When New York Knicks guard Miles “Deuce” McBride first moved to the city as a 20-year-old rookie, the transition was tougher than expected. Surrounded by teammates who were older, married, or simply introverted, McBride found himself navigating one of the world’s busiest cities while feeling isolated.
“I wish there was a way to meet people organically who have the same interests,” he told TechCrunch, recalling that period. “Social media feels so superficial sometimes.”
That moment of honesty would eventually spark the idea for Mmotion, a new social-discovery app that blends location sharing with interest-based connections, co-founded with startup veteran Joe Einhorn, best known as the founder of Fancy.
Now in beta for New York City users, Mmotion isn’t just another friendship platform. While apps like Bumble BFF focus on swiping through profiles, and tools like Snap Map or Find My center on sharing your live location, Mmotion fuses both ideas to create something in between, a social map that helps you discover people, places, and communities nearby.
A Map That Learns Your Habits
Using geofencing and activity tracking, Mmotion highlights nearby users with similar interests, whether that’s basketball, art galleries, or live music. The app also logs where you’ve been, curating a private timeline of favorite hangouts and events, a digital breadcrumb trail for urban explorers.
Early testers in New York can join via invite-only membership (limited to 1,000 users during beta). Once approved, members can set up profiles, list interests, join community “Circles,” and message others. These Circles act as micro-communities – like digital meetups, for everything from coffee crawls to Knicks watch parties.
Privacy as a Feature, Not an Afterthought
Unlike most location-sharing platforms, Mmotion’s foundation is privacy-first. Users start in “Vault Mode,” where their location remains completely hidden unless they choose to share it. Data is encrypted and stored privately on the device.
For more nuanced control, the app offers “Personas,” allowing up to three unique groups of friends. You might have a public persona for general acquaintances and a private one for close contacts, ideal for public figures or anyone who values digital boundaries.
“Miles might have a ‘Deuce Persona’ that’s more curated for Knicks fans,” Einhorn explained. “Then another for when he’s traveling and wants to stay low-key.”
Safety tools like blocking, reporting, and invitation-only circles further protect users, ensuring the app prioritizes genuine connections over passive visibility.
Monetization Built Around Community
Mmotion plans to operate on a subscription model, with pricing expected to stay “cheaper than a cup of coffee per month.” Paid tiers will unlock expanded features, like access to more Circles or exclusive community events.
For local businesses, from cafés and fitness studios to art galleries, Mmotion doubles as a discovery engine. It integrates data from Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, and Apple Maps to recommend trending venues nearby. Over time, the company hopes to launch a business dashboard offering anonymized analytics to help owners understand customer patterns and engagement.
Einhorn hinted at future ad placements and premium options, but the focus remains clear: fostering authentic local connections rather than chasing vanity metrics.
From Court to Code
For McBride, this marks his first venture as a tech founder, a path many modern athletes are taking to diversify their portfolios. From LeBron James’ investments in Blaze Pizza to Serena Williams’ early backing of tech startups, athlete-led entrepreneurship is becoming a powerful narrative in Silicon Alley.
Einhorn, meanwhile, brings deep startup DNA. After launching Fancy, he later created Long Story Short, a members-only luxury shopping startup.
With McBride’s cultural reach and Einhorn’s product vision, Mmotion sits at the intersection of tech, lifestyle, and social utility, positioning itself as a next-gen social platform that’s less about likes and more about real-world interaction.
The app is currently available in beta for both iOS and Android, with plans for a full rollout once community feedback is collected.
