The devoted mother of two, experienced entrepreneur, and accomplished business leader joined Ascend Learning in 2016. For more than six years she provided visionary guidance to the teams at Ascend’s various fitness and wellness brands including National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA), and Club Connect. Powered by Laurie’s innovative and creative business strategies, these brands significantly expanded and delivered on their mission to prepare today’s fitness and wellness professionals for successful careers.

Under Laurie’s leadership, Ascend launched NASM’s Certified Nutrition Coach, Certified Wellness Coach and Virtual Coaching Specialization programs, and acquired Club Connect and PTontheNet.

Earlier in her career, Laurie led strategic marketing and operational efforts for major brands including the Walt Disney Company, Teleflora, POM Wonderful, Stila Cosmetics, YogaWorks, and Forever 21. She was also the founder, chairman, and CEO of her own company, babystyle.

Laurie graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. Inspired early on by her father, a lifelong athlete, to appreciate the transformational power of fitness, she was driven by the belief that through her hard work and the tireless efforts of her team, the world could be a healthier and happier place.

In addition to her two children, Jack and Ally, Laurie is survived by six siblings and several nieces and nephews. On Thursday, February 23, Ascend Learning will hold a special celebration of Laurie’s life to honor her legacy of leadership.

The post Laurie McCartney (1967-2023) appeared first on Athletech News.

Download Athletech’s 2022 Industry Report to read about:

• What the future of hybrid fitness looks like for gyms and fitness studios
• Predictions from 10 fitness thought leaders about what lies ahead for the industry
• Exciting startups that are emerging within fitness, wellness and nutrition
• Trend forecasting: outdoor fitness, VR/gaming, and software disrupting fitness
• Celebrity engagement within the fitness industry

Click here to download the report

The post Athletech Launches First Industry Report appeared first on Athletech News.

According to a recent article in the WSJ, the workout-clothing company could be valued upward of $5 billion. Fabletics was founded in 2013 by Adam Goldenberg and Don Ressler and is owned by TechStyle Fashion Group. The brand aims to fill a void in the market between high-end brands such as Lululemon and less expensive brands. The Group has selected Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Barclays Plc and Bank of America Corp. for the IPO. Fabletics would be one more emerging consumer-focused brand entering a hot IPO market. Other recent IPO’s include the healthcare apparel startup Figs Inc. Figs, which specialized in better fitting scrubs, began trading less than two months ago and has a roughly $6 billion valuation. The stock has remained above its IPO price even after shares tumbled.

The post Kate Hudson’s Fabletics Sets Sights on an IPO appeared first on Athletech News.

The acquisition of Sweat expands iFIT’s presence in the global digital fitness market, and accelerates the company’s delivery of best-in-class interactive fitness experiences for consumers worldwide. Sweat will remain a standalone brand as part of iFIT. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Founded in 2015 by renowned trainer Kayla Itsines and CEO Tobi Pearce, Sweat has engaged with millions of women around the world in their journeys to become healthier, stronger and more confident. The Sweat platform is powered by a team of industry-leading personal trainers and offers over 5,000 unique workouts across 26 exercise programs ranging from high-intensity interval training and strength to yoga, barre and Pilates. Sweat Co-Founders Kayla Itsines and Tobi Pearce will continue to lead the Sweat business in their existing roles, with the company remaining headquartered in Adelaide, Australia.

Working with the Sweat team, iFIT will use its over four decades of experience and innovation in the connected fitness space to strengthen the Sweat member experience, build brand presence in key international markets, and grow and diversify content offerings, including the introduction of cardio-based and equipment workouts in the coming months. The acquisition will also provide opportunities for iFIT and Sweat to collaborate on content development, resulting in an increased range of exciting fitness experiences. iFIT plans to support job growth in the Sweat business over the near- and long-term across product, engineering, marketing and content divisions.

“Kayla, Tobi and the team at Sweat have built an incredible brand and community of fitness enthusiasts,” said Scott Watterson, CEO and Founder of iFIT. “We are delighted to welcome Kayla’s authentic fitness training and charismatic personality—along with all of Sweat’s other star trainers—to the iFIT family.”

