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Today I'm joined by Stephen Owusu, Co-Founder and CEO of JAXJOX, makers of connected strength training equipment. The JAXJOX InteractiveStudio™ is the all-in-one home fitness solution for a 360-degree connected fitness experience, replacing a rack of 22 weights with an innovative, space-saving design. It's strength, cardio, and recovery training all in one intelligent, sleek, home gym. In this episode we discuss the rise of the smart strength category. We talk about the company's connected kettlebell, dumbbells and interactive studio, and Stephen explains why not chasing growth during the pandemic was the right decision. In this episode, you'll learn: How JAXJOX is transforming the in-home free weight experience Why delaying your product launch can pay off big later on Tips for partnering with outside distributors Stephen's philosophy on raising capital and company growth Links & Resources Subscribe to the Fitt Insider newsletter Visit the Fitt Insider jobs board View current Fitt Insider investment and get in touch Stephen Owusu's Links JAXJOX's website Follow JAXJOX on Twitter JAXJOX is on Instagram Follow JAXJOX on Facebook Follow Stephen on Twitter

Today I'm joined by Rishi Mandal, Co-founder and CEO of Future, a digital personal training service connecting users with human coaches. Future uses a combination of technology, content, and elite personal trainers to build custom-made training plans for their customers. Clients can reach their goals at home, in the gym, or at group fitness classes, when and where it's most convenient for them. In this episode we talk about the company's recent 75 million dollar funding round, and how Future built its platform around accountability and personalization. We also discuss the power of the company's equipment agnostic approach. In this episode, you'll learn: How Future creates an intimate coaching experience in a remote environment The potential for one-to-one coaching across the healthcare industry How Future uses technology to improve coaches' quality of life Why Future is so successful at retaining customers Links & Resources Subscribe to the Fitt Insider newsletter Visit the Fitt Insider jobs board View current Fitt Insider investment and get in touch Rishi Mandal's Links Future's website Follow Future on Facebook Follow Future on Twitter Future is on Instagram Follow Rishi on Twitter Rishi's LinkedIn page

Today I'm joined by David Lee, Head of Samsung Next, the investment arm of the global electronics maker. Before joining Samsung, David was a Managing Partner at Refactor Capital, and a Managing Partner at SV Angel. In this episode we cover David's experience in venture capital, Samsung Next's investments in companies like Obé Fitness, Aviron, and Terra. We discuss the future of digital and connected health, wearables, and emerging opportunities in Web3. In this episode, you'll learn: Characteristics David looks for in investment prospects David's thoughts on the future of connected healthcare The emerging blockchain opportunities for healthcare in Web3 Links & Resources Obé Fitness Aviron Terra DAYTWO Glooko Headspace Noom Tom Brady: The TB12 Method: How to Achieve a Lifetime of Sustained Peak Performance Subscribe to the Fitt Insider newsletter Visit the Fitt Insider jobs board View current Fitt Insider investment and get in touch David Lee's Links Refactor Capital Follow David on Twitter Samsung Next's website Email David

In this episode I'm joined by Steve Gutentag, Co-Founder and CEO of Thirty Madison, a human-centered healthcare company. Thirty Madison is focused on becoming the premier healthcare company for people living with chronic conditions. Their innovative model delivers better patient experiences and superior health outcomes through specialist-level offerings and a singular platform and infrastructure. On today's podcast we discuss the company's recent $140 million funding round, its merger with women's healthcare company Nurx, and Steve shares his plan for becoming the leading platform for specialty healthcare offerings. In this episode, you'll learn: Strategies for building and managing multiple brands How Thirty Madison is scaling access to digital healthcare Tips for setting up self-sustaining teams in your business Links & Resources Subscribe to the Fitt Insider newsletter Visit the Fitt Insider jobs board View current Fitt Insider investment and get in touch Steve Gutentag's Links Thirty Madison's website Follow Thirty Madison on Twitter Nurx Keeps Facet Cove Evens Picnic

Today I'm joined by Sarah McDevitt, founder of Core, and Head of Mind Technology at Hyperice. Core is the easiest way to stick to a habit of meditation and breath training. Core is a handheld device that teaches different techniques via vibration, and syncs with audio from the Core app. Core gives users all the guidance they need to learn meditation and breath training practices, but in a much more tangible way. In this episode we talk about the intersection of mindfulness and technology. Sarah explains her motivation for starting Core and how she developed the handheld meditation trainer. We also discuss the future of high performance wellness. In this episode, you'll learn: Core's approach to solving their customers' biggest pain points How Core went from concept to a successful product launch Tips for navigating a merger with another company Sarah's strategies for expanding Core into B2B markets Links & Resources Subscribe to the Fitt Insider newsletter Visit the Fitt Insider jobs board View current Fitt Insider investment and get in touch Sarah McDevitt's Links Core by Hyperice Hyperice's website Core Meditation app on the App Store Core Meditation app on Google Play Follow Hyperice on Twitter Sarah's LinkedIn page Contact Sarah

Today I'm joined by Jim Donnelly, CEO of Restore Hyper Wellness. Restore uses a variety of modalities, all built around the notion of hyper wellness and keeping people healthy. Under a traditional health care model a person comes in broken, and hopes to get fixed. Restore uses a preventative model to keep people from getting sick. In this episode we chat about Restore's health and wellness centers. Jim explains how the company defines hyper wellness and his relationship to health care. We also talk about how their recent $140 million funding round will fuel expansion. In this episode, you'll learn: How Restore stays ahead of their competition Tips for building trusting relationships with your customers Why Restore is successful across nearly all age groups and regions How Restore is scaling their franchise system with hundreds of new stores Links & Resources Subscribe to the Fitt Insider newsletter Visit the Fitt Insider jobs board View current Fitt Insider investment and get in touch Jim Donnelly's Links Restore Hyper Wellness' website Follow Restore Hyper Wellness on Facebook Restore Hyper Wellness is on Instagram Follow Restore Hyper Wellness on Twitter Check out Restore Hyper Wellness on YouTube Restore Hyper Wellness' LinkedIn page

Today I'm joined by Athletic Greens CEO, Chris Ashenden. Athletic Greens brings comprehensive and convenient daily nutrition to just about everybody. Athletic Greens' AG1 nutritional supplement provides 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole-food sourced nutrients in one convenient daily serving. AG1 is currently sold direct-to-consumer via subscription through their online storefront. In this episode we discuss Chris's journey from testing different formulations, to bootstrapping a business, to earning a billion dollar valuation. We also talk about the evolution of the brand, why their subscription model works, and how they plan to accelerate growth. In this episode, you'll learn: Chris's keys to building trust with a skeptical audience How to attract great team members to your organization A better approach to developing and introducing new products Links & Resources Subscribe to the Fitt Insider newsletter Visit the Fitt Insider jobs board View current Fitt Insider investment and get in touch Chris Ashenden's Links Athletic Greens Follow Athletic Greens on Twitter Follow Chris on Twitter

Today I'm joined by Adrian Aoun, Founder and CEO of Forward, a technology-driven healthcare system. Forward started from scratch to build a system that's completely different and radically improves healthcare. Forward is on a mission to lower costs, improve results, and make quality care available to those who need it most. In this episode we talk about re-imagining healthcare from the ground up by vertically integrating every aspect of the experience. Adrian also shares his vision to create a more personalized, preventative, and affordable healthcare system. In this episode, you'll learn: How Forward's technology is reinventing healthcare Why current incentives in healthcare are counterproductive to our wellbeing Forward's strategies for dramatically reducing healthcare costs Links & Resources Subscribe to the Fitt Insider newsletter Visit the Fitt Insider jobs board View current Fitt Insider investment and get in touch Adrian Aoun's Links Follow Adrian on Twitter Forward's website Follow Forward on Twitter Forward is on Instagram Check out Forward on YouTube

Today on the podcast I'm joined by SoulCycle CEO, Evelyn Webster. SoulCycle offers indoor cycling and spinning workout classes. With one-of-a-kind playlists, legendary instructors, and more than 83 studios (and counting) across the U.S., Canada, and the UK, SoulCycle creates an inspiring indoor cycling class experience. In this episode, we talk about the pandemic's impact on brick-and-mortar fitness. Evelyn shares how SoulCycle navigated the rollercoaster of re-openings and restrictions. We also discuss the company's omni-channel offering, including its smart bike, digital content, and outdoor classes. In this episode, you'll learn: The business model SoulCycle uses for predictable recurring revenue How SoulCycle blends brick-and-mortar studios with their digital platform SoulCycle's strategies for retaining top talent in their industry Links & Resources Calm Nike Training Club app Subscribe to the Fitt Insider newsletter Visit the Fitt Insider jobs board View current Fitt Insider investment and get in touch Evelyn Webster's Links SoulCycle's website Follow SoulCycle on Instagram Equinox+ website and app SoulCycle SOUL Renew subscription

