Should I Build It Should I Build It
19 Apr 2025
Health & Fitness

I want to build a device that can be put onto the sides of a ...

...weightlifting bar that is made out of 3d printed plastic with a microprocessor inside that will track speed, position, and momentary force production. Also the device will be connected to your smart phone so you can see the movement in real time and the all will suggest potential improvements. Also the app should maybe write programs based on the results

Confidence
Engagement
Net use signal
Net buy signal

Idea type: Freemium

People love using similar products but resist paying. You’ll need to either find who will pay or create additional value that’s worth paying for.

Should You Build It?

Build but think about differentiation and monetization.

Your are here

You're entering the fitness tech space with a device to track weightlifting performance, categorized as 'Freemium'. This means users are likely to enjoy the core functionality but might hesitate to pay for advanced features. Three similar products exist, suggesting moderate competition. Given the 'high' engagement of similar products (average of 15 comments), it seems there's an appetite for innovation in this area. The positive feedback on similar products like Dumbbell AI, which integrates AI and motion tracking, is encouraging. However, remember that users often resist paying, so a well-defined monetization strategy is crucial to long-term success. Focus on differentiation and building clear value for premium offerings.

Recommendations

  1. Prioritize identifying which user segments derive the most value from the device's core free features (speed, position, momentary force tracking). Understanding their needs will guide the development of compelling premium features.
  2. Develop premium features that significantly enhance the experience for high-value users. Consider advanced data analytics, personalized program generation beyond basic suggestions, form analysis, or integration with other fitness platforms. The 'Dumbbell AI' criticism highlights the importance of form analysis to prevent injuries.
  3. Explore team-based pricing models, particularly targeting athletic teams or training facilities. Offering group analytics, coach dashboards, or aggregated progress reports could justify a higher price point and increase adoption.
  4. Offer personalized help or consulting services to users who want more in-depth analysis or customized training plans. This allows you to leverage the device's data to provide tailored expert guidance, creating a high-value add-on.
  5. Before a full launch, test different pricing tiers and feature bundles with small groups of users. Gather feedback on perceived value and willingness to pay to optimize your monetization strategy. Be very clear and upfront about what is tracked, and how the data is used and stored.
  6. Address privacy concerns proactively. Like Dumbbell AI users are concerned about data handling, AI tracking methods, and camera requirements. Be transparent about how data is collected, stored, and used to build trust and alleviate potential user apprehension.
  7. Consider developing training modules for beginners or those new to weightlifting, as suggested by Dumbbell AI's feedback. This could expand your user base and offer significant value, especially if combined with personalized feedback from the device.

Questions

  1. Beyond tracking speed and force, what unique insights can your device provide that existing fitness trackers or gym equipment don't offer, and how can you translate these insights into actionable improvements for users?
  2. Given the 'Freemium' category, what are the top three features you could offer in a premium tier that would be valuable enough for users to subscribe, and how will you avoid cannibalizing the value of your free tier?
  3. How will you ensure the 3D-printed plastic casing and microprocessor can withstand the wear and tear of a weightlifting environment, and what testing protocols will you implement to guarantee the device's durability and accuracy over time?

Your are here

You're entering the fitness tech space with a device to track weightlifting performance, categorized as 'Freemium'. This means users are likely to enjoy the core functionality but might hesitate to pay for advanced features. Three similar products exist, suggesting moderate competition. Given the 'high' engagement of similar products (average of 15 comments), it seems there's an appetite for innovation in this area. The positive feedback on similar products like Dumbbell AI, which integrates AI and motion tracking, is encouraging. However, remember that users often resist paying, so a well-defined monetization strategy is crucial to long-term success. Focus on differentiation and building clear value for premium offerings.

Recommendations

  1. Prioritize identifying which user segments derive the most value from the device's core free features (speed, position, momentary force tracking). Understanding their needs will guide the development of compelling premium features.
  2. Develop premium features that significantly enhance the experience for high-value users. Consider advanced data analytics, personalized program generation beyond basic suggestions, form analysis, or integration with other fitness platforms. The 'Dumbbell AI' criticism highlights the importance of form analysis to prevent injuries.
  3. Explore team-based pricing models, particularly targeting athletic teams or training facilities. Offering group analytics, coach dashboards, or aggregated progress reports could justify a higher price point and increase adoption.
  4. Offer personalized help or consulting services to users who want more in-depth analysis or customized training plans. This allows you to leverage the device's data to provide tailored expert guidance, creating a high-value add-on.
  5. Before a full launch, test different pricing tiers and feature bundles with small groups of users. Gather feedback on perceived value and willingness to pay to optimize your monetization strategy. Be very clear and upfront about what is tracked, and how the data is used and stored.
  6. Address privacy concerns proactively. Like Dumbbell AI users are concerned about data handling, AI tracking methods, and camera requirements. Be transparent about how data is collected, stored, and used to build trust and alleviate potential user apprehension.
  7. Consider developing training modules for beginners or those new to weightlifting, as suggested by Dumbbell AI's feedback. This could expand your user base and offer significant value, especially if combined with personalized feedback from the device.

