progression and power-to-heart-rate ratios to manage training load and prevent overtraining. The product integrates with Strava, Garmin, Apple Health, Huawei Health, and Coros devices for seamless data flow, and embeds Maurten race-day nutrition strategy calibrated to the gram per kilometer.
The company generates revenue through monthly and annual app subscriptions processed via the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, with a free trial offered to first-time users only. Distribution is primarily through the app stores, supplemented by website gift card sales and event partner channels. Pricing is positioned between generic running apps (e.g., Nike Run Club, Strava) and human coaches, targeting runners seeking elite-level methodology at accessible cost. The user base is consumer-only, with no enterprise or institutional customers disclosed.
Kotcha was founded in late 2024 by three builders (Ben, Dim, Mac) and brought in marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge as co-founder in February 2025, followed by ultra-trail athlete Kilian Jornet in Spring 2026. The company raised €3.5 million in pre-seed funding led by impact investment fund Racine² in October 2025, the same month it launched publicly in New York during Kipchoge's first NYC Marathon. It is headquartered in Paris (39 Rue de la Gare de Reuilly, 75012) and serves runners globally, with disclosed testimonials skewing French and US.
Kotcha firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kotcha
- Legal name
- PACEUP SAS
- Website
- https://kotcha.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Kotcha (PACEUP SAS) is a Paris-based AI running coaching app that delivers adaptive, personalized training plans through four virtual coaches trained on NN Running Team methods, serving serious amateur and performance-oriented road and trail runners globally via mobile subscription.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kotcha industry classification
Industry- Product category
- AI Fitness Coaching
- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Endurance & Conditioning Coaching (running, cycling, triathlon) (HSADAEAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Endurance & Running/Cycling Training (HSADAAAG)
Keywords
Where Kotcha is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kotcha business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- App Subscription: Monthly and annual subscription tiers providing access to the AI coaching platform with adaptive training plans. Price point positioned between generic apps and human coaches. Free trials offered to first-time users only, usable once.
- Gift Cards: Gift cards available for purchase through the website with specific subscription periods. Subscriptions begin upon redemption and do not auto-renew.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Standard subscription tier |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual subscription |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free trial |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Kotcha product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kotcha is an AI-powered running coaching mobile application that delivers adaptive, personalized training plans for road and trail runners across 5K, 10K, half-marathon, and marathon distances. The platform deploys four virtual AI coaches — Head Coach, Nutritionist, Data Analyst, and Personal Trainer — trained on NN Running Team methods, with plans that adapt weekly based on actual performance data rather than fixed templates.
Product overview
Kotcha is a single mobile application platform offering AI-powered personalized running coaching. The core product is the Kotcha App, which provides adaptive training plans through four distinct AI coach personas: Head Coach, Nutritionist, Data Analyst, and Personal Trainer. These coaches are trained on methods from elite athletes Eliud Kipchoge and Kilian Jornet (NN Running Team). The platform supports road and trail running for distances ranging from 5K to marathon, with weekly plan adaptations based on real performance data. Training plans include strength work, nutrition guidance, and recovery management as integrated components, not separate modules.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Kotcha App AI-powered running coaching mobile application providing adaptive, personalized training plans for road and trail runners across 5K, 10K, half-marathon, and marathon distances. Delivers four virtual AI coaches (Head Coach, Nutritionist, Data Analyst, Personal Trainer) trained on NN Running Team methods, with plans adapting weekly based on actual performance data and integrating Maurten race-day nutrition, Kipchoge strength drills, and sync with Strava, Garmin, Apple Health, Huawei Health, and Coros devices. Aimed at serious amateur, performance-oriented, beginner, and trail runners globally.
Quantifiable outcome
- Runners achieving personal bests including sub-3:30 marathons, breaking 10K PBs by over 1 minute, reducing pace by 35 seconds per km at same heart rate
Companies that use Kotcha
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Kotcha technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability4 records
Feature4 records
Kotcha partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- MaurtencoreSports nutrition brand that fuels Kipchoge and Kilian. Race-day nutrition strategy powered by Maurten is built into Kotcha plans down to the gram per kilometer of race distance.