Today I'm joined by Sarah Jones Simmer, CEO of Found, a modern weight care platform. Found improves people's wellbeing by making evidence based weight loss accessible & affordable. Instead of focusing on short term weight loss, Found emphasizes long term weight care backed by science. On today's show we talk about Found's digital weight management solution. Sarah explains how advancements in tele-health and prescription medication are transforming weight loss. We also discuss Found's approach to de-stigmatizing dieting and obesity by focusing on personalized weight care. In this episode, you'll learn: Why weight care is more than eating less, exercising, and will power Found's personalized precision care advantage in weight management Why Found's weight care platform is more than a weight loss program Sarah's marketing strategy to educate customers about Found and its benefits Links & Resources Bumble American Board of Obesity Medicine Happify Health Subscribe to the Fitt Insider newsletter Visit the Fitt Insider jobs board View current Fitt Insider investment and get in touch Sarah Jones Simmer's Links Found's website Found's app is in the App Store Follow Found on Facebook Found is on Instagram Follow Found on Twitter

Today I'm joined by Hydrow founder and CEO, Bruce Smith. Hydrow completely re-engineered the rowing machine with patented technology, and built an immersive experience around it. Hydrow is designed from the ground up. It's a unique in-home rowing machine that is elegant and sophisticated. Hydrow's engineering is unmatched in performance, and their machines are built to last. In this episode we talk about the pandemic's impact on the connected fitness category. Bruce explains how Hydrow was able to achieve sustainable growth, and we discuss what's next for the company. We talk about Hydrow's new content, additional equipment, if they're open to an acquisition, and whether they'll go public. In this episode, you'll learn: Why Hydrow delivers a better workout than biking or using a treadmill Hydrow's partnering strategy with brick-and-mortar stores like Best Buy Why celebrities are eager to invest in Hydrow What the post-pandemic future of in-home fitness looks like Links & Resources Subscribe to the Fitt Insider newsletter Visit the Fitt Insider jobs board View current Fitt Insider investment and get in touch Guest's Links Hydrow's website Fabletics

On today's show I talk with Joel Lieginger, CEO at Paceline. Paceline is the first-ever holistic approach to improving the health of individuals and society. Paceline incentivizes physical, mental, and financial health in a continuous virtuous cycle. Paceline brings best-in-class digital products and financial services together, through a credit card and insurance, to pay people to live a healthy lifestyle. In this episode we talk about paying people to workout, Paceline's wellness credit card, and Joel's vision to transform the sick care and life insurance industries. In this episode, you'll learn: How Paceline connects brands with consumers Paceline's innovative way to get people to prioritize their health How Paceline gets brand partners a 10X conversion rate A clever solution for unused gym memberships Links & Resources Subscribe to the Fitt Insider newsletter Visit our jobs board View current investment and get in touch Joel Lieginger's Links Paceline's website Paceline app Paceline is on Instagram

Today I'm joined by Jason McCarthy — a former Special Forces operator turned entrepreneur, who bootstrapped the rucksack and events brand GORUCK into a $30M a year business. In this episode, we talk about Jason's vision to make rucking more popular than running, the importance of real-life, social interaction, and his latest venture, Sandlot Technology, that aims to decentralize fitness. In this episode, you'll learn: How to build a community and your brand Can you grow a community without ads? Why you need to use your unfair advantage The downside of the metaverse and its impact on social health How to create a profitable and impactful business More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider helps operators stay informed and make better decisions. We produce a weekly newsletter and podcast, curate an industry jobs board, and invest in early-stage companies. *** Subscribe to our newsletter *** Visit the jobs board *** View current investment and get in touch More from Jason ***Follow Jason on Instagram ***Jason is on Facebook ***Jason's LinkedIn page ***GORUCK's website Jason enlisted in the Army after 9/11 because of 9/11 and served in Special Forces in Iraq and the Sahel region of West Africa. In 2006, Jason's wife Emily was a Case Officer in the CIA working in French-speaking West Africa. Applying what he had learned in war, Jason built Emily a "go-bag", or "go-ruck" for her to keep in her vehicle and at home, ready to go at all times. Jason's commitment to the Special Forces way of life and the idea for a "go-ruck" led him to start GORUCK in 2008. It took over two years to design and manufacture the rucksacks and ensure they would thrive in both Baghdad and NYC — Green Berets were judge and jury of quality and functionality. In order to raise awareness for the gear, Jason started community building through physically grueling events based on Special Forces training called the GORUCK Challenge. Over 7,000 events and 160,000 participants later, GORUCK has become The Rucking Company, a people first organization centered around increasing global activity through rucking, strengthening communities, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. In every way, the GORUCK community represents a bridge between the civilian and military worlds and there are over 500 Official GORUCK Clubs all over the world, accessible and open to all. In 2020, Jason co-founded Sandlot Technology Inc. with B.J. Naedele, a GORUCK Board Member and former COO of Nike+ who worked on four #1 Apps in the App store, with the mission to unite and democratize fitness, centered around trainers. The platform is making its real world debut at Sandlot Jax - Fitness Festival in April of 2022 in Jacksonville, Florida, in partnership with global thought leaders, trainers, and brands in the health and fitness space. Jason can usually be found rucking around Jacksonville Beach, FL with his wife Emily, three kids — Natalie, Jack, and Ryan — and chocolate lab Monster who is lovingly referred to as the President of GORUCK Nation.

Today I'm joined by Mohammed Iqbal, Founder and CEO of SweatWorks — a digital agency that powers top fitness and wellness brands. In this episode, we discuss the evolution of SweatWorks, trends in artificial intelligence, connected fitness, and wearable technology. And we explore untapped opportunities in hybrid fitness, integrated wellness, and democratizing well-being. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider helps operators stay informed and make better decisions. We produce a weekly newsletter and podcast, curate an industry jobs board, and invest in early-stage companies. *** Subscribe to our newsletter: https://insider.fitt.co/newsletter/ *** Visit the jobs board: https://jobs.fitt.co/ *** View current investment and get in touch: https://insider.fitt.co/investments/ More from Mohammad Mohammed Iqbal strives to enhance people's lives. He believes the key to leading a healthier life is having access to fitness knowledge and acting on it. He founded SweatWorks, the leading digital agency in fitness design and technology to create meaningful wellness journeys for everyone. As founder and CEO, Mohammed has established SweatWorks as a wellness technology brand unlike any other. The agency pursues innovation to make fitness engaging, beautiful and accessible to all. Mohammed also contributes to the wellness industry via speaking engagements at leading events and fitness conferences around the world. His personal commitment to his fitness journey is an inspiration to all those he comes in contact with. Daily, he immerses himself in strategic and creative thinking, fitness, and innovation. For ten years Mohammed has worked at exploring the intersection of fitness and technology, paving the way towards a more tangible wellness and healthcare future. SweatWorks collaborates with top-tier fitness brands to provide design, technology and marketplace expertise to produce first-to-market fitness and wellness products. It has made the Inc 5000 list as one of the fastest growing private companies five years in a row.

Today I'm joined by Adam Crofts, founder and CEO of Prevayl. In this episode, we discuss the company's Smartwear clothing, which combines performance apparel and wearable technology. We cover the Prevayl's recent $10M funding round. And Adam shares his vision for the evolution of athleisure. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider helps operators stay informed and make better decisions. We produce a weekly newsletter and podcast, curate an industry jobs board, and invest in early-stage companies. *** Subscribe to our newsletter: https://insider.fitt.co/newsletter/ *** Visit the jobs board: https://jobs.fitt.co/ *** View current investment and get in touch: https://insider.fitt.co/investments/ More from Adam Adam Crofts is the founder and CEO of Prevayl, a fast emerging brand that has created a stunning apparel range that houses near-invisible technology, providing the world's most accurate insights into health and performance data to consumers through their app. Prevayl has bought to market the evolution in Sportswear that leaves simple athleisure brands behind. Social: @Prevayl Website: www.prevayl.com

Today I'm joined by Jeff Krahel, co-founder and CEO of Playbook — an app that helps trainers, athletes, and influencers build a digital fitness business. In this episode, we discuss the rise of the fitness creator, Playbook's approach to developing a creator-first platform, and Jeff explains how some fitness creators have built multi-million dollar businesses. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider helps operators stay informed and make better decisions. We produce a weekly newsletter and podcast, curate an industry jobs board, and invest in early-stage companies. *** Subscribe to our newsletter: https://insider.fitt.co/newsletter/ *** Visit the jobs board: https://jobs.fitt.co/ *** View current investment and get in touch: https://insider.fitt.co/investments/ More from Jeff Jeff Krahel is Co-Founder and CEO of Playbook, a mobile marketplace enabling top instructors in fitness and athletics to turn their iPhone content into a subscription income. In this role, Jeff oversees all business operations for the company, including monetization, product development, instructor onboarding, community building and investments. Prior to founding Playbook, Jeff was Director at Halmos Capital, where he helped to found and scale a $100M special situations private equity fund which invested across real assets and tech. In addition to his role at Playbook, Jeff is an investor An Ironman athlete, Jeff played D1 soccer at the University of Buffalo, where he majored in Management and Corporate Finance. Social: https://www.instagram.com/playbook_app/ Website: https://playbookapp.io/