“Our two founder-led businesses are highly complementary and this acquisition extends our market reach into new geographies, demographics and fitness preferences spanning both home and commercial markets globally. We have a shared vision of helping people around the world achieve their goals for health and well-being.”

Watterson added, “The addition of Sweat will allow iFIT to further expand our membership base as well as add new fitness genres and modalities to our fast-growing subscription business, giving our company a tremendous competitive advantage.”

“We have long admired iFIT as a fitness industry leader and are proud to join the iFIT family,” said Sweat CEO and Co-Founder Tobi Pearce. “We look forward to working with Scott and his leadership team to accelerate our global expansion and further enhance the consumer experience for Sweat as part of the iFIT ecosystem. iFIT enables us to create a breadth of engaging new content to fulfill the rapidly growing fitness needs of our members around the world.”

Sweat Co-Founder Kayla Itsines said the acquisition represented a new chapter in the company’s history.

“Sweat has had an incredible journey from our humble beginnings training women one-on-one in my Adelaide backyard to launching the Sweat App in 2015 to now joining the iFIT family,” Itsines said. “Sweat was founded on our simple belief that fitness can genuinely help women improve their confidence, health and quality of life. Through iFIT’s strategic leadership, we will be able to create new world class fitness content and product experiences to support more women on their fitness path forward.”

“IFIT’s acquisition has opened the door to an exciting new future for Sweat where we can deliver greater fitness variety, choice and value for women everywhere.”

The post iFIT Acquires Sweat, a Leading Digital Fitness App for Women appeared first on Athletech News.

FlexItPRO

The inaugural class of FlexItPRO trainers has been hand-picked by elite curators, including Ebenezer Samuel, FlexIt’s Head of Training Innovation. Select FlexItPRO trainers include: 

• Ebenezer Samuel, CSCS: Head of Training Innovation at FlexIt, Samuel has worked with Antonio Brown and other NFL athletes, and he’s starred in workout videos, including New Rules of Muscle. He’s a leading voice in the fitness and wellness space who has spoken before the National Strength and Conditioning Association and appeared on numerous podcasts.
• Jay Cardiello, CSCS: Men’s Health Editor for Verywell.com, Wellness Contributor on the Martha Stewart Radio Show, Shape’s #1 Motivator in Health and Wellness. Cardiello has worked with celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Sofia Vergara, 50 Cent, Rami Malek, Kevin Love, Timothy Chalamet, and several professional sports teams. 
• Johanna Sapakie: Trainer and choreographer to the stars, who has worked with Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, and Miley Cyrus. Sapakie has been involved with projects such as Cirque Du Soleil, Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show, and Hustlers (2019). 
• Pete Geracimo: Former triathlete with over thirty years experience working with the best in the fitness industry. Geracimo has trained a number of high-profile clients including Adele, Kim Cattrall, and members of the British Royal Family. 
• Matt Powell, CSCS, RD – US Special Operations head performance coach, international strongman, and registered dietitian with almost two decades of strength coach experience. Powell has worked with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, as well as three Division 1 Universities. Matt also worked as country music superstar Sam Hunt’s personal trainer on tour. 

FlexItPRO is debuting with current and former athletes, celebrities, and well-known individuals at the helm. The platform has been used by, among many others: 

• Terrell Owens – NFL Hall of Famer and six-time Pro Bowler.
• Austin Ernst – 3-time LPGA Champion, 2017 Solheim Cup team member, and 2011 NCAA Individual Champion. 
• Bart Scott – Former Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets player and ESPN Radio host.
• Jennifer Cohen – Host of Habits & Hustle podcast, best selling fitness author, and entrepreneur who launched a fitness platform, among many other projects with her new company, Supreme Fitness. 
• Tina Craig – Serial entrepreneur and influencer marketer. Founder of the famed fashion blog BagSnob, and Founder & CEO of luxe self-care line U Beauty. 

