The Challenge
To begin with, young athletes face a fragmented landscape where high-quality training resources are scattered across social media, lacking both personalization and safety. Prior to partnering with Valere, the original app relied on unstable backend services, lacked scalable cloud infrastructure, and could not support real-time AI interactions or secure subscription management, resulting in performance bottlenecks and inconsistent user experience.
Solution Implemented
To address these issues, Valere rebuilt AthesAI as a subscription-based mobile platform powered by its AI Twin™ technology. For instance, this AI system delivers personalized training guidance tailored to each athlete’s sport, position, and goals. The platform also includes built-in access to verified NCAA and professional athletes through secure 1:1 video mentorship sessions. To keep users engaged, Valere introduced a gamified “Gems” reward system that encourages consistent daily participation and skill development. Because the platform serves young athletes, safety was a priority. Valere implemented a COPPA-compliant architecture with age-aware protections and secure user interactions. Behind the scenes, the entire system was migrated to a scalable, cloud-native infrastructure, allowing the app to support real-time AI coaching, secure video sessions, and growing user demand without performance issues.
About the Company
Mission
AthesAI is dedicated to revolutionizing youth sports training by promoting holistic development, including athletic skills, mental health, and confidence building. The platform serves as a secure alternative to conventional social media, offering a curated environment where athletes can access elite-level training content and verified mentors. By leveraging generative AI and a network of professional athletes, AthesAI empowers young users to navigate their athletic journeys with personalized, experience-based guidance.
Key Leadership
Josh Crandall (President and CEO) envisioned a platform that could provide the direct personal connection and high-quality guidance often missing from traditional training programs. He directly reached out to Guy Pistone, CEO of Valere, as someone to partner with who brings a high level of professionalism and technical expertise to serve as a significant differentiating factor for his enterprise. His commitment to safety and innovation drove the development of features like the upcoming secure Parent Portal and the AI Twin™ coaching avatars.
The Challenge: Developing an AI-Native Mentorship Platform to solve fragmented training and safety barriers
When AthesAI approached Valere, their prototype lacked the architectural integrity needed to scale or provide a safe environment for younger audiences. The fragmented nature of existing resources meant athletes were struggling to find relevant, age-appropriate material efficiently.
The initial app suffered from poor technology and subpar architecture, resulting in performance issues that hindered user experience and growth.
The business required a sophisticated platform that could handle subscription-gated premium features while seamlessly integrating real-time video mentorship and AI chat interfaces.
The lack of personalized guidance and a proper incentive system led to struggles with consistent user engagement. Without a secure, parent-trusted environment, the platform faced barriers in reaching its primary target audience of athletes ages 13+.
Why AthesAI Partnered with Valere for AI Native Solution Development
Josh Crandall first discovered Valere through Guy’s online profile, drawn to his background and track record in building consumer-scale mobile platforms. He had founded and scaled Fitivity into one of the largest mobile health and fitness app brands of its time, reaching over 15 million downloads, raising $1.5 million in venture capital, and successfully exiting through acquisition. That experience of taking a fitness product from concept to scale gave Josh confidence that Valere understood not just how to build software, but how to build a durable business around it.
Valere brought extensive expertise in AI-native mobile development, including the integration of AI Twin™ technology and secure 1:1 video mentorship systems. The value extended well beyond engineering. The team operated as a strategic product partner, guiding AthesAI from an unstable prototype into a scalable, revenue-generating subscription platform with a clear roadmap for growth.
Safety was equally central to the engagement and Valere had extensive experience building secure, compliant platforms for regulated environments. They were able to architect a COPPA-compliant, age-aware system designed to protect younger users while earning the trust of parents and guardians. The result was more than a rebuilt application. It was a secure, scalable foundation positioned for long-term expansion.
The Solution: Engineering an AI-Powered Mentorship App with AI Twin™ Technology to achieve revenue-positive growth
Since its launch, AthesAI has successfully transitioned from a prototype to a market-dominant platform.
Valere implemented a cloud-native mobile infrastructure designed for scalability and real-time interactions:
- AI Engine: Integration of generative AI and OpenAI’s GPT technology to power “AskAthes” and personalized coaching avatars.
- Video Integration: A custom booking and hosting system for 1:1 video mentorship sessions with professional athletes.
- Security: COPPA-compliant architecture with upcoming monitoring tools for parental oversight.
The team utilized AI to transform long-form training videos into short, action-focused clips, categorizing them by skill and position to create a seamless “AthesAI Feed.”
Phased Implementation
The project followed a structured path: Discovery & User Research → AI & Mobile Development → Prototyping & Iteration → Evaluation & Launch.
The Results
AthesAI has successfully transitioned from a prototype to a market-dominant platform, achieving revenue-positive status within months of its subscription launch.
Key Outcomes
Business Growth & Market Reach:
- 2,500+ total users achieved without paid advertising.
- 150+ monthly subscriptions within a short period.
- Dominated the lacrosse and hockey markets with tailored solutions.
Technical Performance & Innovation:
- Successfully implemented AI Twin™ technology for real-time coaching support.
- Built a verified network of 85+ professional trainers and NCAA athletes.
Operational Validation:
- Featured in Upwork’s Q2 2023 Shareholder Letter Report.
- Established a parent-trusted platform with robust safety features.
The Client’s Perspective
"Having Valere as a software partner plays a crucial role in the success of my business. Valere exhibits a high level of professionalism, organization, creativity, and expertise surpassing that of other developers I have previously collaborated with. This partnership and business relationship will serve as a significant differentiating factor for my enterprise."