Today I'm joined by Ron Schneidermann, CEO of AllTrails — a guide to the outdoors. In this episode, we discuss the company's content flywheel, free app, and subscription product. We cover the intersection of technology and the outdoors, as well as the company's recent $150M funding round, fueling community, personalization, and international expansion. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider helps operators stay informed and make better decisions. We produce a weekly newsletter and podcast, curate an industry jobs board, and invest in early-stage companies. *** Subscribe to our newsletter: https://insider.fitt.co/newsletter/ *** Visit the jobs board: https://jobs.fitt.co/ *** View current investment and get in touch: https://insider.fitt.co/investments/ More from Ron Ron Schneidermann is an entrepreneur who is passionate about building great companies that help people have authentic, organic, real-world experiences. He is the CEO of AllTrails, the most trusted and used outdoors platform in the world. In 2005, Ron co-founded Liftopia, the global leader in ski lift ticket bookings, and was Head of Growth at Yelp Reservations. Ron attended UCLA, earning his bachelor's degree in Communications, and lives in California with his wife Jenny, their three children, and their dog Sally Toodle the Golden Doodle. Ron loves riding his mountain bike, but his all-time favorite trail is the Na Pali Coast Trail in Kauai.

Today I'm joined by Courtney Reum, co-founder of M13 — a brand development and investment company. In this episode, we discuss the shifting venture capital ecosystem, trends in health and wellness, and the firm's investments in companies like Tonal, Headspace, and ClassPass. Plus, Courtney shares his frameworks for evaluating potential investments. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider helps operators stay informed and make better decisions. We produce a weekly newsletter and podcast, curate an industry jobs board, and invest in early-stage companies. *** Subscribe to our newsletter: https://insider.fitt.co/newsletter/ *** Visit the jobs board: https://jobs.fitt.co/ *** View current investment and get in touch: https://insider.fitt.co/investments/ More from Courtney Courtney Reum is an innovator whose goal is to create impact towards global change. In April 2016, Courtney co-founded M13, a Los Angeles based brand development and investment company that accelerates businesses at the nexus of consumer products, technology, and media. M13 focuses on building emerging entrepreneurial businesses, and will directly invest more than $100 million of investments over the next 5 years. Courtney began his career as an Investment Banker at Goldman Sachs in New York, working with such brands as Procter & Gamble, Under Armour, and Vitamin Water. In 2007, following his career at Goldman Sachs, Courtney and his brother Carter Reum established VEEV Spirits with the goal of creating "a better way to drink". Originally offering a first of its kind vodka alternative, VEEV Spirits quickly grew to be one of the fastest-growing independent brands in the country and later, with the addition of VitaFrute™ Cocktails by VEEV, the first line of organic ready-to-drink cocktails. VEEV has been honored as the winner of the Technomic Fast 50 Award and by Inc. Magazine as one of the 500 Fastest-Growing Companies in the U.S. (#7 in the food & beverage category). While growing VEEV, Courtney & Carter began investing and providing guidance as advisors and board members to emerging businesses. Some of their select early investments include Bonobos, Birchbox, Warby Parker, Pinterest, Lyft, Kevita, and Krave Jerky. In 2016, Courtney & Carter sold a majority stake of VEEV Spirits to a multi-national strategic buyer, allowing them to found M13 and focus on their entrepreneurial stewardship of consumer brands. M13 currently has investments in 100+ companies spanning consumer brands, media, and technology. Courtney holds a B.A. with distinction from Columbia University in New York and is an alumni of Harvard Business School. He is also an active member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and has served as the President of the Bel-Air Chapter. Courtney was appointed as one of Mayor Eric Garcetti's Commissioners for the Los Angeles Convention Center & Tourism Authority and is philanthropically involved as a Board Member of the Los Angeles Opera and City Year, which helps underserved schools. Courtney was named one of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs of both 2014 and 2015 by Goldman Sachs at its annual Builders + Innovators Summit, featured in Inc's "500 fastest growing private companies in America," and included in the Forbes "30 Under 30" list. Courtney serves as a contributing writer for Inc magazine and is featured in best-selling books such as Richard Branson's "Screw Business as Usual" and Blake Mycoskie's (TOMs Shoes) "Start Something that Matters." Finally, Courtney and his brother are the authors of the national bestseller Shortcut Your Startup, which was published by Simon & Schuster in January 2018 and aimed to share their insights and empower the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Today I'm joined by Nate Pearson, co-founder and CEO of TrainerRoad. In this episode, Nate shares his experience building a bootstrapped, profitable company over ten-plus years. We explore the fast-growing and increasingly competitive endurance tech category. And we talk about TrainerRoad's Adaptive Training platform that uses machine learning to help cyclists get faster. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider helps operators stay informed and make better decisions. We produce a weekly newsletter and podcast, curate an industry jobs board, and invest in early-stage companies. *** Subscribe to our newsletter: https://insider.fitt.co/newsletter/ *** Visit the jobs board: https://jobs.fitt.co/ *** View current investment and get in touch: https://insider.fitt.co/investments/ More from Nate Nate Pearson is CEO and Co-Founder of TrainerRoad, the leading training system for cyclists and triathletes who want to get faster. Athletes in over 150 countries use TrainerRoad's Adaptive Training system, training calendar, apps, workouts, training plans, and analysis tools to elevate their performance. Additionally, TrainerRoad's forum, blog, and podcasts are trusted educational resources for athletes around the world. Learn more at www.TrainerRoad.com

Today I'm joined by Krisna Bhargava, CEO of Arena — the complete mobile smart gym. In this episode, we discuss Arena's innovative strength training solution and its focus on human performance — including athletes, strength coaches, and physical therapists. Krisna details the company's plan to accelerate growth. And we cover Arena's mission to replace the dumbbell. Note: Fitt Insider is an investor in Arena More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider helps operators stay informed and make better decisions. We produce a weekly newsletter and podcast, curate an industry jobs board, and invest in early-stage companies. *** Subscribe to our newsletter: https://insider.fitt.co/newsletter/ *** Visit the jobs board: https://jobs.fitt.co/ *** View current investment and get in touch: https://insider.fitt.co/investments/ More from Krisna Krisna Bhargava, PhD is a scientist turned entrepreneur whose lifelong love of fitness began with martial arts, skiing, and hiking. Krisna has an extensive background in automation and biophysics, bringing the view that strength training is the foundation of reaching peach performance as much as it is preventative healthcare.

Today I'm joined by Melissa Bentivoglio, co-founder and CEO of Frame Fitness — makers of a connected Pilates reformer. In this episode, Melissa shares how her experience as an athlete, instructor, and designer led to founding Frame. We talk about the company's $5M funding round that included 24 Hour Fitness founder Mark Mastrov. And we cover content, community, and manufacturing as the company prepares to ship products in 2022. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider helps operators stay informed and make better decisions. We produce a weekly newsletter and podcast, curate an industry jobs board, and invest in early-stage companies. *** Subscribe to our newsletter: https://insider.fitt.co/newsletter/ *** Visit the jobs board: https://jobs.fitt.co/ *** View current investment and get in touch: https://insider.fitt.co/investments/ More from Melissa Melissa Bentivoglio is a classically trained ballet dancer and a renowned pilates and fitness instructor. Melissa credits her dedication to pilates as having changed her life after years of elite level performance. In 2018, she designed her own proprietary reformer for use in her own studio. By launching Frame, she hopes to make pilates more widely available and accessible, so that everyone has a chance to improve their quality of life.

Today I'm joined by Helaine Knapp, CEO of CITYROW. In this episode, we discuss the company's origin as a single boutique fitness studio, the decision to launch a connected rower and digital app, and Helaine's plan to scale an omnichannel experience. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider helps operators stay informed and make better decisions. We produce a weekly newsletter and podcast, curate an industry jobs board, and invest in early-stage companies. *** Subscribe to our newsletter: https://insider.fitt.co/newsletter/ *** Visit the jobs board: https://jobs.fitt.co/ *** View current investment and get in touch: https://insider.fitt.co/investments/ More from Helaine After spending years climbing the corporate ladder, Helaine Knapp left the world of publishing for tech start-up life. Group fitness was her outlet while working hard and taking on the hustle and bustle of New York City. Months of spin and boot camp classes left her with a lower back injury, however, and she began searching for a workout that was low impact, but super effective. After a friend suggested rowing, Helaine initially rejected it as something "my dad did in college," but following a few workouts on a sexy machine, pairing it with total body sculpting moves off the machine, changed her mind and the concept for CITYROW was born. With a mission of delivering a smart, fun, effective workout to all fitness levels, under Knapp's leadership, CITYROW has grown from one studio in New York City to a national omnichannel fitness brand a top-ranked on-demand global program featuring at-home rowers and a fast-growing digital subscription business alongside 12 open studios and 65 franchises sold nationwide! Knapp has yet to row on the water and has been featured as a business leader and a wellness expert on TODAY, Women's Health, ABC, Harper's Bazaar, Shape, Well + Good, Vogue, Yahoo! Finance, and PEOPLE, among many others.

