When visiting a new city, finding the best way to explore can be challenging. Guided tours can be expensive, inflexible, and crowded, making it difficult for active travelers to enjoy their adventure at their own pace. Recognizing this problem, Sebastian Martinez, a Barrett Computer Science student who is the VP of Triathlon Club at ASU, created a concept travel navigation app designed for runners, cyclists, and walkers to explore new cities on their terms.
During a routine discussion in FSE 301/ENT 360: Entrepreneurship and Value Creation, Sebastian identified a gap in the market: exercise enthusiasts who want to explore new cities and learn along the way often find limited, costly options. Drawing inspiration from popular platforms like Strava and as well as traditional running tours, the idea for a more personalized and mobile travel app was born.
The app offers several key features aimed at enhancing the experience of exploring a city while staying active. Users can customize routes to fit their preferences, whether they want a quick jog through historical sites or an extended cycling route with scenic views. The app also provides informative tidbits about landmarks along the way, giving users a richer, more immersive experience without the need for a formal tour guide. Perhaps most importantly, the app is designed to be affordable and user-friendly, making it accessible to a broad audience.
One key takeaway from developing this project was conducting a competitive analysis to understand the strengths and weaknesses of similar services. By analyzing competitors like Strava, which focuses heavily on fitness tracking, and Urbirun, which offers audio-guided city tours, the student found opportunities to innovate with customizable routes and added educational value.
“As a Computer Science major with little prior business experience, this course really pushed me out of my comfort zone. Dr. Sebold made the class very engaging and showed me that entrepreneurship is something I’m excited to continue pursuing in the future,” Sebastian reflected.
This project allowed for a unique combination of personal passions: computer science, exercise, and travel. It highlighted the power of interdisciplinary thinking and the value of listening to potential users’ needs. Ultimately, the experience not only produced a viable app concept but also opened new doors for future entrepreneurial ventures.
As Sebastian looks ahead, he is eager to exploring additional ways to innovate in the travel and fitness space. With a strong foundation from ASU’s entrepreneurial courses, the path forward is as customizable as the routes in the app itself.
V3 Pitch Deck: Click Here
Video Pitch: Click Here
App prototype: Click Here