Birmingham-based serial entrepreneur Ian Bush has launched the free to download Walk Run Cycle Birmingham app on Android and iOS, providing the chance for tourists, business visitors and locals to get an insight into the city’s most famous attractions and monuments through a series of guided and safe routes for walking, running and cycling.
Launched in Birmingham initially, with a view to expanding to all major cities in the UK and across the world, the app offers a great range of routes, all starting from the city centre and progressing across areas such as the Jewellery Quarter, Moseley, Harborne and Edgbaston. All routes feature great photos and have easy to follow maps and directions. Founder and CEO, Ian Bush said:
“I set the app up in response to noticing an increasing demand from the city’s visitors for safe and accessible routes, and where they can keep active but also see the city’s sights. For visitors and tourists, this is a one-stop shop for the best things to see in the city.
“There are plenty of travel apps around, but not for people that are only in the city for a short time and want to see the best bits. I believe this is the first of its kind, and I see it rolling out across major cities in the UK and beyond. I love how the app is really simple, even my Mum could use it!”
Walk Run Cycle has been awarded a spot on the Entrepreneurs for the Future (e4f) programme delivered at the Innovation Birmingham Campus, the leading location for digital technology businesses in the city.
Joining as part of a record intake of 22 businesses in May, Ian is now developing the business by being immersed in a cohort of fellow entrepreneurs for nine months, where he has the chance to penetrate markets and develop the app’s features.
Now with the first app launched, Ian is currently searching for investment to expand internationally, reach out to new markets and deliver his vision of providing an accessible app containing the key tourist routes in the city, whilst promoting healthy living and wellbeing.
As an England Athletics qualified Run Leader and keen runner at LGBT group Birmingham Swifts, Ian is leading a free tourist run through Birmingham City Centre on Saturday mornings – the first one on Sat 30 June at 08:30 (tickets and details here). Ian added:
“It’s the perfect way for energetic visitors to see the highlights of Birmingham City Centre in a quick way – though we won’t go too fast or leave anyone behind!
“Being based at Innovation Birmingham has already inspired me to drive the businesses. I’m now immersed in a community of likeminded people, who are striving to make their digital technology business a success, and there are over 1000 techies to learn from and collaborate with.”
A serial entrepreneur, Ian is also a qualified chartered accountant, with experience in financial-based roles at KPMG in Birmingham and Singer and Friedlander Investment Management.
Walk Run Cycle adds to Ian’s existing portfolio of successful businesses, including an award-winning landscape gardening business, a specialist travel agency and an online wedding gift list venture, which was sold to Park Group Plc in 2015.
Submitted on 26/06/2018
