The $1.8 trillion global wellness market, coupled with advancements in biometric tracking and health technology, has investors banking on the future of wellness.

Renowned cyclist and endurance athlete Lance Armstrong’s Next Ventures is the latest VC fund to get in on the wellness craze, targeting $100 million — its first fund in almost five years — to invest in whole-person health, preventive care and diagnostics.

Next Ventures managing partner Julian Eison, was forthright:

“We said, hey, this whole consumerization of health is omnipresent,” Eison told PitchBook, which reported on Next Ventures’ plans to write pre-seed, seed and Series A checks with an average check size of $2 million. 

It’s a viewpoint shared by other leading investors and experts.

As Jon Canarick of North Castle Partners, Mark Grabowski of Snapdragon Capital Partners and Lance Dietz of KB Partners shared during Athletech News’ DISRUPT 2023 video series, there is an overall sense of optimism surrounding the health, fitness and wellness markets. 

“I think almost universally there’s growth in consumer expenditure in health and wellness across multiple categories,” Grabowski said, noting that the industry as a whole is on an “upward trajectory.” 

Wearables Track More Than Just Fitness

He also indicated that health and fitness trackers have even more runway, especially with consumers embracing preventive wellness practices. Advancing technology also means that wearables no longer cater to elite athletes or weekend warriors. Instead, consumers of all ages and in any health condition can track their health metrics, widening the available consumer market.

“When you think of everything from blood testing to stool samples, there you’re actually addressing some different issues,” Grabowski pointed out. “It’s not about, ‘Am I optimizing my workout performance?’ It’s about allergies, chronic issues, immune responses and other things that people are dealing with.” 

Investors are taking note, with Ultrahuman’s multi-device ecosystem the latest funding recipient. The company just secured $35 million in a Series B to advance its health monitoring endeavors, which include a smart ring, a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), a ‘Blood Vision’ system and an upcoming home health device that assesses environmental impacts on well-being. 

Next Ventures’ portfolio touts some notable health and wellness names, including smart ring brand Oura, AI wearable company Humane and Genopets, a move-to-earn game. The VC fund also invested in Utah-based Amp Human in 2019, maker of PR Lotion, which merged with Momentous, a ‘human performance” supplement brand.

As for Oura, the smart ring maker is expected to enter a “health-focused” chapter, having recently welcomed an executive from the Apple Health team and signing a deal to make its wearable device FSA/HSA eligible. 

Wellness CPGs Gain Steam, Too

Tech may always be a hot area for its jaw-dropping capabilities that seem to advance each week, but good old consumer packaged goods have been receiving the attention of investors, too — especially those in the wellness categories. 

Even major retailers like Target are banking on the wellness wave, introducing over 1,000 health-supporting products across all verticals. For good reason, too: consumers have not only become more health-conscious, but GLP-1 users have redirected their spending away from unhealthy items and toward wellness purchases.

Bloom Nutrition, a supplement brand in the greens and superfoods category recently scored a major investment from C4 maker Nutrabolt. 

Health and wellness guru/A-lister Gwyneth Paltrow, no stranger to all things green juice and longevity-supporting, is also eyeing the power of products with wide appeal. The goop founder has turned feeling good into a profitable brand, catering to the masses with a new line of budget-friendly wellness and beauty products, a departure from goop’s higher-priced items. 

Paltrow’s Los Angeles-based VC firm, Kinship Ventures, has reportedly sought to raise $75 million for its debut fund, eyeing early-stage consumer goods and tech companies.

Over on the East Coast, Humble Growth, a N.Y.-based growth equity firm launched by an all-star team that includes RxBar founder Peter Rahal, secured over $312 million for its debut. Earlier this year, Humble Growth acquired a significant minority stake in Momentous in a deal worth $32 million.

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Ultrahuman, a wearable tech company with products such as a habit-tracking ring, a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and an upcoming home health device, has secured $35 million in a Series B equity and debt funding round to fuel growth and support advanced research in the health monitoring space. 

Emerging technology is making it easier than ever for consumers to take proactive health measures as metabolic health takes center stage, especially with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearing the first over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor (CGM) this month.

Ultrahuman, which has expanded into over 150 retail outlets worldwide, says it’s on track to exceed $100 million in annualized revenue run rate by the end of the year — and things are just heating up.

The Bangalore, India-based wearable tech brand plans to expand UltraFactory, its manufacturing facility, to ramp up production of its health-supporting devices.

“Our ability to make long-term manufacturing investments, supported by our profitability, is unique in the smart rings market,” said Mohit Kumar, co-founder of Ultrahuman. He launched the company in 2020 alongside co-founder Vatsal Singhal after being inspired by seeing MMA athletes using data to train and recover.

The Series B round marks a pivotal step forward to dominate the smart rings space, Kumar said, adding that Ultrahuman has the goal of becoming the market leader, with the retail expansion having helped the tech brand reach new audiences.  

“Our vision of being the top player in terms of both active devices and geographic presence is within reach, thanks to our rapid expansion and the love we’ve received from our users,” Kumar continued.

The funding round included participation from VC firms Blume Ventures, Steadview Capital, Nexus Venture Partners, Alpha Wave and Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal.

Multi-Device Health

The wearable tech market may be crowded, but the centerpiece of Ultrahuman (and what sets it apart from competitors) is its multi-device health ecosystem — one in which the company says can create a “grand unified view of the human body” by gathering a large set of biomarkers on its integrated platform. It’s a differentiating factor that expands Ultrahuman past the pure smart ring space.

“The future of health is integrated, and at Ultrahuman, we’re making that future a reality today by seamlessly combining various health data streams to empower preventative health and wellness,” Kumar said.

However, smart rings have proven to still be a hot device. Last month, Samsung entered the wearable ring space with its Galaxy Ring to compete with market leader Oura, which itself is signaling the same move as Ultrahuman and deepening its push into the health-tech space.  

A crowded space, indeed — and that’s before Apple has even taken a shot at the wearable ring space. Industry experts have anticipated the tech giant joining Oura and Samsung, especially when considering Apple’s patent filings. 

Ultrahuman appears to be going beyond wearables, having announced Blood Vision, a blood test that correlates sleep changes, resting heart rate, HRV and movement trends with markers in the blood.

The company provides an example of how it would work, where the system can ascertain how an improvement such as sleep quality may influence an LDL marker — the goal being for users to fully see the connection between their lifestyle habits and their blood markers. Over time, users can track the progression of certain health markers, receiving a true “behind the curtain” look at their health.

Next Up: Healthy Homes

As the at-home environment is predicted to become the epicenter of the wellness real estate market and its projected expansion to $887.5 billion by 2027, Ultrahuman’s upcoming ‘Home’ device perfectly aligns with Global Wellness Summit’s top forecasted trend for 2024.

The silent, low-profile device will soon be available for pre-order and promises to optimize living spaces by monitoring daily markers that impact health — everything from exposure to artificial light, air quality, humidity and noise levels.

