How An Ecuador-Based Fitness Startup Builds Community Using Chat

Camila Landivar and her mother, Paula, launched Alive Fitness in response to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on their physical gym in Guayaquil, Ecuador, leveraging Paula's motivational skills as a fitness instructor to create a digital platform for women. Initially starting with Instagram livestreams, which attracted significant attention, they realized the need for a more scalable and user-friendly solution, leading to the development of their own website with integrated in-app chat, powered by Stream's Chat API. This functionality has been crucial for maintaining community engagement and interaction during workouts, which is central to their strategy. The platform aims to promote a holistic approach to health, emphasizing mental and physical well-being beyond just exercise. Future plans include expanding offerings to include broader health-focused services, with the mission of fostering a community that values overall happiness and well-being.