Today I'm joined by Martin Adler, CEO of Brooklyn Boulders — operators of urban climbing, fitness, and community centers. In this episode, we discuss the growing business of rock climbing, leveraging technology to enhance the climbing experience, and falling in love with the joy of movement. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider helps operators stay informed and make better decisions. We produce a weekly newsletter and podcast, curate an industry jobs board, and invest in early-stage companies. *** Subscribe to our newsletter: https://insider.fitt.co/newsletter/ *** Visit the jobs board: https://jobs.fitt.co/ *** View current investment and get in touch: https://insider.fitt.co/investments/ More from Martin Martin Adler is the CEO of Brooklyn Boulders. He previously served as Brooklyn Boulders Vice President of Strategy & Growth and then as Interim CEO. Formerly a co-founder of Healthrageous (Acq. by Humana) and Chief of Product and Strategy at Reflexion Health (Acq. by Smith & Nephew), Adler has spent the past fifteen years developing companies and services that empower people to enhance their own wellbeing. www.brooklynboulders.com Arcade Climbing: www.arcadeclimbing.com linkedin.com/in/martinadler

Today I'm joined by Sarah Robb O'Hagan, CEO of Exos — a human performance company. In this episode, we discuss Sarah's experience at companies like Nike, Gatorade, Equinox, and Flywheel Sports. We talk about Exos programs that span work, sport, and life. Plus, we cover the company's efforts to make elite performance more accessible through in-person and digital offerings. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider helps operators stay informed and make better decisions. We produce a weekly newsletter and podcast, curate an industry jobs board, and invest in early-stage companies. *** Subscribe to our newsletter: https://insider.fitt.co/newsletter/ *** Visit the jobs board: https://jobs.fitt.co/ *** View current investment and get in touch: https://insider.fitt.co/investments/ More from Sarah Sarah Robb O'Hagan took the helm at Exos in 2020 as chief executive officer. In this new era of the business, she's leading Exos' transformation from predominantly gym-based services, to a fully omnichannel performance program and coaching platform. Prior to Exos she served as CEO of Flywheel, global president of Equinox and Gatorade, and held leadership roles at iconic brands like Virgin and Nike. Sarah is the author of "Extreme YOU", a book to help unleash potential in ambitious leaders, and she's been named one of Forbes' Most Powerful Women in Sports and one of Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business. She sits on the boards of JetBlue Airways and Strava, and is a trustee emeritus of the Women's Sports Foundation.

Today I'm joined by Daniel Sobhani, CEO of Freeletics — an AI-powered fitness app. In today's episode, we discuss the company's evolution from PDF workout plans to a digital fitness platform with more than 50M users. We cover the launch of Staedium, the company's new game-based connected strength training product. And Daniel shares his thoughts on innovation, team building, gamification, and more. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider helps operators stay informed and make better decisions. We produce a weekly newsletter and podcast, curate an industry jobs board, and invest in early-stage companies. *** Subscribe to our newsletter: https://insider.fitt.co/newsletter/ *** Visit the jobs board: https://jobs.fitt.co/ *** View current investment and get in touch: https://insider.fitt.co/investments/ More from Daniel Daniel Sobhani is the CEO at Freeletics, the leading provider of AI-based fitness and mindset coaching, with more than 165 employees and nearly 53 million users worldwide. Born and raised in Munich, Germany, he studied business administration, mechanical engineering, finance and technology management in Munich and Sydney. After working at the renowned Boston Consulting Group, he then joined Freeletics in its early stages as CEO in 2014. At the time, Freeletics was a very small, young startup, but one which was growing rapidly. Daniel helped foster its potential and guided the team to achieve international success in just a short space of time – all as a bootstrapped company. After five successful years as a bootstrapped company, Daniel Sobhani steered Freeletics to the next milestones of the company's history, as it closed a $45 million Series A funding round in 2018 and a $25 million Series B funding round in September 2020, to enable further product innovation, exploring and building new business verticals and to expand Freeletics' global footprint. With its AI-powered and hyper-personalized digital fitness and lifestyle coaching, Freeletics has continued to disrupt a multi-billion-dollar industry which, before the company's existence, had been dominated by stationary gyms and exclusive personal trainers. Aside from its financial success, the company has grown exponentially across the board. With almost one million users in early 2014, today the Freeletics app has over 52 million users in more than 175 countries. The company has continued to build on its product portfolio, also launching an e-commerce platform. With exciting things in the pipeline, Freeletics continues to strive to innovate and disrupt the digital fitness industry. Daniel has enabled and guided Freeletics to become the creator of one of the world's most popular fitness apps, inspiring and challenging people all over the world to become the greatest versions of themselves, both mentally and physically. And this is just the beginning.

Today I'm joined by Akin Akman and Angela Manuel-Davis, co-founders of AARMY — a digital and in-person fitness concept. In this episode, the team explains how AARMY accelerated its digital transformation during the pandemic. We also talk about the importance of building community in a virtual environment. And we discuss the company's hybrid offering that includes studios, pop-ups, digital content, and potentially hardware. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider helps operators stay informed and make better decisions. We produce a weekly newsletter and podcast, curate an industry jobs board, and invest in early-stage companies. *** Subscribe to our newsletter: https://insider.fitt.co/newsletter/ *** Visit the jobs board: https://jobs.fitt.co/ *** View current investment and get in touch: https://insider.fitt.co/investments/ More from AARMY Akin Akman, Co-Founder & Chief Fitness Officer As a tennis prodigy, Akin began his athlete journey at age 7 at the world-renowned IMG Academy training with legendary coach Nick Bollettieri. Akin has channeled all his years of training to create the signature AARMY Method, based on an authentic world-class athlete training philosophy. Transforming people from diverse backgrounds and different levels of fitness into true athletes has not only become Akin's passion, it is also the hallmark of his brand making him widely considered the world's #1 group fitness coach. Angela Manuel-Davis, Co-Founder & Chief Motivation Officer Angela is one of the world's leading fitness coaches and most inspiring motivational speakers. Angela's love of sports began early and directly from her family. The daughter of a legendary professional baseball coach, Angela went on to become a track star and Olympic trial semi-finalist. One of the world's top 25 100 meter runners, Angela knows firsthand how a strong foundation of practice, goal setting, and focus can build strength in every part of life. She blends the transformative power of sport and spirituality to encourage a purpose-driven life in each one of her athletes.

Today I'm joined by Jeff Veldhuizen, CEO of Capti — a game-based smart bike. In this episode, we discuss Capti's immersive gaming experience. Jeff explains how Capti differs from other connected equipment makers. And he shares the company's long-term goal of powering fitness in the metaverse. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider helps operators stay informed and make better decisions. We produce a weekly newsletter and podcast, curate an industry jobs board, and invest in early-stage companies. Subscribe to our newsletter: https://insider.fitt.co/newsletter/ Visit the jobs board: https://jobs.fitt.co/ View current investment and get in touch: https://insider.fitt.co/investments/ More from Jeff A respected leader in health and fitness, Jeff's career range includes general manager of high-growth businesses, growth marketer, strategist, and operator in CPG, CE, Sporting Goods, e-commerce, and connected fitness. A tech-driven marketing and direct-to-consumer executive, Jeff has been an integral part of shaping some of the world's most recognizable brands and their online presence. https://capti.co/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-veldhuizen/ https://www.instagram.com/capti_bike/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/capti-fit/ https://www.facebook.com/CaptiSmartBike

Today I'm joined by Marc Maurer, co-CEO of On — a Swiss-engineered performance footwear and apparel company. In this episode, we discuss the company's recent IPO, including growth opportunities in retail and direct-to-consumer channels. Marc explains how On combines performance, design, and sustainability to stand out in a crowded market. And he shares the company's mission to ignite the human spirit through movement. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider helps operators stay informed and make better decisions. We produce a weekly newsletter and podcast, curate an industry jobs board, and invest in early-stage companies. Subscribe to our newsletter: https://insider.fitt.co/newsletter/ Visit the jobs board: https://jobs.fitt.co/ View current investment and get in touch: https://insider.fitt.co/investments/ More from Marc Marc Maurer has served as the Co-Chief Executive Officer of On since January 2021. Marc joined On in March 2013 and served as the Chief Operating Officer since joining the brand. Prior to joining On, Marc served as Head of Business Development and Marketing for Valora Retail, a publicly-traded European retail company, from April 2012 to March 2013, where he was responsible for driving the company's business development strategy. Marc also worked at McKinsey & Company as an Engagement Manager, from April 2007 to March 2012. Marc serves as a Board Member of the Swiss Entrepreneurs & Startup Association since 2020. Marc holds a Master's in Business Administration from INSEAD.