Users can also gain insights into snoring and sleep quality and optimize their sleep environment by analyzing external temperature. An airplane mode allows users to shut off wifi and Bluetooth, while a smoke sensor can alert users of a fire.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared the Dexcom Stelo Glucose Biosensor System, the first over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor (CGM), as awareness of metabolic health continues to gain steam. 

The system will become available to purchase online without a prescription this summer. 

The wearable Stelo Glucose Biosensor System is designed for those 18 years and older who don’t use insulin and either treat diabetes with oral medications or don’t have a diabetes diagnosis but are interested in seeing firsthand how diet and exercise impact their blood sugar levels.

Using a small sensor worn on the back of the upper arm, Stelo continuously measures, records, analyzes and displays glucose values every 15 minutes when connected to an app. Users can wear each sensor for up to 15 days before replacement.

Stelo isn’t designed for those with “problematic hypoglycemia” since it won’t provide the necessary alerts. 

Although Dexcom notes that Stelo users shouldn’t take medical action based on the device’s findings without consulting with a healthcare professional, the health tech company says the glucose biosensor system can help users understand how modifications such as diet and exercise can impact glucose excursion. 

Considering that approximately one in three American adults have prediabetes — a staggering 80% of whom don’t know they have it —  Stelo can serve as an invaluable tool, underscored by its ease of accessibility. It’s a stance that appears to be shared by the FDA.

“CGMs can be a powerful tool to help monitor blood glucose,” said Jeff Shuren, M.D., J.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “Today’s clearance expands access to these devices by allowing individuals to purchase a CGM without the involvement of a healthcare provider.

“Giving more individuals valuable information about their health, regardless of their access to a doctor or health insurance, is an important step forward in advancing health equity for U.S. patients,” Shuren continued.

While a price hasn’t been mentioned yet, one William Blair analyst estimates Stelo may cost around $90 a month and that consumers could use their healthcare savings accounts to offset the expense.

Consumers Embrace Wearables for Health

By all accounts, consumers are entering a new era of health and wellness. The pandemic may have inspired health and wellness, but it also led to skyrocketing sales of pulse oximeters, perhaps a testament to how much consumers have come to rely on monitoring devices beyond fitness and activity trackers.

Instead of simple trackers, companies such as Whoop bill their technology as ‘human performance,’ leaning into AI and providing biometric data points across sleep, recovery, stress and strain.

Smart ring maker Oura is also invested in the glucose realm, having partnered with CGM platforms Veri, Supersapiens and January AI to offer insights into sleep and glucose biomarkers.

One wearable tech startup, Signos, raised $20 million last year as it looks to disrupt the medicated weight loss and metabolic space by using Dexcom CGMs to provide real-time diet and workout recommendations based on the readings with its app.  

The CGM Market Heats Up

Although Stelo may be the first CGM cleared for over-the-counter purchase, the CGM space is expected to become increasingly competitive. Abbott’s first consumer biowearable, Lingo, is currently being rolled out across the U.K. with ambitions of receiving a green light for the U.S. market. Similar to Stelo, it tracks glucose levels and provides personalized insights in response.

“Our mood, weight, energy levels and ability to focus are all connected to our individual glucose levels, which rise and fall in response to the food we eat, hours of sleep, regular exercise, and even life’s daily stresses,” said Lily Soutter, a nutritionist in Abbott’s Lingo division. “Improving your metabolic health by tracking your glucose levels over a meaningful period of time can motivate you to implement changes to better manage those spikes and dips, ultimately benefiting your health and well-being.”

Meanwhile, companies like Roche are forging a new frontier in diabetes management and the CGM space using predictive AI for its Accu-Chek SmartGuide device. Using a CGM sensor, Roche’s system displays current glucose levels, predictions for the following two hours and provides a risk prediction for nocturnal hypoglycemia.

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Newer and more advanced technology such as fitness wearables, artificial intelligence software and robotics is reducing employee well-being, according to a new briefing paper from the Institute for the Future of Work (IFOW).

The preliminary research may be a wake-up call to the countless businesses that have embraced artificial intelligence and automation technology to reduce labor costs and advance their bottom line; it could also have ramifications for the makers of fitness wearables like watches, rings and bands.

Using data from an online survey of over 6,000 workers in the United Kingdom, IFOW discovered that while digital information and communication technologies correlated with improved quality of life, extensive exposure to newer technologies can be detrimental to well-being.

One key survey finding is that frequent engagement with AI software, robotics and wearables (defined as fitness trackers, smartwatches, smart glasses, GPS devices and other data-gathering sensors) “exhibited a negative relationship with quality of life,” with even moderate exposure to robotics revealing an adverse effect on quality of life.

Start of the Conversation

IFOW’s findings highlight an important area that has yet to be fully explored in the current tech-forward age, but ultimately the paper encourages employers to understand the need to roll out technology that actively engages workers and to conduct “rigorous monitoring of risks and impacts.”

“The findings of this working paper – coupled with the current rapid pace of adoption of workplace automation technologies – emphasize that this work should be a priority if this technological transformation is to deliver a future where innovation and well-being advance together,” the authors wrote.

As the paper’s authors also point out, all hope is not lost in an overly connected world that will continue to lean toward tech. Instead, the findings “underscore the importance of a proactive, human-centered approach to technology deployment, emphasizing the value of worker consultation and participation rights, clarification of purposes and balanced consideration of technological benefits and risks.”

The authors also state that the need for additional research is evident, especially when understanding the different impacts of technology by sector and its overall impact on the intersection of well-being with productivity and worker retention. 

A Case for Corporate Wellness Platforms

In addition to prompting the start of a meaningful conversation, the survey’s findings are interesting, especially when juxtaposed against the rise of corporate wellness programs. 

Not everyone is sold on such employer-focused programs, as one Oxford researcher recently illustrated in a controversial take, but IFOW’s initial results on the topic are likely good news for platforms that are encouraging employers to invest in well-being programs for their staff. 

Corporate wellness giant Gympass has soared to a $2.4 billion valuation and continues to add to its robust line-up of wellness offerings, recently expanding its sleep category this month with snooze-supporting apps Rise Science and SleepScore. According to Gympass research, 98% of employees worldwide report sleep is crucial for their well-being, and 60% say work stress negatively impacts their sleep.

Global healthy eating platform Lifesum, tapped to support staff employed by tech titans Amazon and PayPal, recently revealed an eye-opening statistic: that nearly 71% of stressed-out Gen Z and Millennials would quit their jobs tomorrow in favor of one that better supports their overall well-being and that almost 70% would be more productive if their employer improved their well-being. 

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Power Plate, the world’s leader in vibration technology, knows a thing or two about “versatility.” The brand’s iconic whole body vibration platforms are widely known for their wide range of benefits, regardless if they’re being used for warm up, workout, recovery or therapy applications. 

Once a user steps on a Power Plate, its patented, tri-planar PrecisionWave technology causes the body to reflexively respond to tiny vibrations which activates muscles, burns calories, improves circulation and helps speed muscle recovery. Members simply perform exercises – that are typically done on the floor, standing, leaning or sitting – on the Power Plate instead to reap the benefits of vibration. 

However, the “who” for Power Plate is just as versatile as the “how.” 

