Why we’re building Gili
Membership management. Payments. Check-ins. Dashboards. If you run a gym, you’ve probably seen this feature list countless times. There are plenty of apps offering all of it. Gili does all these too, but that is not why we are building it.
As a gym member in Nigeria, I paid for my membership through one app, made purchases through another, and managed my workout programmes in a third (paid) app. Each served a purpose, but they were all separate parts of what should really be one.
I thought, what if I could track my workouts on the same app I used to pay for my membership? Review my sessions with my personal trainer, see my progress over time, and access the gym’s other services, all in one place.
That is why we are building Gili. One app that will bring all of this together.
What would that look like?
For a gym, this would mean having a platform that feels like its own, carrying its brand and identity through every interaction. Tools for promotions, referrals, and managing social accounts like Instagram would connect with the gym’s additional services, from events with ticketing and bookings to a store selling fitness essentials. The gym could reach more people, grow revenue, and understand how members are participating and progressing, all as connected parts of the same business.
Trainers would have a place to build a practice, whether independently or as part of a gym. They could develop workout and meal plans, review sessions with clients, and adjust programmes as their needs change. Their bookings, events, and services would live alongside that work. Over time, the progress they help clients make could form a verifiable track record, giving their expertise a reputation that grows with their career.
Individuals would have a home for their fitness journey, whether they belong to a gym, work with a trainer, or exercise on their own. They could follow a programme, record workouts, track changes, and see how far they have come. Goals, milestones, and challenges could help them stay consistent, while a trainer could use that shared picture to offer guidance. Their progress would remain theirs as they change gyms, work with different trainers, or pursue new goals.
What about AI?
Gili will be AI-ready. Using their favourite AI app, like ChatGPT, gym owners will be able to explore membership trends and plan campaigns, trainers will be able to review client progress and refine programmes, and individuals will be able to review their progress and plan workouts. Within Gili, AI will also help gyms identify members who may need a follow-up, help trainers tailor programmes, and recommend workouts shaped by an individual’s goals and progress.
Our ambition is to help gyms, trainers, and individuals create more value together. Gyms grow their revenue by connecting members to services they value. Trainers build thriving practices by helping people achieve their goals. Individuals find the support they need to make progress. Gili will connect that value network, giving the people building fitness and wellness in Nigeria more ways to support one another and grow.