The inaugural SilverStrides 1 Mile Walk/Run was held on Pier A in Hoboken this past Saturday, September 24. Erin Kreis, Founder of SilverStrides, said that the event was a big success with an attendance of “43 participants ranging from 4-80 [years old].” Some local celebrities also attended, such as County Commissioner Anthony Romano, who had Kreis as a guest on his show Stick @ Nite, and Councilman Phil Cohen. Kreis is excited about the future of the app and believes that this first event was “a big step towards connecting with the local 55+ community.”
SilverStrides is a walking app targeted toward older adults. Kreis developed the app through the Stevens Launchpad accelerator program, and felt that there was a need for “products specifically designed for older adults.” Kreis’s grandparents committed to staying active regardless of their age barriers as a way of promoting their health. Her grandmother had a hip replacement a few years ago and decided to make walking a habit. Kreis was inspired by her grandparents’ dedication to staying healthy and created the SilverStrides app. The app is free to download from the App Store or Google Play.
The app has a relatively simple user interface, making it perfect for technologically inexperienced adults. On the app, users can schedule walks with friends, connect with other walkers, and track their progress. Kreis is also preparing to launch some new features such as notifications and the ability to connect the app to fitness watches, as well as some premium features on the horizon.
In addition to the inaugural Walk/Run, Kreis had a vendor booth at the Baltimore County Department of Aging Get Ready! Get Set! Get Fit! 5k/1M Run/Walk on September 18, which was an amazing way to introduce SilverStrides to her home community. In reference to these recent milestones, Kreis stated that “The face-to-face conversations I had at the recent SilverStrides events were very encouraging. Not only did I get positive feedback on the direction SilverStrides is heading, but also, I was touched by the stories of all of the participants.” Kreis also explained that when building a startup, the most important component is talking face-to-face with as many users as possible. Due to the age range of her users, this was not possible during the COVID-19 pandemic, making these in-person events especially meaningful.
Kreis is thrilled with the impact her app is having on its users, “Whether it was a competitive runner transitioning to walking or a family trying to exercise more together, meeting potential users was the best motivation I could have gotten. I am more excited than ever to keep building SilverStrides.”
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