Reaching More Women With Group Fitness

“If you look at industry statistics, group exercise participation is skewed very heavily towards women,” said Garry Lewis, Director of Commercial Sales at Power Plate. “Whether it’s Pilates, yoga, suspension training or another format, females make up somewhere around 80% of all group exercise participants.” 

“The extreme versatility of Power Plate allows operators to offer a variety of classes” Lewis adds. “And once you start to use it, people realize how easy and enjoyable it is to use Power Plate. This makes it easy to teach and ensures your members will leave class feeling great. It’s a perfect complement to virtually any other therapy or fitness modality.”

Power Plate’s flexibility also extends to strength training which is a recent trend experiencing a noticeable surge in popularity among women, especially with those 55 years or older. 

“Once people discover the difference with Power Plate they quickly realize how it complements every aspect of their training”, says Lewis. 

A Complete Solution for Studio Owners 

“Power Plate offers extreme versatility and programming options,” Rachel Blumberg, founder of PLATEFIT, stated. “We offer a 27-minute Power Plate class to our members in a variety of different workout formats – including boot camp, dance, ballet, boxing, kickboxing, sport, yoga stretch, and more.”

“Using Power Plate has allowed us to find a point of difference compared with traditional boutique fitness businesses,” adds Donna Cyrus, former SVP of Programming for Crunch Fitness and co-founder of Vibez Fit, a Chicago-based Power Plate studio. “Vibration adds a whole new dimension to the strength, barre/Pilates, boxing and HIIT classes we offer. Power Plate has allowed us to become very creative.”

Other Operators agree, including Allison Beardsley, founder of Club Pilates and current Co-Steward of Red Light Method. 

“Power Plate’s versatility and effectiveness have been a game-changer for Red Light Method, and we’re proud to partner with the industry leader,” she said. “Power Plate’s superior quality made it the clear choice for our treatment protocol, ensuring unparalleled results for our members. With Power Plate, they experience even greater benefits than those seen in the clinical trials.”

Sara Dant, Owner of Fit For You Naples, added, “At Fit For You Naples, our mission is to lead with personalized fitness solutions that meet the individual where they are. Power Plate has allowed us to elevate this personalized approach, offering a versatile and effective tool that adapts to various fitness methodologies. It exemplifies our leadership in creating innovative, tailored fitness experiences that drive results.”

Programming & Marketing Support

Power Plate’s support goes beyond just providing hardware. The brand recently established a programming support initiative for new businesses looking to get started with its equipment. This makes Power Plate products very easy to adopt.

“We don’t want our customers to reinvent the wheel if they don’t have to,” said Lewis. “Power Plate provides group training class templates to operators for them to customize to meet the needs of their business and member base. Putting programs together can be challenging, time-consuming and expensive. But by having that program support there, it takes another thing off their list.”

The programming support makes Power Plate a personable tool as well, meeting operator needs high and low. Angelique Gorges, founder and owner of Vibe 28, attests to that. 

“Power Plate perfectly complements Vibe 28’s mission to provide innovative, customizable wellness experiences,” she said. “It’s more than a machine; it’s a catalyst for unlocking members’ full potential and creating a vibrant community.”

“If they need marketing support, too, we’ve got this wonderful portal from which operators can access hundreds of videos, images, and other assets to help with their marketing efforts” Lewis adds.

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Halotherapy Solutions is going where no health and wellness solution has gone before. 

Looking to give operators the chance to offer a more holistic approach to therapy and recovery, the company recently launched its HaloRestore & Recovery solution. It’s the first and only series of programs merging salt therapy with the company’s complete portfolio of RESTORE and RECOVERY equipment, including red light, cryotherapy and cold plunge.

The solution features Fire & Ice, Vitality Restore, Revive & Rejuvenate and Hyper Restore packages. All carry devices such as the Spectrum Elite Bed, HaloIR & Redlight Tower, Cryo T Cooler, Health Smart Massage Chair and the CyroMed One, just to name a few. Some also include the newly patented Vitality Booth Plus, the world’s first and only multi-function chamber combining salt and red light therapy. 

Meeting Consumer Demands

These steps to establish HaloRestore & Recovery, trailblazing as they are, were requested by the health and wellness industry both from an evolutionary and cost-saving standpoint. 

Lisa Semerly, Halotherapy CRO and creator of the program, did so to give users more advanced recovery options and operators more functionality in their limited spaces.

“I have been in the Halotherapy space for about a decade and have seen a shift throughout the years,” Semerly said. “The industry has moved into ‘next generation’ salt therapy, stacking or layering multiple modalities together in one unit to customize the guest’s experience while at the same time maximizing the return on investment per square foot for the facility owner. Taking that one step further, and keeping pace with the current environment, HaloRestore & Recovery was conceived last year.”

Rarely are gyms given the chance to add a solution that assists such a large percentage of their members. According to Semerly, one in every three athletes experiences some form of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction or exercise-induced asthma. It’s almost impossible for anyone to achieve their fitness goals under such circumstances.

“If your respiratory system is rundown, or under attack and you can’t breathe, your workouts are going to be less effective,” Semerly said. “Salt therapy alone expands the airway for increased lung function, and increased oxygen saturation. It helps with muscle endurance and strengthens the abdominal wall for increased lung capacity and oxygenation.”

This is accomplished as users breathe in kinetically active, microscopic pharmaceutical-grade salt. The salt draws out moisture, mucus, and impurities which kills anything in the airway or skin to alleviate inflammation. This, according to Halotherapy, is the only way to address respiratory health and wellness naturally. It also triggers skin microcirculation and membrane activity.

The salt therapy is “stacked on” other modalities, such as red light therapy, as seen with the Vitality Booth Plus.

The Benefits of Salt Therapy x Red Light 

Red light and salt therapy are a match made in heaven — Halotherapy is harnessing their coefficient benefits with the Vitality Booth Plus, making it a potent user engagement tool for gyms or wellness facilities that results in a cycle of wellness. 

“What makes the Vitality Booth Plus so effective and unique is the science,” Semerly said. “The inspiration behind it came from one of our partners and salt therapy enthusiasts who owned a World Gym. He was looking for a game changer in the fitness space to include red light and salt therapy and understood that red light in the presence of salt crystals creates a far more effective experience for both.”

After conducting research with NASA, the Halotherapy team discovered that adding salt therapy to red light therapy creates microbursts of red-light energy by the billions, as they refract off translucent salt crystals. This results in a greater red-light immersion that encapsulates the skin. Simultaneously, the salt therapy becomes more effective, as the red light energizes and dries the salt which results in deeper penetration and expansion into the lungs.

“In a nutshell, the Vitality Booth Plus not only helps with recovery and respiration, but it addresses skin health by a dual-modal mechanism of action,” Semerly said. “This makes it the most effective red-light therapy and salt therapy in the world.”

The blending of salt and red light therapy assists in anti-aging, wrinkle reduction, weight loss and mood enhancement as well. The booth comes in four different sizes and with a U.V. blue light sanitation system. It was recently issued a “patent” on the effectiveness of red light therapy with salt therapy, making it the most powerful red light therapy in the world.