Center for the Milwaukee Bucks, former Center for the LA Lakers, NBAAll-Star, and all-time leading scorer for the Brooklyn Nets, Brook Lopez, was spotted before game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals sporting FlexIt gear. After leading the Bucks to victory, Lopez spoke about his playoff career high during the Postgame Press Conference in his FlexIt hoodie; power forward for the Utah Jazz, Juwan Morgan, entered game 5 of the NBA Western Conference Semifinals sporting FlexIt apparel; UFC fighter and former Middleweight Champion, Chris Weidman, was spotted in FlexIt apparel throughout his summer training for his return fight. 

“It’s great for any and everybody, especially people that have busy schedules like myself,” Terrell Owens says of the new premium offering. “When I’m in the gym, I go hard. I try to make the most out of my workouts. With Virtual Personal Training you can get that same outcome, that same level of success, in half the time.” FlexIt CEO and Founder Austin Cohen says, “FlexItPRO represents the best that the fitness and health world has to offer. By working with professional athletes and high-performance trainers whose passion for fitness rivals our own, FlexIt crafted the best training solution, approved by fitness leaders, from fitness leaders. We’re proud to offer the attention and experience typically only available to celebrities and athletes, to everyone, Wherever, Whenever.” 

“FlexIt is at the forefront of fitness innovation, and I am very excited to be offering my skills and experience to our users,” says Ebenezer Samuel, “A big benefit of FlexItPRO for me as a trainer is that I get to meet and work with people I wouldn’t otherwise get the opportunity to train.” 

Justin Turetsky, Chief Operating Officer and Founding Member of FlexIt notes, “Trainers can bring star-quality attention through live 1-on-1 sessions offered on a platform built for the delivery of personal training. At FlexIt, we are serious about training and continuing to find ways to innovate and elevate our unique experience and offering.” FlexIt’s premier Virtual Personal Training platform was designed specifically for exercise, with proprietary features that ensure clients are getting the most out of their sessions. These include timers, specialized camera views, music integration, health and wellness tracking, and form correction features, which allow trainers to project drawings and video demonstrations on screen to adjust technique in real-time. 

FlexIt is currently available for download in the App Store and Google Play. To learn more about FlexIt, visit: www.flexit.fit.

The post FlexIt, the #1 Virtual Personal Training Platform, Announces the Launch of FlexItPRO™, an Exclusive Online Service Connecting Consumers to World-Class Fitness Professionals appeared first on Athletech News.

The newly integrated Equinox+ offers seamless access to physical and digital programming with unlimited on-demand and in-club access, live classes, personalized scheduling, activity tracking, and more. According to the Equinox website, the decision to integrate the two apps was an evolution of their continued vision for the brand. 

The new app aims to focus more on building community features, connecting experiences, and further integrating member recommendations. Most importantly it gives members the ability to “power their pursuit in the club, at home, or wherever they are, whenever they’re ready.” You do not need to be an Equinox club member to access the Equinox+ app (you can purchase a subscription separately for $39.99/month), however, all Equinox club members still receive complimentary access to the app. One thing not yet available in the Equinox+ App is the integration capability with Strava, an app that lets users track running, riding and other physical activity leveraging GPS. Peloton, Whoop, Garmin as well as other fitness apps provide this integration. Strava grew exponentially during 2020 and is currently valued at $1.5 billion.

Equinox also made headlines this week for two other developments. After rumours about the company going public, according to Bloomberg News, negotiations between Social Capital Hedosophia Holdings Corp. VI and Equinoxunravelled as the two could not come to terms on the company’s valuation. Bloomberg News had previously reported that the two parties had the company valued at more than $7.5 billion.

In other Equinox news, the fitness chain is being sued by their landlord for defaulting on more than $3.3 million in rent and other charges at its Soho location, Crain’s New York reported Wednesday. According to The Real Deal, rent for the luxury gym at 568 Broadway runs at $172,000 per month, excluding taxes and utilities. A group of investors led by Allied Partners say they haven’t received a payment since April 2020. This is not the first time Equinox has been accused of falling behind on its payments.

The post Equinox+ App Introduction and Other Related News appeared first on Athletech News.

