About — StepSprite

The short version

I’m Rob Ivanov, a software engineer and Fractional CTO based in Sofia, Bulgaria.

I’ve spent the last 20+ years building web systems, integrations, and automation for startups across Europe and the US. StepSprite started because I wanted a simple thing from my own work-from-home setup: if I walk on my under-desk walking pad, I want those steps counted.

The story

I work from home. I spend long stretches at a desk writing code, reviewing product work, and taking calls.

I bought a walking pad so I could move during the day instead of sitting through it.

The problem showed up immediately.

I could walk for 45 minutes, look down, and see almost no steps in Apple Health. My hands were on the keyboard, so my watch thought I was sitting still. The movement was in my legs. The tracker was on my wrist.

I tried the hacks first

I tried the usual fixes first:

→Phone in my sock. It worked badly and made me miss notifications.
→Apple Watch on my ankle. It counted better, but swapping it back and forth got old fast.
→Foot pods. Most were made for runners or didn’t sync cleanly with Apple Health.

So I built it

I didn’t want another workaround. I wanted something built for this exact use case: working from home, typing, taking calls, and walking at desk pace.

So I built StepSprite: an ankle-worn tracker with firmware tuned for slow desk walking and an iPhone app that keeps Apple Health up to date.

The app also handles workouts, step history, goals, device status, and firmware updates from the phone.

Why “Founders Edition”?

The first 50 units are a Founders Edition. This is a small first batch for people who already know they want their walking pad steps tracked properly.

It also lets me validate demand before I take on the full EU consumer-electronics certification process.

→Small first batch: I can keep a close eye on quality and answer support myself.
→Privacy-first: No account, no cloud, no AI training on your health data.
→Built to wear all day: It is small, light, and made for the steps your watch misses.

Who is behind this?

StepSprite is run by my company, Worbee EOOD, here in Bulgaria. When you email support, you are talking to me. When your order ships, I am the one printing the label at the desk here in Sofia.

If you want to verify I’m a real person, you can check my professional work at Worbee.com or see my personal projects at Rob.top.

Thank you for supporting independent European engineering.

— Rob