The Bright Future of Recovery

Semerly only expects demand for Halotherapy’s RESTORE & RECOVERY products to increase as education around recovery does. As it did with many aspects of the health and wellness industry, the COVID-19 pandemic has already played a large role in that. 

“We learned a lot in a post-COVID world,” Semerly noted. “More and more folks are taking self-care much more seriously. Those who take health and fitness seriously have realized that without a true recovery component, burnout, injury, and less effective workouts are inevitable.” 

Salt therapy is “one of the top modalities folks are seeking post-COVID,” Semerly added. “Halotherapy will continue to be part of the conversation in the fitness community well into the future,” she said.

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Aescape has launched its whitespace innovation: the first commercially available, fully automated massage experience. The company also announced a partnership with luxury lifestyle and fitness operator Equinox, debuting its massage tables in select locations across New York City this spring.

Backed by $80 million in funding, Aescape aims to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of massages through advanced technology. .

“Aescape aims to make massage an accessible, regular part of rest and recovery, no longer reserved for indulgence or injury,” said Eric Litman, Founder and CEO. “Working alongside massage therapists over the last seven years, we’ve honed our technology to ensure it caters to diverse body types and lifestyles. It’s designed for anyone looking to book last-minute, or looking for control over their massage when therapists aren’t always available.” 

The technology is a fully automated, artificial intelligence-driven massage table. It scans the user’s body and generates over one million 3D data points to accurately map a user’s body on the table.

Using the 3D scan, the tool identifies key points on the body for a targeted massage. Aescape includes a touchscreen underneath the massage table that users can control to identify pressure points, target areas and music selections. The experience is also customizable—the platform can remember user preferences for future massages.  

Equinox Embraces Recovery

At Equinox, anyone can experience Aescape for $60 for 30 minutes, which will also include a free day pass to the gym for non-members. Beginning in June, the technology will be made available in ten locations in New York City. 

“We’re relentlessly focused on how we can help our community of high-performing individuals live better, healthier lives,” said James Gu, senior director, Equinox Spa. “As we continue to innovate with science-backed preparation and recovery modalities and new technologies, we are excited to offer Aescape. This personalized and accessible format will help our members further integrate recovery into their fitness routines.”

Disrupting the Massage Market

Litman is joined on the Aescape executive team by Sam Bowen, who worked in hardware at Amazon; Becca Valle, who worked in global marketing at Meta, Airbnb, and the New York Knicks; and Alex Linde, who worked in product at Uber, eBay, and Yahoo!

To develop the product, the Aescape team worked with thousands of individuals to develop a solution that caters to all body types and needs. By working with everyone from casual gym-goers to athletes, the company created a solution it says can cater to all audiences. 

The massage therapy market is valued at around $19 billion, and recovery solutions have never seemed more popular, including in gyms and fitness facilities as a value-add or premium membership service. The industry, which is also facing a shortage of therapists, is primed for disruption. Aescape offers an always-available, consistent massage, and aims to drive value for spas, hotels and wellness centers. 

Aescape is launching an early access program for New Yorkers, inviting participants to be among the first to try out the futuristic massage experience while providing feedback to refine the service further. The company is also actively seeking new partnerships. 

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ClassPass has unveiled its latest innovation: the integration of food and beverage options into its bookable experiences. With tens of thousands of studios, gyms and spas already on the platform, ClassPass is now introducing ways for its members to refuel after workouts or wellness visits. 

“After we expanded into beauty and wellness offerings in 2018, we were eager to continue to find ways to bring more experiences to our members. Food and beverage always felt like the natural next step,” said Fritz Lanman, CEO of Mindbody and ClassPass. “Our members have come to realize wellness is so much more than fitness – and it means something different to everyone. We are excited to continue to expand our offerings to fit our members’ wellness lifestyles.”

Since its founding in 2013, ClassPass has evolved from a pure fitness booking platform to a more holistic system. With the new launch, ClassPass users in New York and Miami can now redeem their credits for snacks and meals at participating locations. Additional restaurants and eateries in new cities will be rolling out in the next few months, the platform said.

ClassPass was acquired by Mindbody in 2021, after a tumultuous couple of years during the pandemic. Now that in-person experiences are back and bigger than ever, the platform has been capitalizing on consumers’ desire for holistic, community-driven in-person experiences.

Entering the food and beverage brings ClassPass a step closer to being a one-stop shop for health and wellness-focused consumers. By entering the wellness-focused food and beverage category, the platform and its parent brand Mindbody are looking to disrupt the a that’s been dominated by established players like UberEats DoorDash, and even local smoothie shops. 

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Therabody is investing over $10 million in scientific research initiatives, forming a Scientific Advisory Board and partnering with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the wellness tech brand announced.

The $10 million investment will be allocated toward conducting scientific and clinical research studies across various domains including beauty, wellness and athletic performance over the coming years. Therabody’s Scientific Advisory Board will also be comprised of four experts in their respective fields to guide research strategy, initiatives and product development.

The board is comprised of Dr. Pamela Peeke, a physician and scientist specializing in integrative medicine and women’s health; Dr. Daniel Giordano, a Doctor of Physical Therapy who focuses on performance health and longevity; Dr. Robin Thorpe, a global leader in recovery science; and Dr. Neera Nathan, a Harvard-trained dermatologist and Mohs micrographic surgeon specializing in dermatologic surgery and laser medicine.

Together, the board will advise on research strategy, related initiatives and content, and co-develop new Therabody products related to their areas of expertise. 

“I am thrilled to welcome this caliber of scientific leadership to Therabody,” said Monty Sharma, president and CEO of Therabody. “Our Scientific Advisory Board, along with our significant investment in scientific research and partnerships, will ensure we remain at the forefront of our industry and dedicated to developing the most effective, scientifically validated products available today and in the future.”

Therabody x ACSM

Therabody is also committed to working with ACSM on the sponsorship and exhibition of new therapies at the ACSM Annual Meeting in May 2024. The organization is made up of over 40,000 physicians, scientists, educators and health fitness professionals, and is considered a leader in sports medicine and exercise science. 

Therabody has long been dedicated to scientific research, demonstrated by an extensive research portfolio with 21 scientific studies completed to date and an additional 26 in progress. Therabody Labs is the company’s in-house team of scientists and engineers to test and optimize their products. 

Expanding Access to Wellness

The new announcements come as Therabody has been focusing its efforts on expanding the accessibility of its products, including its new beauty line. Therabody released the TheraFace Vibration Mask, which is a light therapy mask clinically proven to reduce signs of aging. The mask is a complement to the TheraFace Pro, which has different attachments for various skin concerns, such as aging, acne, tension relief, and more.

Therabody founder and chief wellness officer Dr. Jason Wersland spoke with Athletech News last year about the new beauty line and the company’s mission to democratize access to wellness and beauty through its products.

Last year, the wellness tech brand also launched three new massage guns in a push to target everyday wellness consumers: the Theragun Relief, Theragun Sense and Theragun Pro Plus.

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StimScience, the neuroscience-based sleep company, has appointed Tim Rosa, a former Fitbit executive, as its new CEO.

