Runkeeper is Pebble smartwatch’s first app partner, with integration at launch

The Pebble smartwatch has been a runaway success story for Kickstarter’s crowdfunding model, with almost $8 million pledged for the project so far. Now Runkeeper, a popular app for measuring and tracking your fitness, is joining in on the fun as Pebble’s first app partner at launch.

Pebble integrates with your smartphone via Bluetooth, and uses its E-Ink display to show information like incoming call data, calendar entries, and social media updates. After years of failed attempts at a truly useful smartwatch, it looks like Pebble has struck a chord with consumers with its elegant design and customizable app experience.

Jason Jacobs, CEO of Runkeeper, wrote on the company blog today: “We know that many of you are always looking for ways to make your fitness tracking easier, and with Pebble integration, you won’t ever have to pull the phone out of your pocket or armband – you can just see and do everything you need right from your watch.”

As one of the more than 53,000 people backing Pebble, I’m glad to see the company is already building up its app ecosystem. Runkeeper has already proven itself as one of the most useful exercise apps on the market, so it seems like a perfect fit for Pebble.

Notably, Pebble was initially rejected by venture capitalists when it was seeking funding. But now with its massive Kickstarter success, the company is able to turn its dream into a reality without giving up any equity.

Pebble still has two weeks left in its Kickstarter pledge round, which means the company could see close to $10 million in pre-sales at this current rate. The smartwatches are scheduled to ship sometime in September (though I’m hoping the extra funds will help the company get it out earlier).