Questions

  1. Beyond tracking speed and force, what unique insights can your device provide that existing fitness trackers or gym equipment don't offer, and how can you translate these insights into actionable improvements for users?
  2. Given the 'Freemium' category, what are the top three features you could offer in a premium tier that would be valuable enough for users to subscribe, and how will you avoid cannibalizing the value of your free tier?
  3. How will you ensure the 3D-printed plastic casing and microprocessor can withstand the wear and tear of a weightlifting environment, and what testing protocols will you implement to guarantee the device's durability and accuracy over time?

  • Confidence: Medium
    • Number of similar products: 3
  • Engagement: High
    • Average number of comments: 15
  • Net use signal: 31.7%
    • Positive use signal: 32.8%
    • Negative use signal: 1.1%
  • Net buy signal: 0.0%
    • Positive buy signal: 0.0%
    • Negative buy signal: 0.0%

This chart summarizes all the similar products we found for your idea in a single plot.

The x-axis represents the overall feedback each product received. This is calculated from the net use and buy signals that were expressed in the comments. The maximum is +1, which means all comments (across all similar products) were positive, expressed a willingness to use & buy said product. The minimum is -1 and it means the exact opposite.

The y-axis captures the strength of the signal, i.e. how many people commented and how does this rank against other products in this category. The maximum is +1, which means these products were the most liked, upvoted and talked about launches recently. The minimum is 0, meaning zero engagement or feedback was received.

The sizes of the product dots are determined by the relevance to your idea, where 10 is the maximum.

Your idea is the big blueish dot, which should lie somewhere in the polygon defined by these products. It can be off-center because we use custom weighting to summarize these metrics.

Similar products

Relevance

FortisAI – Barbell Velocity Tracker App

04 Sep 2024 Health & Fitness

Howdy folks,I've been working on an app to solve some problems I've had as a powerlifter:- trimming videos- estimating RPEs- workout tracking specifically tailored for powerliftingAnd so I built [FortisAI](https://www.fortisai.app/)!It was built with all of the above in mind, and utilizes computer vision to extrapolate velocity from your videos, and give you fine-tuned RPE estimates based on your own velocity numbers.It's still in the early stages, and I have a ton of features I'd like to add. If you're interested in this kind of thing, or want some say on the direction of this app I would love your feedback.It's available for download on both iOS and Android via the link above. I also created a [Discord](https://discord.gg/wSC9FbJgzn) for discussion around the app, so feel free to join if you're interested.Thanks!

Avatar
2
2
Relevance

Dumbbell AI - An interactive workout you will never forget, powered by AI

05 Dec 2023 Artificial Intelligence Health & Fitness

Dumbbell AI is a motion tracking fitness app brings a new era of working out with just your phone camera. The app is superpowered by AI to enable user to automatically log workouts, automatically count reps/sets. It is an unforgettable workout experience.

Dumbbell AI's Product Hunt launch received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with users congratulating the team and expressing excitement to try the AI-powered fitness app. Many highlighted its potential for home training, automated workout routines, and motivating those who struggle with exercise consistency. Some users inquired about the app's data handling, AI tracking methods, and camera requirements. Feature suggestions included form analysis for injury prevention and training modules for beginners. The app's unique approach to fitness, integrating AI and motion tracking, was widely appreciated, with many hoping it could make workouts more enjoyable and effective.

Users have expressed concerns and suggestions regarding the product. A key request is for synchronization with smartwatches and devices to track heart rate effectively. There are also questions about privacy, specifically regarding data streaming. Users are keen to understand the recognition rate's accuracy. To improve workout effectiveness and minimize injury risks, the product should focus on proper posture, muscle appearance, and implement form analysis features.

Avatar
223
53
52.8%
53
223
54.7%
Top