Rosa’s appointment marks a step forward for the company’s flagship product line, Somnee, a personalized, smart sleep headband that employs non-invasive, closed-loop neurostimulation to enhance sleep quality and duration.

“With StimScience, the team has pioneered and delivered lab-grade technology in a sleep headband that accurately maps and measures brainwave patterns and applies personalized tES neurostimulation that nudges the brain to sleep,” Rosa said.

With a proven track record in launching world-class brands and products, Rosa is aiming to guide StimScience through its next phase of growth and innovation. As the former chief marketing officer of Fitbit, he scaled the company from a small startup into a household name, with over 140 million devices sold in 100-plus countries. 

“There’s a lot of exciting clinical research and momentum validating the importance of sleep fitness and its impact on cognitive performance, athletic performance, mental health, general health, and even weight loss,” Rosa said. “Wearables have done a great job educating consumers on their general sleep stage trends and insights. The challenge for most consumer-grade devices has been creating a closed-loop, lab-grade diagnostic in combination with a personalized therapeutic that adapts with the user and ultimately improves sleep onset, duration, and/or depth.”

Rosa added that he’s “excited to partner with wearables, sleep products and services, and healthcare to close that loop and improve outcomes for 100 million consumers.”

The Future of Sleep Science?

As the first company to approach sleep improvement through personalized closed-loop neurostimulation, StimScience claims its device is proven to cut the time it takes to fall asleep in half and improve sleep quality with only 15 minutes of use. It also claims Somnee is four times as effective as a melatonin pill, twice as effective as cognitive behavior therapy, and one-and-a-half as effective as Ambien in improving sleep efficiency and duration. Somnee markets itself as the “future of sleep.”

Rosa’s recruitment was backed by Dr. Matthew Walker, PhD, the author of New York Times bestseller “Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams,” and chief sleep advisor at Somnee.

“Sleep is increasingly recognized as one of the most fundamental habits not only for our day-to-day functioning, concentration, mood, and body health, but also for continued brain and body wellness as we age,” Walker noted.

Venture capital firm Khosla Ventures also supports StimScience.

“We backed Somnee because the team had every component needed to bring forward clinical-grade consumer technology to change the face of sleep. Since our initial investment, this thesis is proving itself out,” said Vinod Khosla, a tech investor and founder of Khosla Ventures. “With Tim at the helm, Somnee can now scale to bridge a foundational health gap and cement itself as an iconic brand that carries weight with consumers, the medical and sleep health communities.” 

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Reset by Therabody is the wellness tech brand’s in-person, experiential wellness hub, with locations across the United States including Los Angeles, Philadelphia, New York and Houston.

The whole-body wellness centers offer clients access to Therabody’s technology, guided by trained experts. Services range from 30 to 60 minutes and include offerings like stretching, percussive therapy, cryotherapy, and cupping. Clients can purchase services a la carte or through memberships.

Now, Therabody has launched Reset Rewards, a membership program that offers exclusive benefits and discounts, including on partner brands like Pressed Juicery, Momentous supplements and Stakt mats.

Athletech News spoke with with Shannon Cooke, vice president of retail at Therabody, to learn more about the new Reset program and how Therabody’s in-person experience drives value for the company and its customers.

“It was really important to us to pick brands that were on the same page as us from a wellness and ethos perspective,” Cooke says. “We wanted to have added value for our guests with our memberships and also give them easier access to self-care. So we partnered with a lot of brands with community health and wellness in mind. We’re very excited to have a high bar to stand shoulder to shoulder with the brands that we selected for the program.” 

In terms of the brand selection process, Cooke noted it was both national and local.

“Every single one of our resorts has access to our national brands,” she explains. “Because the local community is so important to us, each of the individual locations has different partnerships that are specific to its city. We have over 10 national brands that we’re working with right now. Then, every city has between five and seven that are local to their community.” 

The Importance of In-Person Experiences

As in-person experiences become more important than ever to many brands looking to forge connections with consumers, Cooke noted that Reset was the embodiment of a third-party ecosystem.

“We take all of the cutting-edge therapies and technologies that we create as a product and we bring them to life inside of these spaces,” she says. “We really want to make sure that health and wellness can benefit as many people as possible. There are big barriers to entry for a lot of the services and products that we provide, so creating this kind of warm, safe space for people to come in and try the products is a really important part of our ecosystem for the customer.”

For Therabody, Cooke noted there is also “a really beautiful, experiential brand marketing component to it. People can come in and ask questions, and touch and feel the brand.” 

Local Marketing Efforts

When asked about Reset’s biggest challenges and opportunities, Cooke noted that building authentic relationships with local communities is effort-intensive but integral to the brand’s strategy.

“On the ground, guerrilla-style connections are not scalable, but we take being in the community and working with the right groups very seriously,” she said. “But it is very important because those messages and allegiances in the community will show people that they have a place where they can go that represents who they are and where they’re coming from.” 

Therabody has a long-term vision to continue using Reset to bring new products to life for the consumer.

“It’s very exciting for me to look at the pipeline and think, ‘How can I bring this to life for the customer that comes into Reset?,'” Cooke says.

Therabody is hoping to create a space where consumers can step outside their comfort zone and learn more about new types of self-care.

“If we have made it more comfortable for someone to participate in cryotherapy, to use LED masks, to get closer to the effective science that we are promoting, then we have done our job,” Cooke adds. “Lowering that barrier to entry for self-care is incredibly important to Reset.” 

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In its efforts to help the fitness and wellness community catch more quality z’s every night, SleepScore Labs is widening its net. 

In partnership with the Lake Nona Impact Forum, SleepScore, the global leader in enterprise-ready sleep science and improvement, will make its SleepScore APIs available across many health and fitness apps. Doing so will enable users of participating apps to sleep better and reap an abundance of ancillary health benefits. In turn, SleepScore APIs will strengthen engagement and retention across those apps. 

“We are delighted to bring the power of our evidence-based sleep improvement solutions to the many great health and wellness apps that would benefit from improved engagement, retention, and outcomes,” said Uma Shivanand, head of product at SleepScore Labs. “It’s our mission to make a meaningful impact in this vital aspect of people’s lives.”

With data from 230-plus scientific studies, 61 peer-reviewed publications and over 360 million hours of contextual sleep data, SleepScore APIs help users unlock improved sleep habits. After gathering a user’s sleep data through wearables, the program logs and compares it before laying out a personalized sleep journey, presenting sleep content material, a cognitive behavioral therapy option and a sleep coaching system. SleepScore users enjoy between 10 to 26 extra hours of sleep per month, the platform says.

With quality rest in high demand, those results promise to drive engagement once applied to new platforms. SleepScore already has a proven track record in that regard, reportedly delivering three to four daily engagements and a retention rate after 30 days of 60%, topping the industry average of 8%. 

The release of SleepScore APIs comes as an emphasis on sleep as a form of personal wellness only continues to grow. Therabody and United recently agreed on a partnership to offer sleep-nurturing amenities on flights after noticing an increase in demand for improved sleep while traveling. 

