About Running Mate
Running Mate is the first safety-focused companion app for runners, built to make running safer, more social, and more accessible for everyone.
Founded by Dena Lewis, a runner and survivor turned advocate, Running Mate was created out of a deeply personal mission: to ensure no one feels unsafe while pursuing the sport they love. Running alone has long carried risks, especially for women, yet few scalable solutions existed beyond personal devices or avoidance strategies. Running Mate reframes safety by pairing runners with background-verified companions and equipping them with tools to confidently run anywhere, anytime.
Mates are compensated at a flat, transparent rate, and the platform welcomes all paces, walkers to runners.
Running Mate quickly evolved from a product into a movement for safety in running. In 2025, the company launched The Running Mate Collective, the first community dedicated to female runners’ safety. The Collective elevates safety from a product feature to a cultural shift, fostering education, storytelling, and resources that empower women to reclaim confidence on the roads and trails.
In parallel, Running Mate spearheaded the Female Runner Safety Summit, a coalition of brands, universities, and safety advocates working together to address violence against female runners.
Running Mate’s mission is simple yet urgent: to make running safe for everyone, everywhere.