Platform builds offline social bonds through exercise

Host count doubling every month since launch

Expanding to Tokyo, Shanghai and Bangkok

Participants run together at a Sqnc original running event. [Provided by Frip]
Participants run together at a Sqnc original running event. [Provided by Frip]

A new social platform designed to help people build relationships through offline exercise — running, yoga and hiking — and connect with local crews in major cities around the world has made its debut. Since launching, the platform has doubled its host count every month over the past four months.

Frip, the company behind the leisure and activity platform of the same name, announced Thursday the official launch of Sqnc, a global wellness community platform.

Sqnc connects people and communities through physical activities such as running, yoga and hiking. Users can discover and book activities in their daily lives or while traveling, while hosts can create groups and clubs to run their own communities. The platform was designed from the ground up with global markets in mind, drawing on the decade of offline business experience and operational know-how Frip accumulated running its flagship service.

Sqnc's mobile service screens displayed in Korean, Japanese and Thai. [Provided by Frip]
Sqnc's mobile service screens displayed in Korean, Japanese and Thai. [Provided by Frip]

According to the Global Wellness Institute, the worldwide wellness market is projected to grow from $6.8 trillion in 2024 to $9.8 trillion by 2029. The trend toward social communities built around exercise is also gaining momentum — fitness tracking app Strava reported that the number of new running clubs created in 2025 was 3.5 times higher than the previous year.

Riding that wave of growth, Sqnc launched its beta service in June and has seen its host count roughly double each month. The platform's reach has expanded beyond Seoul to major Asian cities including Tokyo, Shanghai and Bangkok. Rather than developing and distributing programs centrally, the company relies on local hosts and communities to serve as the supply side of the platform.

Sqnc provides a single infrastructure that goes beyond activity discovery and booking to support hosts in managing their communities end to end. Free sign-ups, paid transactions, refunds, invitation and waitlist management, QR ticketing, on-site check-in and settlement are all consolidated into one system. The platform supports 32 languages and runs on iOS, Android and the web.

The scene at the "Buldak Burning Festa," organized and operated by Sqnc. [Provided by Frip]
The scene at the "Buldak Burning Festa," organized and operated by Sqnc. [Provided by Frip]

The platform has also been put through real-world stress tests. After powering Samyang Foods' Spindle Trail Run in June, Sqnc handled the full on-site operations of the 1,200-person Buldak Burning Festa held at Samyang Round Hill in October. The system managed everything from registration and payment to QR check-in and race result verification without a hitch.

Frip is also expanding its offline presence abroad. The company participated in Tourism Expo Japan 2026 in September to promote the service, and plans to launch the Sqnc Asia Running Series in December, starting with the Shonan International Marathon in Japan, linking major Asian marathons with local running culture. Beyond event booking commissions, Sqnc intends to diversify its revenue model through operational solution subscriptions, membership fees and brand partnerships.

"If Frip spent the past decade helping people discover new experiences and broaden their tastes, Sqnc is the platform that helps those experiences translate into healthier lives and lasting relationships," said Lim Su-yeol, CEO of Frip. "We will build it into a global wellness infrastructure where creators can form their own communities and grow beyond borders."


terry@heraldcorp.com