Today I'm joined by Kimberly Ang, co-founder and CEO of KAYA — an app for rock climbers. In this episode, Kim shares the company's vision for building the Strava of rock climbing, including a premium subscription, increasing access to climbing, democratizing mentorship, and helping grow participation in the sport. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider helps operators stay informed and make better decisions. We produce a weekly newsletter and podcast, curate an industry jobs board, and invest in early-stage companies. Subscribe to our newsletter: https://insider.fitt.co/newsletter/ Visit the jobs board: https://jobs.fitt.co/ View current investment and get in touch: https://insider.fitt.co/investments/ More from Kimberly Kimberly is Co-Founder & CEO of KAYA, the climber's app. An avid climber for 10+ years, she's passionate about shaping KAYA to drive the growth of climbing and help every climber stay inspired, connected, and progressing. Founded in 2019 with a team of climber technologists, KAYA has quickly grown to become the largest network of climbers, gyms, and climbing areas in North America. Brands such as The North Face, Adidas, and USA Climbing partner with KAYA to run novel digital competitions and experiences. Kimberly has championed KAYA's values-led initiatives in diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability. Before co-founding KAYA, she was at IDEO, the global design and innovation firm. There she helped Fortune 500 companies stand up new brands and products in clean energy, health and wellness, and consumer technology sectors. Kimberly received her Masters in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago where she studied policy and sociology. She spent the first chapter of her career nerding out in public policy before opting for a more creative and entrepreneurial path. She now lives in Lake Tahoe, CA where she can stay close to her Bay Area roots while enjoying life in the mountains every day.

Today, I'm joined by Benjamin Nazarian, CEO of Therabody – a wellness technology company. In this episode, we discuss the rise of the recovery category. We explore Therabody's evolution from a single product—the Theragun–into a platform for pain management, as well as the company's transition into the consumer market. Plus, we look at emerging and adjacent verticals, including breathwork, contrast therapy, mental fitness, and more. More from Benjamin Benjamin Nazarian is the Chief Executive Officer of Therabody. Under his leadership, Therabody evolved from a single device - Theragun, which pioneered the percussive therapy category - into an ecosystem of products and solutions that help people perform better, recover faster, and manage pain as an alternative to traditional medicine. Benjamin spearheaded Therabody's global expansion to 10,000 retail locations in more than 60 countries. His commitment to creating cutting-edge products and solutions that are available to everybody has been integral to Therabody's rapid growth and has established Therabody as a leader in the wellness industry. Prior to Therabody, Benjamin spent much of his career as a Managing Partner of Omninet Capital, where he still serves on the investment committee. Benjamin graduated from the University of Southern California (USC), with a Bachelor of Science in accounting and received his Juris Doctorate from the Law Center at USC. He currently resides in Los Angeles. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider is a platform for entrepreneurs, executives, and investors redefining the business of fitness and wellness. From our newsletter and podcast to our industry-specific jobs board, we create content and resources to drive the industry forward. We also invest in early-stage health and fitness companies. For more, visit: https://insider.fitt.co/

Today, I'm joined by Jordan Fliegel. An experienced entrepreneur and investor, we talk about Jordan's role at Techstars Sports, his investment fund, Founders First, and his time as founder of CoachUp and co-CEO of Draft.com. The conversation also covers emerging opportunities in the Sports Tech category, as well as Jordan's framework for evaluating companies and founders. More from Jordan Jordan Fliegel (born 1986) is an American tech entrepreneur and investor, focused on the sports industry. Techstars Sports - Fliegel is currently Managing Director of the Techstars Sports Accelerator, which he launched in 2019. Techstars Sports invests $120k/company in 10 startups annually and provides mentorship, office space and hands-on support. The consortium of strategic partners backing the accelerator includes the Next Level Fund, Pacers Sports & Entertainment, NCAA, Indiana Sports Corp, Indianapolis Colts, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway/IndyCar. The accelerator has 30 portfolio companies, including Ergatta, which raised $30M at a $200M valuation in 2021. Founders First - Fliegel is an investor in over 150 startups as Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Founders First, a vertical-agnostic early-stage angel fund and syndicate. Portfolio companies include Carta, Dapper Labs, Ramp, Fight Camp, MMHMM, Mparticle, Digits, Botkeeper, Merit, HqO, etc) Draft.com - Fliegel was previously co-CEO of Draft.com ("DRAFT"), a venture-backed fantasy sports company headquartered in NYC. In 2017, he sold DRAFT for $48M to Paddy Power Betfair. CoachUp.com - Fliegel was Founder and CEO (now Chairman) of CoachUp.com, the leading sports coaching platform with over 20,000 coaches, backed by $14M in venture capital and headquartered in Boston. NBA MVP Stephen Curry is Fliegel's partner and the lead spokesman at CoachUp. Pro Basketball – Fliegel played professional basketball in the Israeli Premier League, Israeli National League and EuroCup league, and in 2018 led a group that bought a double-digit minority stake in the ANBL 4X Champion New Zealand Breakers. Author - Fliegel writes and lectures on entrepreneurship, investing, and leadership and is the author of "Coaching Up!" (Wiley & Sons, 2016, with a foreword by NBA Champion Shane Battier). Awards - Fliegel and his companies were named Inc "30 under 30", Forbes "30 under 30", BBJ "40 under 40", and Finalist for Ernst & Young "New England Entrepreneur of the Year". Personal: Fliegel grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He earned a B.A. in Philosophy & Government from Bowdoin College, and an M.B.A. from Tel Aviv University. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider is a platform for entrepreneurs, executives, and investors redefining the business of fitness and wellness. From our newsletter and podcast to our industry-specific jobs board, we create content and resources to drive the industry forward. We also invest in early-stage health and fitness companies. For more, visit: https://insider.fitt.co/

Today, I'm joined by Phil Southerland, founder and CEO of Supersapiens — a company using continuous glucose monitoring to help athletes manage their energy levels. In this episode, we discuss advancements in glucose monitoring. Phil explains why the company is focused on endurance athletes and high performance. And he shares his vision for using sports as a platform to change the health of the world. More from Phil Phil Southerland was born in Tallahassee, Florida, and was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was only seven months old, the youngest case of diabetes on record in the world at that time. His parents were told that he would be dead or blind by 25. Fortunately, they were stubborn, and Phil had access to insulin, a knowledgeable medical team, and the latest in blood glucose monitoring tools. At six, he had the dream not to go blind and a drive to reach the A1C results needed. He discovered his love of the bike when he was 12. While attending the University of Georgia, he dreamed of combining his passion for cycling and his personal mission to raise awareness around diabetes. In 2005, Team Type 1 was founded, and by 2007 an all-diabetes cycling team not only won but set the world record in the 3,000-mile Race Across America. Under Phil's leadership, the dynamic squad rapidly grew from an amateur team to more than 100 athletes spanning the globe to inspire and unite people affected by diabetes and ranked in the top 25 professional cycling teams in the world in 2012. In late 2012, Phil and the team partnered with Novo Nordisk to create Team Novo Nordisk. The team is spearheaded by the world's first all-diabetes pro-cycling team and features a development team, elite team, and one female professional track star, Mandy Marquardt. Now in his late-thirties, Phil has dedicated his life to redefining what it means to live with diabetes and is driving a global movement to show the world how exercise can save the health of the world. "Exercise is the billion-dollar drug that rarely gets prescribed." Throughout his career, professional highlights include speaking at the United Nations on World Bicycle Day, leading a session at SXSW, and addressing audiences at ADA and AADE to speaking to one person at an event in Boise, Idaho. For Phil, the value isn't based on prestige as much as it is on impact. He is driven to make a difference in people's lives and approaches it one person at a time. To Phil, the bike has kept him alive for the past 25 years. While retired from professional racing, Phil regularly rides and still credits the bike for providing him with his continued health and sanity. Phil is a dedicated and proud father to three boys with wife, Dr. Biljana Southerland. In addition to the bike, Phil is a passionate skier and deep-water scuba diver. He calls Atlanta, Georgia home, and is a supporter of the High Museum. Phil is a former board member of Camp Kudzu, Hope Sports, and JDRF. He is a voracious reader and enjoys collecting rare wines and watches. Phil is the author of the book 'Not Dead Yet', which chronicles his life from early diagnosis of diabetes to professional cyclist and his mission to change the face of diabetes on a global scale. Southerland currently serves as the CEO and co-founder of Team Novo Nordisk, the world's first all-diabetes professional cycling team, and the founder and president of the non-profit Team Type 1 Foundation. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider is a platform for entrepreneurs, executives, and investors redefining the business of fitness and wellness. From our newsletter and podcast to our industry-specific jobs board, we create content and resources to drive the industry forward. We also invest in early-stage health and fitness companies. For more, visit: https://insider.fitt.co/

