Should I Build It Should I Build It
18 May 2025
Health & Fitness

Coaching app for powerlifting. Coach sends trainings plan and receives ...

...later the results

Confidence
Engagement
Net use signal
Net buy signal

Idea type: Swamp

The market has seen several mediocre solutions that nobody loves. Unless you can offer something fundamentally different, you’ll likely struggle to stand out or make money.

Should You Build It?

Don't build it.

Your are here

The idea of a coaching app for powerlifting, where coaches send training plans and receive results, falls into a crowded space. Our analysis shows 17 similar products already exist, placing it in the 'Swamp' category. This means there are several existing solutions, but none have truly captured the market or generated significant user enthusiasm. The average engagement across these similar products is low, with just 1 comment per product, suggesting limited user interaction or passionate feedback. Based on this, it's unlikely your app will stand out without a fundamentally different approach. While some similar products have received positive feedback, particularly regarding advanced periodization and user-friendly interfaces, this is not enough to establish a strong competitive advantage in a saturated market. The absence of strong 'use' or 'buy' signals further reinforces the need for careful evaluation.

Recommendations

  1. Begin by thoroughly researching existing powerlifting coaching apps to understand their limitations and user pain points. Identify why these solutions haven't achieved widespread adoption or significant user engagement. Don't just look at features; delve into user reviews, app store ratings, and community forums to uncover unmet needs and frustrations. Understanding these failures is crucial before investing time and resources.
  2. If you still decide to proceed, narrow your focus to a specific niche within powerlifting. For example, you could target beginners, female powerlifters, or individuals with specific physical limitations. A targeted approach allows you to tailor your app's features and content to a specific group, increasing its relevance and appeal. Addressing a niche can also reduce competition and improve your chances of standing out.
  3. Instead of building a standalone app, consider developing tools or integrations that enhance existing platforms used by powerlifting coaches. For example, you could create a plugin for popular training software or a data analysis dashboard that integrates with spreadsheet programs. This approach allows you to leverage existing user bases and established workflows, reducing the need to build a completely new ecosystem. This also allows you to get early revenue.
  4. Explore adjacent problems in the powerlifting ecosystem that might be more promising. Perhaps there's a need for better nutrition tracking tools, injury prevention resources, or community-building platforms. By shifting your focus to a less saturated area, you can potentially find a greater market opportunity with less competition. Thoroughly research these adjacent areas to identify unmet needs and potential solutions.
  5. Given the competitive landscape, consider dedicating your time and energy to a different startup idea with greater potential. The powerlifting coaching app market is already crowded, and without a truly innovative approach, you may face significant challenges in achieving sustainable growth and profitability. Carefully evaluate your resources and explore other opportunities that align with your skills and interests. You should only consider building if you found a significantly underserved niche.
  6. Based on the discussions and criticisms from similar product launches, such as 'Liftosaur', focus on creating a user-friendly experience from the start. Include a comprehensive tutorial and examples to minimize initial confusion, addressing a common pain point in similar tools. Simplify the onboarding process and provide clear guidance on how to use the app's features effectively.
  7. Consider integrating features praised in other powerlifting tools, such as the advanced periodization found in 'PowerliftDB'. Implement robust data tracking and analysis capabilities, allowing coaches and athletes to monitor progress and adjust training plans accordingly. Incorporate elements that make tracking reps and sets straightforward, a feature appreciated in apps like 'Smart Strength'.

Questions

  1. Given the low engagement observed in similar apps, what specific strategies will you employ to foster a thriving community within your powerlifting coaching app, encouraging consistent user interaction and feedback?
  2. Considering the saturated market, how will you differentiate your app beyond standard training plan delivery and result tracking to offer unique value that compels powerlifters to switch from existing solutions?
  3. What partnerships or integrations with existing powerlifting equipment manufacturers, supplement providers, or competition organizers could you leverage to gain a competitive edge and expand your app's reach within the powerlifting community?

Your are here

The idea of a coaching app for powerlifting, where coaches send training plans and receive results, falls into a crowded space. Our analysis shows 17 similar products already exist, placing it in the 'Swamp' category. This means there are several existing solutions, but none have truly captured the market or generated significant user enthusiasm. The average engagement across these similar products is low, with just 1 comment per product, suggesting limited user interaction or passionate feedback. Based on this, it's unlikely your app will stand out without a fundamentally different approach. While some similar products have received positive feedback, particularly regarding advanced periodization and user-friendly interfaces, this is not enough to establish a strong competitive advantage in a saturated market. The absence of strong 'use' or 'buy' signals further reinforces the need for careful evaluation.

Recommendations

  1. Begin by thoroughly researching existing powerlifting coaching apps to understand their limitations and user pain points. Identify why these solutions haven't achieved widespread adoption or significant user engagement. Don't just look at features; delve into user reviews, app store ratings, and community forums to uncover unmet needs and frustrations. Understanding these failures is crucial before investing time and resources.
  2. If you still decide to proceed, narrow your focus to a specific niche within powerlifting. For example, you could target beginners, female powerlifters, or individuals with specific physical limitations. A targeted approach allows you to tailor your app's features and content to a specific group, increasing its relevance and appeal. Addressing a niche can also reduce competition and improve your chances of standing out.
  3. Instead of building a standalone app, consider developing tools or integrations that enhance existing platforms used by powerlifting coaches. For example, you could create a plugin for popular training software or a data analysis dashboard that integrates with spreadsheet programs. This approach allows you to leverage existing user bases and established workflows, reducing the need to build a completely new ecosystem. This also allows you to get early revenue.
  4. Explore adjacent problems in the powerlifting ecosystem that might be more promising. Perhaps there's a need for better nutrition tracking tools, injury prevention resources, or community-building platforms. By shifting your focus to a less saturated area, you can potentially find a greater market opportunity with less competition. Thoroughly research these adjacent areas to identify unmet needs and potential solutions.
  5. Given the competitive landscape, consider dedicating your time and energy to a different startup idea with greater potential. The powerlifting coaching app market is already crowded, and without a truly innovative approach, you may face significant challenges in achieving sustainable growth and profitability. Carefully evaluate your resources and explore other opportunities that align with your skills and interests. You should only consider building if you found a significantly underserved niche.
  6. Based on the discussions and criticisms from similar product launches, such as 'Liftosaur', focus on creating a user-friendly experience from the start. Include a comprehensive tutorial and examples to minimize initial confusion, addressing a common pain point in similar tools. Simplify the onboarding process and provide clear guidance on how to use the app's features effectively.
  7. Consider integrating features praised in other powerlifting tools, such as the advanced periodization found in 'PowerliftDB'. Implement robust data tracking and analysis capabilities, allowing coaches and athletes to monitor progress and adjust training plans accordingly. Incorporate elements that make tracking reps and sets straightforward, a feature appreciated in apps like 'Smart Strength'.

Questions

  1. Given the low engagement observed in similar apps, what specific strategies will you employ to foster a thriving community within your powerlifting coaching app, encouraging consistent user interaction and feedback?
  2. Considering the saturated market, how will you differentiate your app beyond standard training plan delivery and result tracking to offer unique value that compels powerlifters to switch from existing solutions?
  3. What partnerships or integrations with existing powerlifting equipment manufacturers, supplement providers, or competition organizers could you leverage to gain a competitive edge and expand your app's reach within the powerlifting community?

  • Confidence: High
    • Number of similar products: 17
  • Engagement: Low
    • Average number of comments: 1
  • Net use signal: 52.7%
    • Positive use signal: 52.7%
    • Negative use signal: 0.0%
  • 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.

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