Centr, Chris Hemsworth’s fitness and wellness platform also recently released a new audio series aimed at improving users’ sleep performance. LumosTech, a sleep-specific tech company, partnered with the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun last season to enhance sleep routines with light therapy products.

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When you’re a top medical equipment supplier, being forward-thinking isn’t just something to strive for, but a necessity. Having done that for over 180 years, seca’s latest innovations have big implications for the fitness industry, making them some of IHRSA 2024’s most anticipated unveilings. 

Headlining seca’s products at IHRSA 2024 will be the seca TRU Body Composition Solution, a full-body test that analyzes users’ health and wellness using key metrics.

The seca TRU body composition solution features state-of-the-art hardware and customizable software that offers a variety of solutions to boost membership and engagement for gyms and fitness facilities. seca’s user-friendly API powers the product and simplifies the integration and customization processes.

The product operates via medically validated Bio Impedance technology, which delivers accurate health data following a 24-second scan. Users initially step up to seca’s Bear Claw glass platform to begin the measurement process.

Ultrasound tech determines the member’s accurate height before starting the analysis, breaking down muscle mass by each extremity & torso, fat mass, energy expenditure, recovery levels and other health factors which are later displayed in the seca 125 analytic software. seca’s solution even factors in age, gender, and ethnicity, as recently emphasized by the American Medical Association; seca’s body composition analysis is the only product on the market to factor in the latter. 

More Than Just Bodyweight

Duane Jones, seca Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing, believes individuals who only check the scale every morning are in the dark ages in terms of monitoring their health. The TRU Body Composition Solution gives them that necessary upgrade. 

“Traditional metrics like weight do not fully capture the internal changes occurring in their bodies,” Jones said. “The TRU Body Composition Solution provides a more comprehensive view by setting baselines, which then allows gym goers to establish goals that more accurately reflect their overall health status.”

Personalized goal setting, progress tracking, identifying new insights and motivation all come to fruition following the scan. The precise analytics present users with benchmarks and metrics to strive for, hopefully spurring motivation and illustrating improvement over time.

Potential insights include setting up nutrition plans in relation based on results. The solution also identifies patterns worth acknowledging in one’s diet or exercise regimen, as well as potential health issues users would want to snuff out before they deter their fitness journey. 

Analytics are compared with the results of studies featuring over 3,000 healthy individuals to ensure accuracy. They’re also loaded into a cloud-based software that makes results accessible across a multitude of devices. 

The Missing Piece for Fitness Operators 

These same cutting-edge features make the TRU Body Composition Solution attractive to operators. The motivational factors born out of the analytics presented to gym goers naturally work to an operator’s benefit, spurring engagement and retention. It’s far easier to stay involved and committed to a gym that provides useful detail on your progress and constantly presents you with distinct goals. 

“Gyms without this solution miss a crucial opportunity to engage their members more deeply and promote additional wellness services they offer, such as personal training, group fitness, recovery programs and more,” said Kyle Toscano, seca Director of Marketing. “The TRU Body Composition Solution’s API can integrate with gym management and communication systems, enhancing member engagement and potentially increasing retention by providing a more connected and personalized wellness experience.”

The TRU Body Composition Solution is ideal for operators who want to engage with their members in a personalized, meaningful way, rather than with a one-size-fits-all solution. seca also handles product delivery, installation and network integration. 

Looking Ahead: Partnerships & Advancements

Toscano says it’s now full speed ahead for seca and the brand’s holistic health analyzer. seca will continue to update the TRU Body Composition Solution going forward, with plans to address factors such as the rise of obesity medications like GLP-1s more distinctly. 

“Recognizing the growing prevalence of obesity medications and their potential side effects, such as muscle loss, the TRU Body Composition Solution is positioned to play a crucial role in this context,” he said. “By tailoring the solution to address these specific needs, it can enhance the fitness experience for new members drawn to fitness facilities for health reasons, offering a medical-grade device that supports both fitness and medical outcomes.”

seca also aims to collaborate with more forward-thinking members in the fitness space, such as newly added partner Crunch Fitness, in addition to projects with ABC Ignite & Trainerize already in progress. seca already works with EGYM, Kieser Training, Vita Club, Maglicine and FitX, just to name a few.

“Overall, the TRU Body Composition Solution’s future plans are characterized by a focus on innovation, responsiveness to health trends, and partnerships that amplify its impact,” Toscano said. “This makes its launch an exciting development in the fitness and wellness industry.”

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Samsung officially introduced the Galaxy Ring, its latest innovation in wearables, at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. The new device marks the South Korean tech giant’s first venture into the smart ring category and the emergence of a key competitor for market leaders like Oura.

The Galaxy Ring comes equipped with a variety of sensors designed to monitor key health metrics such as heart rate, sleep patterns, respiratory rate and the time it takes for a user to fall asleep. The information will populate what Samsung calls “MyVitality Score,” which offers personalized health insights based on these different metrics. 

Despite the arrival of a new competitor, Oura CEO Tom Hale called Samsung’s entry into the smart ring space a positive for the industry as a whole.

“New players entering the space is validation for the category and drives us to aim higher to serve our members and community,” Hale told TechCrunch.

Although Samsung has smartphones and smartwatches, the Galaxy Ring caters to different consumer needs, noted Hon Pak, head of the digital health team at Samsung Electronics.

“Our own customers told us, I want choice. I want the ability to have other forms of wearables to measure health,” Pak told CNBC. “And some want to wear the watch, some want to wear the watch and the ring and get benefit from both. Some just want more simplicity.”

The Galaxy Ring is designed to work seamlessly with Samsung’s smartwatches, providing users with a comprehensive overview of their health when used in tandem. One of the most anticipated features of the ring is its ability to monitor noninvasive glucose levels and blood pressure, a significant advancement in health technology. Samsung is also researching how best to use artificial intelligence to give deeper insights into a person’s health. 

“Imagine (a) large language model, acting as my digital assistant, while looking at the context of my medical records, my physiological data, my engagement with a mobile device, the wearables during all of that … begins to bring greater insights and personalization opportunities,” Pak said. “A digital assistant coach is (…) absolutely needed.” 

The smart ring market could grow to $1 billion or more by the 2030s, according to industry estimates. Samsung’s entrance into the space seems to be a validation of the market’s growth potential.

Oura, the category’s leader by far, has around 100 granted patents, with almost 30 pending patents, which could suggest potential intellectual property disputes down the line between major players.

In addition to brands like Movano (Evie Ring) and RingConn looking to capture market share by offering differentiating features like a focus on women’s health and no subscription fees, there are rumors that Apple could look to enter the space with a smart ring of its own.

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Researchers from the University of Washington have introduced the thermal earring, a piece of smart tech they say could redefine how we monitor our health.

The device continuously monitors earlobe temperature to provide more insights into users’ health in a fashionable and discreet manner. Co-lead authors Yujia (Nancy) Liu and Qiuyue (Shirley) Xue conducted the research. 

