Yves is the Co-Founder and CEO of WeWard, the free mobile app that rewards 20M people for walking. In an increasingly sedentary and digitized world, Yves built WeWard to incentivize people to stay active in their day-to-day lives. WeWard operates out of two offices, located in New York and Paris, and has grown to a team of over 50 employees.
With over 10 years of experience in creating and scaling innovative solutions for physical retail, he has a strong background in machine learning, big data, web and mobile development, and cognitive science. He graduated from École Polytechnique, the leading engineering school in France, and UC Berkeley. He is from Paris, France and is currently based in New York City.
In your own words, what’s your role in the app business right now?
Leveraging tech-driven gamification and cognitive science to encourage healthier lifestyles.
How did you end up working in apps? / get started?
After earning my Master’s in Entrepreneurship from UC Berkeley, I began my career building a B2B consumer insights company called Occi. While the experience was valuable, I realized I missed having a direct, tangible impact on people’s lives. This realization led me to pivot into the consumer app space, where I could create something that would positively affect millions.
With my technical skills and a strong desire to build impactful products, I began thinking about how technology could motivate people to be more active. Given that nearly everyone carries a smartphone equipped with a pedometer, I saw an opportunity to create an app that not only tracks physical activity but also addresses the critical missing element—motivation. I entered the app space to build a product that inspires people to move more and ultimately improve their health by turning their smartphones into powerful tools for motivation.
What are you most excited about in apps right now?
As someone who studied AI during my academic journey, it’s incredibly exciting to witness its rapid evolution and widespread application across nearly every vertical. The possibilities for AI to transform industries are endless, and I’m particularly enthusiastic about its future potential.
At WeWard, we’re leveraging AI to enhance personalization and recommendation systems, which significantly improve user experiences. Additionally, we’re utilizing AI to boost efficiency across various departments, including marketing, support, and tech. The integration of AI into these areas not only optimizes our operations but also drives innovation, making this an exciting time to be working in the app space.
Is there anyone you’d like to shout out to who has influenced your journey in the app industry?
Sean Colombo, the VP of Engineering at Duolingo, has been an invaluable advisor to me and our team. As one of the early employees at Duolingo, Sean brings a wealth of experience and insights, particularly in creating products that foster daily habits.
With over seven years of expertise in gamification and scaling products, he has guided us in understanding the intricacies of building a product like ours.
Sean’s advice has been instrumental in helping our team at WeWard make the right decisions and continuously iterate on our product. His influence has been key in our mission to create one of the best motivational apps in the world.
What’s in your app tech stack?
As someone who loves working with email, Superhuman is my go-to for maximizing email efficiency. For team collaboration, we use Slack, while WhatsApp is perfect for quick voice notes. Google Drive ensures seamless document management, and Amplitude provides me with detailed analytics to drive our decisions. And of course, WeWard is part of my daily routine, keeping me motivated to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
What do you like most about working in apps?
What I love most about working in apps is the ability to impact millions of people. The rapid evolution of smartphone technology allows us to leverage these advancements to create features that can instantly influence the daily routines of a vast user base. With millions of daily active users, I wake up every morning motivated to introduce new features that positively affect their lives.
The app industry is incredibly competitive and fast-paced, which makes it both challenging and rewarding. The constant change and endless opportunities across all sectors keep the landscape dynamic and exciting. Being part of this space means continually innovating and adapting, which is what I find truly exhilarating.
What one thing would you change about the app industry/market? Where do you think there’s an opportunity for apps / or unmet needs?
One thing I would change about the app industry is the emphasis on increasing screen time. Many apps rely on advertising-driven business models that prioritize maximizing time spent in-app, often at the expense of users’ well-being. I believe there’s a significant opportunity for more apps to adopt alternative models, like subscriptions, that don’t rely on screen time as a key metric.
I see tremendous potential in developing technology that encourages people to make small but impactful changes to their daily lives—changes that help them reconnect with the natural world, stay active, and engage in real-world connections. By focusing on these areas, we can create apps that promote healthier living and make it more accessible to everyone.
If you weren’t working in apps what would you be doing?
It’s tough to imagine working on anything outside of what we’ve been building at WeWard over the last five years, but prior to my entrepreneurial ventures, I held several engineering roles in-house, so I’d probably be doing more of that.
iOS or Android?
iOS, without a doubt. I’ve been captivated by the beauty of Apple’s design and user experience for nearly 20 years, ever since I received my first iPod in 2004. The seamless and intuitive interface has kept me loyal to iOS ever since.
What app(s) have been most useful to you over the last year?
Over the past year, WhatsApp has been essential for me on a personal level. It allows me to stay connected with my family in Paris, keeping in touch with loved ones and sharing moments as my own family grows. It’s also been invaluable for work.
What’s on your Spotify / Music party playlist?
My Spotify playlist is a mix of podcasts and music. You’ll find plenty of podcasts around the app and tech space, like a16z, Lenny’s Podcast, and 20Growth. As a dad, I’ve also got playlists for babies. And of course, some French and electronic music.
Any Netflix/ TV show recommendations?
Fiasco for French speakers who want to laugh!
Is there anything else we should know about you?
Proud dad to an adorable 1-year-old daughter who’s already showing a strong interest in technology (though I’m trying to keep her screen time in check).
Do you know someone driving change and growth in the app industry? Nominate an app leader here.
