{"id":152,"date":"2025-11-10T18:06:15","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T18:06:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.flrepoter.com\/tech\/?p=152"},"modified":"2025-11-10T18:06:15","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T18:06:15","slug":"knicks-guard-miles-mcbride-steps-into-tech-with-mmotion-a-location-based-friendship-app-aiming-to-rival-snap-map","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.flrepoter.com\/tech\/news\/knicks-guard-miles-mcbride-steps-into-tech-with-mmotion-a-location-based-friendship-app-aiming-to-rival-snap-map\/","title":{"rendered":"Knicks Guard Miles McBride Steps Into Tech With \u201cMmotion,\u201d a Location-Based Friendship App Aiming to Rival Snap Map"},"content":{"rendered":"<!-- VideographyWP Plugin Message: Automatic video embedding prevented by plugin options. -->\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When New York Knicks guard <strong>Miles \u201cDeuce\u201d McBride<\/strong> 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\u2019s busiest cities while feeling isolated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI wish there was a way to meet people organically who have the same interests,\u201d he told <em>TechCrunch<\/em>, recalling that period. \u201cSocial media feels so superficial sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That moment of honesty would eventually spark the idea for<a href=\"http:\/\/www.mmotionapp.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"> <strong>Mmotion<\/strong><\/a>, a new social-discovery app that blends <strong>location sharing<\/strong> with <strong>interest-based connections<\/strong>, co-founded with startup veteran <strong>Joe Einhorn<\/strong>, best known as the founder of<a href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2012\/02\/23\/dont-just-like-it-buy-it-pinterest-rival-fancy-may-have-just-figured-out-social-commerce\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"> <strong>Fancy<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now in beta for <strong>New York City<\/strong> users, Mmotion isn\u2019t just another friendship platform. While apps like<a href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2025\/09\/26\/as-people-look-for-ways-to-make-new-friends-here-are-the-apps-promising-to-help\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"> Bumble BFF<\/a> focus on swiping through profiles, and tools like Snap Map or<a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT210514\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"> Find My<\/a> center on sharing your live location, Mmotion fuses both ideas to create something in between, a <strong>social map that helps you discover people, places, and communities nearby.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_79_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flrepoter.com\/tech\/news\/knicks-guard-miles-mcbride-steps-into-tech-with-mmotion-a-location-based-friendship-app-aiming-to-rival-snap-map\/#A_Map_That_Learns_Your_Habits\" >A Map That Learns Your Habits<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flrepoter.com\/tech\/news\/knicks-guard-miles-mcbride-steps-into-tech-with-mmotion-a-location-based-friendship-app-aiming-to-rival-snap-map\/#Privacy_as_a_Feature_Not_an_Afterthought\" >Privacy as a Feature, Not an Afterthought<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flrepoter.com\/tech\/news\/knicks-guard-miles-mcbride-steps-into-tech-with-mmotion-a-location-based-friendship-app-aiming-to-rival-snap-map\/#Monetization_Built_Around_Community\" >Monetization Built Around Community<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flrepoter.com\/tech\/news\/knicks-guard-miles-mcbride-steps-into-tech-with-mmotion-a-location-based-friendship-app-aiming-to-rival-snap-map\/#From_Court_to_Code\" >From Court to Code<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Map_That_Learns_Your_Habits\"><\/span><strong>A Map That Learns Your Habits<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Using <strong>geofencing<\/strong> and <strong>activity tracking<\/strong>, Mmotion highlights nearby users with similar interests, whether that\u2019s basketball, art galleries, or live music. The app also logs where you\u2019ve been, curating a private timeline of favorite hangouts and events, a digital breadcrumb trail for urban explorers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 \u201c<strong>Circles<\/strong>,\u201d and message others. These Circles act as micro-communities &#8211; like digital meetups, for everything from coffee crawls to Knicks watch parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Privacy_as_a_Feature_Not_an_Afterthought\"><\/span><strong>Privacy as a Feature, Not an Afterthought<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unlike most location-sharing platforms, Mmotion\u2019s foundation is <strong>privacy-first<\/strong>. Users start in <strong>\u201cVault Mode,\u201d<\/strong> where their location remains completely hidden unless they choose to share it. Data is encrypted and stored privately on the device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For more nuanced control, the app offers <strong>\u201cPersonas,\u201d<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMiles might have a \u2018Deuce Persona\u2019 that\u2019s more curated for Knicks fans,\u201d Einhorn explained. \u201cThen another for when he\u2019s traveling and wants to stay low-key.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Safety tools like blocking, reporting, and invitation-only circles further protect users, ensuring the app prioritizes genuine connections over passive visibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Monetization_Built_Around_Community\"><\/span><strong>Monetization Built Around Community<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mmotion plans to operate on a <strong>subscription model<\/strong>, with pricing expected to stay \u201ccheaper than a cup of coffee per month.\u201d Paid tiers will unlock expanded features, like access to more Circles or exclusive community events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For local businesses, from caf\u00e9s and fitness studios to art galleries, Mmotion doubles as a discovery engine. It integrates data from<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"> <strong>Google Maps<\/strong><\/a>,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.openstreetmap.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"> <strong>OpenStreetMap<\/strong><\/a>, and<a href=\"https:\/\/maps.apple.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"> <strong>Apple Maps<\/strong><\/a> to recommend trending venues nearby. Over time, the company hopes to launch a <strong>business dashboard<\/strong> offering anonymized analytics to help owners understand customer patterns and engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Einhorn hinted at future <strong>ad placements<\/strong> and premium options, but the focus remains clear: fostering <strong>authentic local connections<\/strong> rather than chasing vanity metrics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"From_Court_to_Code\"><\/span><strong>From Court to Code<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For McBride, this marks his first venture as a tech founder, a path many modern athletes are taking to diversify their portfolios. From <strong>LeBron James\u2019 investments in Blaze Pizza<\/strong> to <strong>Serena Williams\u2019 early backing of tech startups<\/strong>, athlete-led entrepreneurship is becoming a powerful narrative in Silicon Alley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Einhorn, meanwhile, brings deep startup DNA. After launching <strong>Fancy<\/strong>, he later created<a href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2024\/01\/16\/fancy-founder-returns-with-1000-per-month-luxury-shopping-startup-long-story-short\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"> <strong>Long Story Short<\/strong><\/a>, a members-only luxury shopping startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With McBride\u2019s cultural reach and Einhorn\u2019s product vision, Mmotion sits at the intersection of <strong>tech, lifestyle, and social utility<\/strong>, positioning itself as a <strong>next-gen social platform<\/strong> that\u2019s less about likes and more about real-world interaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The app is currently available in beta for both<a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/mmotion\/id6747409219\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"> <strong>iOS<\/strong><\/a> and <strong>Android<\/strong>, with plans for a full rollout once community feedback is collected.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When New York Knicks guard Miles \u201cDeuce\u201d 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\u2019s busiest cities while feeling isolated. \u201cI wish there was a way to meet people [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":153,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-152","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flrepoter.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/152","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flrepoter.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flrepoter.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flrepoter.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flrepoter.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=152"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.flrepoter.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/152\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":157,"href":"https:\/\/www.flrepoter.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/152\/revisions\/157"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flrepoter.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/153"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flrepoter.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=152"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flrepoter.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=152"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flrepoter.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=152"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}