Like the smart ring, the thermal earring combines fashion and functionality. Similar to a paperclip in size and weight, it includes a magnetic clip that attaches one temperature sensor to the earlobe and another that dangles below to gauge room temperature. It can also be customized with designs made of resin, like flowers and gemstones, without compromising its accuracy. It has a twenty-eight-day battery life, which is far longer than many competitors. 

The research team focused their work on the limitations of current wearables and proposed earrings as a stylish and comfortable alternative. Earlobes, Xue discovered, provide a more consistent temperature reading compared to hands or wrists. In small proof-of-concept tests, the earrings were less variable compared to comparable smartwatches. 

“I wear a smartwatch to track my personal health, but I’ve found that a lot of people think smartwatches are unfashionable or bulky and uncomfortable,” Xue told the University of Washington. “I also like to wear earrings, so we started thinking about what unique things we can get from the earlobe. We found that sensing the skin temperature on the lobe, instead of a hand or wrist, was much more accurate.”

The thermal earring can detect changes related to stress, eating, exercise and even ovulation. Xue and her team of researchers are looking into expanding the earring’s capabilities to include heart rate and activity monitoring and possible sustainable power sources. The device is not yet commercially available but could disrupt the jewelry wearable space. 

The wearables space has been hot lately, with Oura, Apple and Whoop all making waves and Samsung poised to enter the market with its Galaxy Ring, reportedly set for release this summer.

Brands like Oura, Apple and Whoop continue to evolve the technology behind their products, with new and improved features like Whoop Coach and Apple’s new mental health offerings. Temperature monitoring has become more popular than ever, with some wearables like the Oura Ring using it for natural birth control methods and cycle tracking. 

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In an escalating legal battle in the wellness tech industry, Therabody has filed a lawsuit against rival Hyperice for defamation, trade libel and related causes of action, the company announced. Therabody filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on Friday.

Therabody’s lawsuit is not one of intellectual property, but of defamation, injury to reputation and trade libel, which is the publication of a false statement of fact that results in monetary damages, and other related claims.

The wellness tech company alleges that Hyperice made defamatory statements to an athletics store that carries Therabody products, as well as at a trade show. Therabody also asserted false advertising and unfair competition in violation of the California Business and Professions Code, in addition to the common law claims of defamation and trade libel.

Wellness Tech Wars

Therabody’s defamation suit comes after Hyperice filed lawsuits for patent infringement against Therabody and several other brands earlier this year. Friday’s filing demonstrates that Therabody will go beyond merely defending itself in the patent infringement case.

“Dr. Jason Wersland invented the Theragun in February 2008. Therabody has always been a leader in wellness technology and has secured over 600 global patents,” said Therabody CEO Monty Sharma. “As a response to the statements that Hyperice made referring to us as imitators after it filed its lawsuit against us in January 2024, today we filed suit against them for defamation, trade libel and related causes of action.”

In a statement provided to Athletech News, Hyperice CEO Jim Huether said he believes the defamation suit is an attempt by Therabody to shift the focus away from the patent-infringement litigation involving the two brands.

“As we have previously stated, we firmly believe that almost all of Therabody’s percussion devices infringe on our IP, including the Theragun PRO, Theragun Sense, Theragun Elite, Theragun Prime, Theragun Mini, Theragun Relief, TheraFace PRO, and TheraFace LED,” Huether said. “We believe today’s actions by Therabody are a baseless attempt to shift the focus away from their infringing activity. We will continue to move aggressively against infringing parties to enforce and protect our IP.”

The massage gun market is valued at $542.6 million and will likely reach over $1 billion in the coming years. Earlier this year, Hyperice filed a suit against Therabody and other wellness tech companies for infringing U.S. Patent No. 11,857482, which claims technology dating back to 2013 that is used in products like the Hypervolt 2 and Hypervolt Go 2 massage guns.

In 2019 and early 2020, Therabody filed patent infringement lawsuits against Hyperice and Achedaway, which resulted in Achedaway agreeing to a cease and desist and Hyperice agreeing to stop selling one of its massage devices.  

This story has been updated to include comments from Hyperice CEO Jim Huether.

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Ezra, a New York-based full-body, AI-powered medical imaging company specializing in early cancer screenings, has raised $21 million in new capital, bringing the healthcare startup to a total funding of $41 million.

The new funding will go towards expanding Ezra to 20 cities and 50 locations across North America this year and advancing the use of its AI technology by imaging centers and clinicians. Looking ahead, Ezra plans to debut the first 15-minute full-body MRI for $500 within two to three years.

Consumers Embrace Wellness & Longevity

While various wellness therapies and longevity centers continue to bank on the booming wellness market, Ezra’s use of AI for prevention and detection may further inspire consumers to invest in their health.

As it stands now, luxury lifestyle operator Life Time has discovered that consumers are laser-focused on wellness these days, with an almost 30% increase in prioritization of their health and well-being this year compared to 2023. Plus, sales may have weakened for activewear, but consumers appear content to spend money on wellness-supporting supplements and anti-aging measures, further bolstering Ezra’s capabilities in the eyes of the wellness-minded.

Democratizing Early Disease Detection

Founded in 2018 by Emi Gal, Ezra reports it doubled its revenue in 2023 and received FDA clearance for Ezra Flash AI, enabling the world’s first 30-minute full-body MRI scan. Providing consumers with an accessible option for early cancer detection and other diseases,

Ezra currently offers three scan options: a 60-minute Full Body Plus scan for $2500, a 60-minute scan for $1950 (excluding a lung scan) and a 30-minute Full Body Flash scan for $1350 (excluding a spine and lung scan). Clients can pay monthly or use their FSA/HSA dollars, and all scans come with a follow-up consultation. Group and multiyear scan plans also offer discounts. 

The startup currently operates in 18 locations across New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles, Irvine, San Francisco, Miami and Las Vegas.

“Five years ago, Ezra pioneered the full body MRI space by being the first company in the US to offer fast, accurate, affordable, AI-powered full-body MRI scans,” Gal said. “We have since scanned thousands of people and have helped countless individuals identify cancer and over 500 other types of diseases early.”

Gal added that Ezra aims to detect cancer early and improve their chances of being cured, noting that this year, ten million people will receive late-stage cancer diagnoses with survival changes below 20%.

The funding round was co-led by Healthier Capital, a VC specializing in innovative technology supporting healthcare led by Amir Dan Rubin, former CEO of Amazon’s One Medical. Rubin will join Ezra’s board of directors. In addition to Healthier Capital, FirstMark Capital co-led the round with participation from Allianz Life Ventures and others.

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Postpartum wellness has seen a positive step in the right direction in the U.S., with a growing acknowledgment that parents need additional mental and physical support with a newborn in the mix, according to the latest report from The Global Wellness Summit (GWS), which listed 10 wellness trends to watch in 2024.

From expanded access to paid parental leave to an increase of first-time fathers taking some form of leave, the postpartum landscape looks encouraging, yet there is still work to be done — with care centers, mental health apps and femtech leading the post-birth recovery space.

Although the U.S. leads in many areas, postpartum practices and a general supportive mindset have become adopted from elsewhere. Centers that pamper new parents and care for newborns have emerged, tapping into cultural traditions such as sanhujori, a Korean postpartum care system centered on rest and nutrition.