Today I'm joined by Ara Katz, co-founder & co-CEO of Seed Health — a microbial sciences company. In this episode, we discuss the microbiome and the many ways it impacts well-being. Ara explains Seed's approach to building a platform around studying and commercializing probiotics. And we talk about the differences between wellness, healthcare, and consumer life science. More from Ara A serial entrepreneur, advisor and angel investor, Ara Katz has eclectic experience at the intersection of health, tech, environment, media and design. She founded Seed Health to pioneer applications of microbes for both human and environmental health. Her work encompasses the translation of breakthrough science for a pipeline of probiotic innovations from discovery through commercialization across product, brand, insights, design-thinking, delivery technologies, industrial design, international DTC, new retail strategies, community, fundraising, channel expansion, business development and science communication. She spearheaded the company's $40MM fundraising to accelerate R+D and accelerate the company's pipeline beyond gut microbiome into microbial applications across dermatology, oral hygiene, pediatrics, women's health, infant health and nutrition. She brought the company carbon negative, to profitability, and led the acquisition of digital health ML company, Auggi. Ara is also a co-founder of Seed Health's environmental division, SeedLabs, and its first partner biotech company focused on women's health, LUCA Biologics. Their first therapeutic for rUTI enters the clinic in September 2021 followed by interventions for BV and Preterm Birth. Previously, Ara co-founded mobile commerce startup Spring, where she helped launch ApplePay on iPhone, and has invested in and advised companies across consumer, health and tech such as: RXDefine (TeleMed), C16 Biosciences (Sustainability), MindBodyGreen (Wellness), Mahmee (Maternal Care), Stadium Goods (Consumer / Marketplace), and Unicycle (Ed Tech). Ara was a Visiting Fellow at the MIT Media Lab, where she helped create the Center for Future Storytelling and CCA's Design Thinking MBA program. She has appeared on numerous podcasts like Rich Roll, Girlboss Radio, Welltodo, Commune and Broken Brain. She has been named in Marie Claire's 'The New Guard: The 50 Most Influential Women in America,' Business Insider's Silicon Alley 'Top 100' and '36 Rockstar Women in NYC Tech,' Create + Cultivate's '100 List for STEM,' and Women We Admire's 'Top 100 Women CEOs of 2021.' Her work has earned accolades such as Fast Company's World Changing Ideas 2019, 2020, and 2021,TIME's Best Inventions 2018, and a Webby Award for Best Use of Stories in 2020. She lives in Venice, California with her husband and five-year-old son, Pax (the reason Seed Health exists). She is passionate about the communication of science, the interplay of the environment and physical space, and the connecting of never before connected dots. Lastly, she's the proud owner of several tardigrades who live at Harvard's Museum of Natural History. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider is a platform for entrepreneurs, executives, and investors redefining the business of fitness and wellness. From our newsletter and podcast to our industry-specific jobs board, we create content and resources to drive the industry forward. We also invest in early-stage health and fitness companies. For more, visit: https://insider.fitt.co/

Today I'm joined by Tom Aulet, co-founder and CEO of Ergatta — a game-based connected rower. In this episode, Tom lays out the opportunity in creating fitness offerings that go beyond instructor-led, boutique-style classes. We talk about the company's approach to designing game-based content. And we discuss the potential for Ergatta to enter new categories in addition to rowing. More from Tom Tom is a teacher, turned economic analyst, turned enterprise software revenue leader, turned tech entrepreneur. After graduating from Vanderbilt with a degree in Spanish & Economics, Tom spent a year teaching English to high schoolers in Spain and then two years as an economic consultant at Cornerstone Research. Wanting something completely new, he then jumped to marketing software platform MediaMath where he did global enterprise deals, ran an EMEA & LATAM revenue team out of London, and eventually built and ran a global sales team. While struggling to find a practical and enjoyable fitness routine with a demanding job, Tom got the idea for Ergatta, partnered with his two favorite ex-colleagues and built the world's first game-based cardio machine. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider is a platform for entrepreneurs, executives, and investors redefining the business of fitness and wellness. From our newsletter and podcast to our industry-specific jobs board, we create content and resources to drive the industry forward. We also invest in early-stage health and fitness companies. For more, visit: https://insider.fitt.co/

Today I'm joined by Joey Gonzalez, the CEO of Barry's — a premium boutique fitness brand. In this episode, Joey shares his experience with the company, from customer and instructor to chief executive. We talk about Barry's X, the company's new digital platform, as well as Joey's vision for an omnichannel offering that includes partnering with connected fitness brands. Plus, we discuss the importance of building a values- and mission-driven company culture. More from Joey Joey Gonzalez is the CEO of Barry's, the original cardio and strength interval workout that began a global boutique fitness movement. His Barry's journey started in 2003, as a client in the iconic Red Room. He became an instructor soon after working his way up the ranks before finally taking the helm of the business as CEO in 2015. Since then, Gonzalez has dedicated his life to expanding the Barry's brand across the country and around the world, fostering diverse communities across 4 continents. Barry's now has 80 studios in 30 cities and 14 countries across the US, UK, France, Italy, Scandinavia, Mexico, Australia and South East Asia, and welcomes 150,000 people globally through its doors each week. In 2020, Gonzalez oversaw the creation of Barry's At-Home, an innovative virtual concept that allowed Barry's members to experience a digital workout with Barry's instructors from around the world, from the comfort of their own homes. Since launching, Barry's At-Home has held over 20,000 digitally streamed classes and seen over 800,000 faces on the screen. He also oversaw the opening of 18 outdoors studios in select markets across the country including New York City, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Boston, DC, Mexico City, and Miami. Under Gonzalez's stewardship, the brand has become known for its values of diversity and inclusivity, celebrating every member of Barry's global community through weekly diversity, inclusion and belonging workshops and initiatives such as United We Sprint, an annual celebration of World Pride month. In 2018, Gonzalez was named to Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business list and received CEO Award of the Year from North Castle Partners. He sits on the board of the Family Equality Council and is currently studying at Harvard Business School to earn his OPM degree. In 2020, Gonzalez was named EY Of The Year Greater Los Angeles' Entrepreneur of the Year. He currently resides in Miami, FL with his husband, daughter and son. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider is a platform for entrepreneurs, executives, and investors redefining the business of fitness and wellness. From our newsletter and podcast to our industry-specific jobs board, we create content and resources to drive the industry forward. We also invest in early-stage health and fitness companies. For more, visit: https://insider.fitt.co/

Today I'm joined by Jonathan Wolf, the co-founder and CEO of ZOE — a personalized nutrition company. In this episode, we talk about the gut microbiome, at-home test kits, and how ZOE helps people understand the impact different foods have on their well-being. We also discuss the benefits and challenges of a direct-to-consumer model versus seeking FDA approval for companies in the health diagnostic or wearables space. More from Jonathan Jonathan is the cofounder of health technology company ZOE. ZOE teaches you how your own body responds to food, based on personalized tests, AI and the largest in-depth nutritional study in the world carried out with Mass General Hospital, Stanford Medicine and King's College London. He is also the cofounder of ZOE's COVID Symptom Study, the largest study of COVID in the world with over 4 million users. The study is now funded by the UK government and provides real-time monitoring of COVID cases, support for vaccine trials and crucial scientific research with KCL such as papers in Nature Medicine on which symptoms predict COVID, the importance of anosmia and the first systematic study of long COVID. Previously he was Chief Product Officer at Criteo which was a 30 person start-up when he joined. Seven years later when he left it was public on NASDAQ, with over 2,000 people and over $1Bn revenue of revenue. In that time Jonathan built the product organization, created the publisher and midmarket sales organization, and opened the New York office. Prior to this Jonathan worked at Yahoo! Jonathan attended Oxford University where he received the Gibbs prize for Physics and was President of the Oxford Union, and was then at Harvard. He has been a Foundation Fellow at Corpus Christi College Oxford since 2015. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider is a platform for entrepreneurs, executives, and investors redefining the business of fitness and wellness. From our newsletter and podcast to our industry-specific jobs board, we create content and resources to drive the industry forward. We also invest in early-stage health and fitness companies. For more, visit: https://insider.fitt.co/