- Eliud KipchogeflagshipMarathon legend and athlete-co-founder who co-founded Kotcha with the team. First person to run a marathon under 2 hours (1:59:40). Provides direct access to his training methodology, season structuring, and coaching philosophy.
- NN Running TeamflagshipElite running team co-founded with Kotcha. Methods trained into the AI coaching platform. Coach Patrick Sang collaborates on translating elite training into adaptive plans.
- Kilian Jornetflagship4-time UTMB winner and mountain running legend. Athlete-co-founder who contributed trail running methods, endurance approach, terrain reading, and mountain strategy to the platform.
- StravacoreIntegration partner for workout data sync. Users can sync workouts to Strava and Kotcha displays a Strava club presence.
- GarmincoreIntegration partner allowing workout delivery to Garmin watches and automatic data sync back to Kotcha for adaptive plan updates.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kotcha competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Apple Fitness+: Apple's subscription workout service including guided runs and trainer-led programs integrated with Apple Watch. Adjacent competitor in the paid coaching/workout subscription space, particularly for Apple ecosystem users.
- TrainingPeaks: Established endurance coaching platform serving coaches and serious self-coached athletes with structured plans, metrics, and analytics. Comparable as a serious-runner training tool, but oriented to self-coached or coach-led use rather than AI-only.
- Strava: Global social network for runners and cyclists with a paid subscription tier that includes adaptive training and route guidance. Strava is a broad incumbent whose data ecosystem Kotcha integrates with, and which could compete on coaching features.
- Nike Run Club: Nike's free flagship running app with guided runs, training plans, and coach-led audio. NRC competes on the same casual-to-serious runner segment but at a $0 price point and with Nike's brand and marketing scale.
- Adidas Running (Runtastic): Adidas-owned running app with workout tracking, training plans, and community features, rebranded from Runtastic. Competes for the same amateur-to-serious runner segment with the Adidas brand.
Emerging players
- Final Surge: Training platform used by endurance coaches and athletes for structured plans, metrics, and communication. Comparable in the endurance coaching workflow space but more coach-facing and less consumer-app native than Kotcha.
- Freeletics: AI-driven personal training app with adaptive workout plans and coaching feedback, focused on strength and conditioning. Comparable as an AI coaching subscription product, but with a different sport focus (bodyweight training vs. running).
Direct peers
- Runna: UK-based AI running coach offering adaptive, personalized training plans for runners, with watch integration. Runna is Kotcha's closest direct competitor in the AI personalized coaching category for distance running.
Regional players
- On Running (On Run Club): Premium running brand with a growing digital layer including run tracking and training content. Comparable as a brand-anchored running experience, but currently more focused on hardware/retail than AI coaching, and more regional outside Europe.
Others
- Coros TrainingHub: Hardware-and-software ecosystem from Coros that includes structured training plans, workout builder, and now AI training insights. Comparable as a wearable-anchored running training experience and a Kotcha integration partner that could expand its own coaching layer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kotcha social profiles
Digital presenceKotcha financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kotcha leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Kotcha funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kotcha M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kotcha
What does Kotcha do?
Kotcha is an AI-powered running coaching mobile application that delivers adaptive, personalized training plans for road and trail runners across 5K, 10K, half-marathon, and marathon distances. The platform deploys four virtual AI coaches — Head Coach, Nutritionist, Data Analyst, and Personal Trainer — trained on NN Running Team methods, with plans that adapt weekly based on actual performance data rather than fixed templates.
Is Kotcha a public or private company?
Kotcha is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Kotcha founded?
Kotcha was founded in 2024. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Kotcha based?
Kotcha is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Kotcha make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. App Subscription is the primary driver. The others are gift Cards.
Who are Kotcha's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Apple Fitness+, TrainingPeaks, Strava, Nike Run Club and Adidas Running (Runtastic). Emerging players are Final Surge and Freeletics. Runna is listed as a direct peer. On Running (On Run Club) is listed as a regional player. Coros TrainingHub is listed as an others.
Does Kotcha have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kotcha.
What industry is Kotcha in?
Kotcha's product category is AI Fitness Coaching. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSADAEAD, Endurance & Conditioning Coaching (running, cycling, triathlon), with a secondary code of HSADAAAG, Endurance & Running/Cycling Training. Its NAICS code is 61162 and its SIC code is 7372.