Similar supportive care systems are found in Latin American and Japanese cultures, with U.S.-based centers offering similar support. For example, New York City-based Boram Postnatal Retreat provides parents recovery, healthy meals, baby care education and more, although such services currently have a barrier to entry for many due to cost.

Tech Platforms Offer Services, Support

Postpartum wellness technology has also seen a boom, with GWS noting that funding in the “femtech ecosystem” has resulted in several promising startups to assist postpartum parents.

From Mavida Health’s mental health support and therapy services for new and expecting mothers to a California-based startup offering C-section recovery services, tech has parents covered.

Two other promising tech platforms, Motherocity and MamaMend, use personal insights and artificial intelligence to forecast, detect and monitor the mental and physical health of new moms from day one through the first 52 weeks — an important use of AI in response to conditions such as postpartum depression and anxiety. The apps also provide wellness content and access to a community of other new moms. 

As GWS notes, corporate wellness programs have begun to respond by offering more robust comprehensive postpartum care, such as Kindbody Pregnancy, which provides mental health therapists, lactation consultants, nutritionists and even pelvic floor physical therapists. 

More To Come

Aside from telehealth, digital apps and platforms, areas such as pelvic floor health and “mother-safe” personal care items are also promising consumer spaces that meet the needs of postpartum mothers looking for well-being in an exciting (yet oftentimes sleepless and stressful) time.

Predicting what’s ahead, GWS says it’s “undeniable” that the public and private sectors will need to join together for “more specialized care,” with corporate involvement in the U.S. imperative to overall well-being. GWS also expects to see more telehealth offerings that support postpartum mental health. 

As GWS points out in its report, Dr. Sarah de la Torre, an OBGYN and chief medical officer at MommyMatters, is “bullish” on the integration of telehealth services providing postpartum check-ups, mental health support and lactation consultations.  

A complete list of The Global Wellness Summit’s 2024 Wellness Trends can be found here. 

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Therabody has added Michael Giordano and Peter Noverr to its executive team as chief revenue officer and chief operations officer, respectively, as the wellness tech company gears up for what it calls “ambitious growth plans.”

Giordano has a background in consumer electronics and will drive Therabody’s market expansion, online and offline. Noverr has experience driving global supply chains and growth engines. 

Before Therabody, Giordano was chief commercial officer at Progressive Leasing, and spent 14 years at Samsung Electronics America. Noverr previously worked at The Better Being Co., where he was chief operating officer for three years. He also served as chief operating officer at Jenny Craig and was CEO and co-founder at Level Life Foods, a company that specializes in diabetes management products. 

“Mike and Peter bring years of experience, success, and outsized value creation in sales and operations across multiple industries, including Consumer electronics,” said Monty Sharma, CEO and president of Therabody. “We are excited to have them join our excellent Therabody team and supercharge the pursuit of our purpose.”

Therabody Eyes Consumer Wellness

As it gears up for more growth, Therabody will look to build on a big 2023. The wellness tech company unveiled several new products, including the Theragun Pro Plus, the Theragun Sense, and Theragun Relief, in the hopes of increasing product accessibility to new audiences and demographics.

“We’ve become so accustomed to living with pain and it doesn’t have to be that way,” Dr. Jason Wersland, founder and chief wellness officer of Therabody recently told Athletech News, teasing the company’s plans to release more wellness and beauty products. “We started with the pro athletes and have flipped the script to deliver the most effective and innovative therapies to everybody.”

Therabody also partnered with United Airlines to promote wellness travel. United customers flying via United Polaris international business class are provided a Therabody amenity kit with TheraFace eye serum, face spray, hand cream and cleansing towlette. In the United Polaris lounges, travelers will have access to Therabody products like the Lounger, Theragun and RecoveryAir JetBoots.

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There is no doubt that wellness and fitness in 2024 and beyond will involve higher-tech equipment.

As alternative services such as saunas and ice baths make their way into people’s daily wellness routines, and fitness equipment design becomes more advanced, users will require education and guidance to get the best outcomes. 

This means content-driven fitness and wellness equipment will be a must-have versus a nice-to-have. Equipment of the future must educate users on how to get the most out of their experience.

A Technology Shift

Youll – a developer of content-centric apps for the wellness and fitness industry – is already getting a glimpse of this shift today.

“We are seeing a trend now with equipment manufacturers who are highly focused on enhancing the useability and user experience of their products,” said Alex Bejan, Founder and CEO of Youll. “We are designing custom apps to deliver educational content and guidance, which also opens the door to ancillary revenue streams.”

Youll is not stopping there, though. The company is going a step further to create custom integration modules that connect apps with equipment hardware, allowing the user to have personal control of equipment from their phone. 

In short, Youll is helping manufacturers leverage digital technology to inform, navigate and control their equipment. 

“This is a one-two punch, making even the most advanced equipment more accessible and enjoyable with the use of content and guidance, and the overall user experience much more personal because the control is in the palm of their hand,” says Bejan.

“Innovation in wellness hardware goes beyond physical design; it’s about enriching user interaction, and that’s what will differentiate the wellness and fitness equipment of the future,” says Youll CPO Catalin Secosan. 

A Glimpse Into the Future

Youll is playing this out with several entities in the fitness and wellness space now.

“One example is an ice bath company we are currently working with,” says Bejan. “We are developing an app that will deliver educational content around ice bathing, usage suggestions, support and directions, and that will also integrate with the bath’s hardware so the user can control the water flow, temperature and more right from their phone.” 

“The app can even be used to prepare the ice bath while the user is working out, so it’s ready to go at just the right time, making the experience that much better,” he adds.

Youll has partnered with a sauna company as well.

“We are essentially creating a fully connected sauna that will offer educational content, control the temperature of the space, allow the user to turn it on, set alerts and more,” says Bejan. 

The extent to which the Youll platform can be designed and leveraged to enhance the user experience is only limited to the manufacturer’s imagination.

“Think about a sauna experience where the user can not only control basic settings but also create just the right ambiance with music and lighting and more. The sky is the limit,” says Bejan.

Even traditional cardio equipment such as treadmills and elliptical machines can benefit greatly by integrating these smart digital applications. 

“Any gym device with a screen right now can be connected to an app, allowing the user to track their progress, adjust settings to fit their preferences, and even gain personalized fitness plans based on the data collected from the equipment,” notes Bejan. “The feedback, insights and guidance help to increase user safety, and enhance member outcomes tenfold.”

Leveraging Tech to Enhance the Wellness Journey

For any fitness or wellness brand, winning is about creating differentiation, heightening the user experience and offering the best results. 

“By leveraging the power of educational content and hardware Integration with a custom app, manufacturers can step into an era of connected, educational content that sets their products apart,” said Secosan.

This technology can have a place in fitness and wellness anywhere.

“The gym of the future is all about learning, staying connected, and having better experiences, whether you’re working in a club, on the road in a hotel, in your company fitness center or at home,” says Bejan. “It’s about using tech to learn more, feel more, and do more while being part of a community you love. This future gym is where we all come together, using tech to make our wellness journey even better.”

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