Built by Runners, for Runners
Vici was born from a friendship between two competitive runners who refused to settle for "good enough" coaching. We built the AI coach we couldn't find.
The Gap We Saw
58 million Americans run regularly. Most train alone with generic plans downloaded from the internet, or they track their miles on Strava without any real coaching behind the numbers.
The options are stark: free apps that track but don't coach. Static PDF plans that don't know who you are. Or human coaches at $150 to $300 a month who are out of reach for most runners.
We saw a gap between "good enough" and genuinely great coaching. AI had reached the point where it could close that gap, and we had the running experience and the product instincts to build it right.
Our Story
Vici started with two runners coaching each other through the kind of training that demands more than motivation. We were sharing workouts, debating training theory, and showing up when it mattered most. But we hit limits. We needed coaching that truly understood our bodies — our strengths, our gaps, and how we responded to training in real time.
That need became Vici: an AI coach that learns you the way a great human coach would, but with the data and adaptability that only technology can provide.
The name means "I conquered" in Latin. We're helping runners conquer their next goal.
The Founders
Chris ran his first marathon in 3:46 and spent six years working his way to a 2:29 finish at the Berlin Marathon in 2024. That journey taught him that great training is about more than just putting in miles — it requires coaching that adapts to you.
With a career in go-to-market at Figma, Square, and Yelp, Chris built Vici's entire technology platform from scratch using AI-assisted development — over 2,000 hours of building without a traditional engineering background. The result is a system with over 300 API endpoints, 150+ services, and the kind of depth usually found in teams ten times the size.
Joe placed 2nd at the USA Masters Nationals in the Mile (45+) and has been racing competitively for over 15 years. He knows what it means to push the limits of performance at every stage of a running career.
As former CMO at On24 and Taulia, Joe brings deep expertise in brand building and go-to-market strategy. At Vici, he leads brand, marketing, and the coaching methodology that shapes how the AI communicates with runners.
Two competitive athletes who spent careers in GTM — we built the coach we couldn't find.
Our Coaching Philosophy
Vici isn't just another training plan generator. Every decision in the product reflects how we believe coaching should work.
Science First
Built on Jack Daniels' VDOT methodology — the same training science used by elite coaches. Your paces, your training zones, and your progression are all calibrated to your actual fitness, not arbitrary benchmarks.
Coaching, Not Automation
A good coach explains the "why" behind every workout. Vici delivers daily briefings, analyzes your training journals, and answers your questions 24/7. It doesn't just tell you what to do — it helps you understand your training.
Adapts to You
Life doesn't follow a spreadsheet. When you miss a workout, overperform, or need to change your schedule, Vici makes targeted adjustments that respect the bigger picture — and never overwrites your decisions.
Why Now
AI has reached the point where it can deliver nuanced, personalized coaching at scale. The running community is larger than ever — post-pandemic participation exceeds pre-COVID levels, and Gen Z is driving a new wave of race entries.
But the market hasn't kept up. Most running apps still offer tracking without coaching, and the products that do coach are either expensive or locked into a single approach. We're building Vici to fill that gap: science-based AI coaching that's genuinely accessible to every runner.
Run with Vici
Free AI coaching, personalized training plans, and a coach that actually learns how you train. Available now on iOS.
Get Vici Free on TestFlight