Today I'm joined by Echelon Fitness CEO Lou Lentine. In this episode, we discuss the company's growing connected fitness platform — including smart bikes, treadmills, rowers, and interactive workout mirrors. Lou explains how Echelon was able to build partnerships with 12K retailers, including Walmart, Target, and Costco. Plus, he talks about the company's plan to release gaming-inspired content and strength training equipment in an effort to become the hub for at-home fitness. More from Lou Lou Lentine embodies the very definition of an entrepreneur. By the age of thirty, he built a $30 million dollar consumer products business. Today, he stands as the CEO of Echelon Fitness and President and founder of Viatek Consumer Products Group. Echelon Fitness, is raising the bar on at-home connected fitness by making wellness accessible and affordable for everyone. From state-of-the-art indoor cycling bikes to first-in-class touchscreen fitness mirrors, auto-folding treadmill and smart rowers, Echelon incorporates thoughtful design and smart innovation into personalized workouts that fit into your active life, when it's convenient for you. Members can join a variety of live and on-demand classes led by down-to-earth personal fitness instructors who are there to help you stay balanced and reach your wellness goals. You can even track your performance against Echelon's live leaderboard and beat your personal best while cycling, boxing, strength training, cardio, yoga and more. Viatek Consumer Products Group is a company that has developed solution-oriented merchandise that has attracted major retailers and TV Shopping Networks. His high level of corporate citizenship and exemplary talent within the sales industry has allowed Viatek to establish partnerships around the globe and distribute products in seventy countries spanning five continents. Some of his numerous honors and recognitions include: the World Trade Book of Honor Award, Exporter of the Year Award, Deloitte & Touche Fast 50 for Central Florida & Fast 500 USA, University of Central Florida Alumni of the Year, and a Nomination for the Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young. Lou Lentine believes that the frontier of innovation starts with an idea. Developing products that make sense or solve a common problem is one of his biggest passions. In his opinion, watching a product blossom from an idea to a reality, to ultimately landing in the hands of a happy customer is the biggest success any inventor can reach. No stranger to direct response TV, Lou Lentine developed some of the most popular items on TV including the Hurricane Spin Mop, a revolutionary mopping system that cleans floors throughout the home without the use of harsh detergents which then landed on the shelves of major retail giants including Walmart, Target, Walgreens, and CVS. The Hurricane went on to be distributed in over 30 countries. Among his other notable inventions, the patented Renu-it Battery Regenerator, a Home Shopping Network's special, sold nearly 2 million units worldwide; Mighty Jump — an emergency car jump starter sold millions of units globally. Lentine and his affiliated companies have been developing and inventing products since 1992. He began promoting his products on television in 1996, including on HSN, the Shopping Channel Canada, QVC, USA, QVC UK, QVC Germany, and Shop TV Japan. He moved his business to Chattanooga in 2011. He has filed for more than 100 patents. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider is a newsletter and podcast on the business of fitness and wellness. Join industry-leading operators and investors by subscribing: http://insider.fitt.co

Today I'm joined by Juliet and Kelly Starrett, the husband and wife team behind The Ready State – the company that pioneered mobility training. In this episode, we talk about the evolution of their business, from a CrossFit gym to a Youtube channel and a variety of coaching products, including a digital subscription, educational courses, speaking, and consulting. We also discuss the fitness industrial complex as it relates to the booming fitness industry but widening health gap — along with how Juliet and Kelly think about increasing access and improving outcomes. More from Kelly and Juliet Kelly Starrett: Kelly is the co-founder (with his wife Juliet) and Chief Creative Officer of The Ready State Inc., which pioneered musculoskeletal self-care and recovery. Kelly is also the co-author of the New York Times bestsellers Becoming a Supple Leopard and Ready to Run and the Wall Street Journal bestseller Deskbound. Kelly was also the co-founder of San Francisco CrossFit, the 21st CrossFit affiliate. Kelly consults with athletes and coaches from the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB the US Olympic Team and CrossFit works with elite Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard forces, and consults with corporations on employee health and well-being. Dr. Starrett's work is not limited to coaches and athletes; his methods apply equally well to children, desk jockeys, and anyone dealing with injury and chronic pain. He believes that every human being should know how to move and be able to perform basic maintenance on themselves. Juliet Starrett: Juliet Starrett is an entrepreneur, attorney, author, and podcaster. She is the co-founder and CEO of The Ready State Inc, which has pioneered musculoskeletal self-care and recovery. She is also the former co-founder and CEO of San Francisco CrossFit, one of the first 50 CrossFit affiliates. Juliet is the co-author of the Wall Street Journal Bestseller, Deskbound and co-host of The Ready State Podcast. Before turning her attention to The Ready State and San Francisco CrossFit full-time, Juliet was a professional whitewater paddler, winning 3 World Championship and 5 national titles. She also had a successful career as an attorney, practicing complex commercial litigation at Reed Smith for nearly eight years. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider is a newsletter and podcast on the business of fitness and wellness. Join industry-leading operators and investors by subscribing: http://insider.fitt.co

Today I'm joined by Chip Hawkins, Founder and Chairman of Wahoo Fitness — a fitness technology for indoor cycling and endurance training. In this episode, we discuss Wahoo's evolution from a single product used to track cycling stats to an indoor bike trainer and now a variety of devices and accessories for endurance athletes. Chip also talks about his approach to product development and the importance of staying innovative. Plus, we look at the opportunities and challenges in content, software, and building a fully integrated platform. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider is a newsletter and podcast on the business of fitness and wellness. Join industry-leading operators and investors by subscribing: http://insider.fitt.co

Today I'm joined by Bryan Myers, the President & CEO of [solidcore] — a Pilates-based boutique fitness brand with more than 70 locations across the US. In this episode, Bryan talks about transitioning into the CEO role earlier this year. Then, we discuss COVID's impact on the business, raising new capital to support expansion, and [solidcore]'s digital partnership with Equinox+. Bryan also shares his approach to building culture and persisting through the pandemic. More from Bryan Bryan is the President & Chief Executive Officer for [solidcore] boutique fitness and a trained [solidcore] Coach. In his role as CEO, Bryan is responsible for setting and executing strategy focused on growth and building a strong, inclusive, and nationwide community of clients and employees. Prior to joining the [solidcore] team as COO in 2018, Bryan was a member of the leadership team of sweetgreen, the national leader in the healthy fast-casual category. He joined sweetgreen in 2014 as Director of Finance and, over the course of 4 years, wore many hats including his final role as VP of Development, helping the company grow from a regional chain of 22 restaurants to 90 locations nationally. Bryan began his career as a consultant for The Boston Consulting Group, providing strategic advice to Fortune 500 companies on topics of growth, organizational design, and operational transformation. When Bryan isn't sweating it out on [sweatlana], you can find him immersed in the many, amazing performance venues in the DC area. Bryan is also passionate about finding ways to give back to the community and currently serves on the Board of the Ridley Scholars Foundation, an organization that provides financial and mentorship support to high-achieving African-American students. In 2020, Bryan was recognized by the Washington Business Journal as a Minority Business Leader honoree. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider is a newsletter and podcast on the business of fitness and wellness. Join industry-leading operators and investors by subscribing: http://insider.fitt.co

Today I'm joined by Mark Mullett and Ashley Mills, the co-founders and co-CEOs of obé — a premium digital fitness platform offering live and on-demand workouts. In this episode, Mark and Ashley explain how their background in talent management and experience at CAA led them to start obé. We discuss the role of content, community, and instructors on the platform, as well as the company's plan to host in-person events. And we talk about obe's new $15M funding round that included CAVU Venture Partners, Athleta, WW, and Samsung NEXT. Fitt Insider also invested in obe's latest round. We're excited to support the company as they continue to expand the platform. More from Mark and Ashley Mark is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of obé, a premium at-home fitness platform that offers live and on-demand workouts. An entertainment industry veteran, Mark has spent 10+ years representing television's top talent and content creators across different platforms. Mark began his career at William Morris Agency on their television and lifestyle team before accepting a position at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in 2014. He has worked with household names such as Dr. Oz and Nick Cannon, multimillion dollar brands such as Bethenny Frankel's SkinnyGirl and content creators such as Machete, while working closely with content providers such as Bravo, Food Network, and Fox. Ashley is the Co-Founder of obé, a premium at-home fitness platform that offers live and on-demand workouts. An entertainment industry veteran, Ashley spent the last 10+ years representing television's top talent and content providers across network and digital platforms. Ashley began her career at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), and eventually came to lead the lifestyle talent department, where she was responsible for recruiting top talent, building out television and digital platforms and overseeing endorsement and licensing businesses. Mark and Ashley spent the greater part of their careers selling programming to a millennial-minded consumer, developing a deep understanding of what she values. As exercise fanatics, they quickly realized a large portion of this demographic was being underserved in the fitness category. This consumer wanted access to varied, premium fitness experiences led by the best talent in the business that didn't come with a Park Avenue zip code or price tag. Mark and Ashley set out to democratize the boutique fitness experience for a captive audience, while emphasizing accountability and community as key elements for a workout routine. obé was born in March 2018. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider is a newsletter and podcast on the business of fitness and wellness. Join industry-leading operators and investors by subscribing: http://insider.fitt.co

Today I'm joined by Eric Roza, the owner and CEO of CrossFit. In this episode, Eric shares his vision for the company's future. We cover the role of technology, growing the CrossFit Games, and new initiatives across eCommerce, direct-to-consumer fitness content, and healthcare. We also discuss the obstacles he's facing as he tries to turn around the embattled brand. Plus, Eric talks about how a cold email and handshake deal led to him taking over the company. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider is a newsletter and podcast on the business of fitness and wellness. Join industry-leading operators and investors by subscribing: http://insider.fitt.co

Today I'm joined by Chloe Steinberg. Chloe is a partner at Sapphire Sport, a venture capital platform investing in companies powering the next generation of consumers. In this episode, we talk about Chloe's experience at Equinox, where she led Equinox Ventures. We discuss Gen Z's approach to wellness, including a broader shift toward a healthier lifestyle. And Chloe shares her framework for separating fads from sustainable health and fitness businesses. More from Chloe Chloe Steinberg is a partner at Sapphire Sport, where she focuses on investing in early-stage companies shaping the future of consumption. Chloe has deep industry expertise in the health & wellness sector, stemming from her 5+ years as an operator and investor with the Equinox Group of Brands. During that time, Chloe launched and led Equinox Ventures, the group's investment arm focused on high-performance living. She also supported Business Development & new business incubation, including the launch of Equinox Media in 2020. Earlier in her career, Chloe cofounded Vayner Capital in partnership with Gary Vaynerchuk and was a member of the investment team at Insight Venture Partners, where she focused on consumer tech and enterprise software investments. Chloe is deeply passionate about people doing work they love so in her free time, she founded and runs ExclusiveJobs, a not-for-profit, bespoke talent placement network in the consumer sector. Chloe graduated magna cum laude from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where she played varsity lacrosse. She was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for Venture Capital in 2020. A Baltimore native, Chloe now resides in Westport, CT with her husband and son. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider is a newsletter and podcast on the business of fitness and wellness. Join industry-leading operators and investors by subscribing: http://insider.fitt.co

Today I'm joined by Aaron de Jong, CEO of movr — an app that makes healthy movement more accessible for everyone. In this episode, we talk about Aaron's journey from fitness instructor and studio owner to startup founder. We discuss the company's approach to improving mobility and strength through movement assessment and mini-workouts. And Aaron shares his plan to bring movr's technology to other fitness platforms. Disclosure: We're investors in movr, and we're excited to support Aaron and team on their mission to promote healthy movement. More from Aaron Aaron de Jong is the founder of the movr app an exercise prescription tool built to help you move and feel better every day. He has a B. Ed in Physical Education, over a decade of experience as a personal and group strength instructor in his studio in Vancouver, and is a current lululemon Train Ambassador. Aaron enjoys finding ways to move his body, whether it's outdoors, trail runs, on his road bike, or moving kettlebells around. Stumbling through life with dry humor, eating popcorn, playing with his newborn daughter, and educating people how they can improve their health are all passions of Aaron's. You can reach out to Aaron direct [email protected] or by downloading movr to your smart device. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider is a newsletter and podcast on the business of fitness and wellness. Join industry-leading operators and investors by subscribing: http://insider.fitt.co

Today I'm joined by Kelsey Ramsden, CEO of MINDCURE — a life sciences company using psychedelics to promote healing and improve mental health. In this episode, we discuss the psychedelic revolution, including shifts in science and culture paving the way. Kelsey explains the challenges and opportunities facing operators and investors in this space. And she talks about MINDCURE's efforts to build digital therapeutics that support psychedelic-assisted therapies. More from Kelsey With over fifteen years founding, scaling, and operating innovative companies across Canada and the Caribbean, Ramsden is recognized globally for building multiple, multimillion-dollar businesses both on and offline. She earned the honor of being named Canada's Top Female Entrepreneur – twice. She serves on the Entrepreneurship Council for the University of Western Ontario and holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. She is a renowned thought leader and published author. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider is a newsletter and podcast on the business of fitness and wellness. Join industry-leading operators and investors by subscribing: http://insider.fitt.co

Today I'm joined by Omer Atesmen, Founder and CEO of The Skills — an online education platform offering courses taught by the world's best athletes. In this episode, Omer explains how the company was able to partner with athletes like Michael Phelps, Maria Sharapova, and Megan Rapinoe. We discuss the challenges and opportunities in EdTech, including content production and competitors like MasterClass. And Omer shares his plan for building the definitive education platform in the sports and wellness space. More from Omer Omer is a proven entrepreneur with a combination of high-growth startup and management consulting experience. He previously founded and grew Clean Energy Experts with zero external investment to 150+ employees, $30M+ revenue, and 20% net income before selling the company to Sunrun. Omer attended Stanford for his BS/MS and Kellogg for his MBA. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider is a newsletter and podcast on the business of fitness and wellness. Join industry-leading operators and investors by subscribing: http://insider.fitt.co

Today I'm joined by Sam Cole, co-founder & CEO of FitXR — a virtual fitness club bringing fun and immersive workouts to the home. In this episode, Sam breaks down the innovation happening in virtual reality. We talk about the potential for VR fitness to make working out fun and engaging for an entirely new audience beyond exercise enthusiasts. And we discuss the future of personalization, community, and group workouts in VR. More from Sam Sam is the CEO and a co-founder of FitXR. Sam began his career as a management consultant at PwC in Auckland, New Zealand and then worked in private equity after moving to London in 2014. As a firm believer of the benefits of regular exercise for physical and mental health, Sam has always kept fit. Since the conception of VR, he has had a vision of delivering immersive fitness through VR to motivate people to keep fit, by providing access to guided workouts and programs in a highly personalized environment. After meeting Sameer at business school, they decided to launch FitXR to deliver this vision together. Sam holds a bachelor's degree in law and finance from Otago University. He earned his MBA from Cambridge University. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider is a newsletter and podcast on the business of fitness and wellness. Join industry-leading operators and investors by subscribing: http://insider.fitt.co

Today I'm joined by Josh McCarter, CEO of Mindbody — a business management software for fitness and wellness services. In this episode, we discuss COVID's impact on the fitness industry. Josh explains how the company navigated the pandemic, including layoffs, his transition to CEO, and the launch of virtual experiences. And we talk about the future of fitness, including digital content, the role of fitness professionals, and the return to exercising in person. More from Josh Josh McCarter is CEO of Mindbody, the leading technology platform for the fitness, wellness, and beauty industries. Mindbody's technology powers tens of thousands of wellness businesses, including industry-leading brands such as OTF, F45, and DryBar. In addition to helping these businesses deliver authentic experiences to their clients, Mindbody has built the world's largest wellness marketplace, where millions of consumers find and book in-person and virtual wellness classes and appointments in the U.S. every month. Josh joined Mindbody in 2018 as chief strategy officer following the company's acquisition of Booker, where he had served as CEO and co-founder. Prior to taking over as CEO at Mindbody, Josh served as the company's president. Josh graduated cum laude with a BA in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and received his MBA from the Marshall School of Business at USC (and yes, he recognizes the conflict of interest!). He has held board positions with Booker, SpaFinder, several Autobytel subsidiaries, Young Presidents' Organization (YPO), and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). As a result of his youngest daughter's diagnosis with type 1 diabetes in 2009, his family has been dedicated to finding a cure by supporting a variety of type 1 causes, most recently Beyond Type 1. When not working, Josh is an avid adventurer, having traveled to more than 50 countries and traversed the U.S. on his Harley-Davidson. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider is a newsletter and podcast on the business of fitness and wellness. Join industry-leading operators and investors by subscribing: http://insider.fitt.co

Today I'm joined by McConnell Smith of VMG Partners — a private equity firm focused on growth-stage investments. In this episode, we explore emerging opportunities across fitness and wellness. We discuss VMG's new $850M fund, including the firm's approach to backing consumer- and health-focused brands. And McConnell talks about VMG's investment in [solidcore] — a Pilates-based boutique fitness concept. More from McConnell McConnell is a partner at VMG Partners, a growth equity fund focused on partnering with emerging, high-growth, health and wellness focused consumer brands. He has worked closely with a number of VMG's investments, including [solidcore], Quest, Sun Bum, Nutpods, Justin's, Solid Gold, Vermont Smoke & Cure, and Hello Bello, among others. McConnell joined VMG in 2016 and focuses on the nutrition, wellness, and fitness categories. Prior to VMG, he worked in the consumer investment banking groups at Piper Sandler and KeyBanc Capital Markets, and before that was a member of L'Oreal's supply chain finance team. McConnell grew up in Cleveland and attended Yale University where he played (quite poorly) wide receiver on the Yale football team. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider is a newsletter and podcast on the business of fitness and wellness. Join industry-leading operators and investors by subscribing: http://insider.fitt.co

Today I'm joined by Eric Wu. Eric is the Co-founder and COO of Gainful, makers of personalized nutritional supplements. In this episode, Eric shares his journey from Y Combinator to raising $10M in venture capital. We discuss the opportunities and consolidation in the personalized nutrition category. And Eric explains why he believes Gainful could be a billion-dollar company. More from Eric Eric Wu is the co-founder and COO of Gainful. He started the company as an undergrad at Georgetown University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude from the School of Foreign Service. Eric led Gainful as CEO from 2017 until 2020, participating in YCombinator and growing the company to 8-figure annual revenue. Prior to Gainful, Eric worked in digital marketing at Hatch (consumer hardware), completed a fellowship with True Ventures (an SF-based venture capital firm), and served as COO of The Hilltop Microfinance Initiative, a DC-based nonprofit focused on empowering low-income and immigrant entrepreneurs. More from Fitt Insider Fitt Insider is a newsletter and podcast on the business of fitness and wellness. Join industry-leading operators and investors by subscribing: http://insider.fitt.co