Lerer Hippeau, an early stage venture capital fund based in New York City, is putting their money behind Cake, a digitally native brand aiming to normalize sexual health as part of one’s wellness routine because wellness includes sex. An area often overlooked in VC funding, often because of clauses which prohibit funds from putting investors’ money towards businesses that are considered “controversial” like alcohol, gambling, and sex, Lerer Hippeau isn’t shying away acknowledging  the white space opportunity… 

Cake offers an omnichannel line of lubricants, condoms, and toys — with specific products tailored to meet the differing needs of individuals, straight couples, and LGBTQ+ couples. Cake’s mission is to make sex more fun. Cake actively seeks feedback from customers, saying their products are based on ideas and feedback we get directly from our users. Their goal is to make their customers feel more pleasure and have more fun. Cake’s products center around inclusive and diverse representation and are created with customer’s health in mind ensuring only the safest of ingredients and materials are used. In addition, they are working to make their products available at an accessible price point. 

Historically most health and wellness brands have focused on fitness, diet, nutrition, meditation and now mental health, while new brands within “wellness includes sex” space have been few. Today, the $108 billion market for sexual wellness products is served predominantly by incumbent brands in the “family planning aisle.” The archaic products and flat messaging of traditional players within the space have only made the shopping experience for sexual related products feel more taboo and awkward instead of fun and exciting. Cake has already secured a partnership with Walmart to launch their colorful products in 4,000 Walmart store locations across the U.S., truly “reinventing the sex aisle” as a more accessible and approachable experience for consumers today.

In a survey of Cake customers, 84% said Cake made their sex lives better. If that’s not enough of a statistic to get consumers excited, we are not sure what is…

The post Wellness Includes Sex appeared first on Athletech News.

The global mindfulness meditation app market is expected to reach over $4,206 million by 2027. Relaxx recently announced the launch of their innovative Relaxx app, which is designed to “help people experience the pleasures of life’s energy to stay calm and sleep well.” The newly launched app creates individualized experiences for users. People can also learn the art of intermittent silence. The Relaxx app is currently the focus of a fundraiser on the Indiegogo crowdfunding website. Relaxx joins the rapidly growing mindfulness meditation app market including Calm, Headspace, buddhify, Breethe, Waking Up, and Moov. While many may anticipate the market being quite saturated, the statistics of stress and depression levels of people across the world demonstrate a clear need for these applications. Approximately 1 out of 6 people are currently facing at least one mental disorder around the globe.

The post Can Relaxx Really Help You Stay Calm? appeared first on Athletech News.

The round was led by global venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and Connect Ventures, an investment partnership between leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and NEA, and celebrity investors rooted in the world of Boxing and MMA including Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather, Georges St-Pierre, and Francis Ngannou. With the round of funding, FightCamp plans on expanding to the Android platform, launching internationally, and increasing the depth of its interactive content to help users dive deeper into the sport of Boxing, Kickboxing, and Martial Arts. 

“FightCamp takes me back to the basics with a heavy cardio focused regimen. It was a cool way to introduce Boxing to my kids and now I can’t keep them off it,” said Mike Tyson, FightCamp investor, and former undisputed world heavyweight champion. 

Instead of focusing on having the widest list of modalities, FightCamp differentiates itself within the at-home fitness market by delivering a deep, authentic dive into the sport that replicates a genuine Boxing and Kickboxing gym at home, and develops real skills that engage members’ minds and bodies. Its winning combination of cutting-edge technology, studio-grade equipment, and trainers with real fight experience has proven successful with members throwing more than 1 billion punches since the start, and sales growing 30 times over the last two years. 

“The at-home fitness category was accelerated last year. Now, as more consumers adopt the trend as their permanent routine, we have an even greater opportunity to give people a taste of Boxing and Martial Arts culture in their own home,” said Khalil Zahar, Founder and CEO of FightCamp. “The growth we saw during our first two years before the pandemic started proves that the connected fitness industry is here to stay long after the pandemic is over, and getting the best professional fighters as investors in FightCamp is another step toward giving consumers the most authentic Martial Arts experience from the comfort of their home.”
According to a

Consumer Trends report from The New Consumer published earlier this year, 81% of people under the age of 40 prefer to exercise at home, and FightCamp found that 85% more people stick with their routine longer if they use equipment than those who simply stream workouts. Not only do consumers prefer at-home workouts, but Boxing was one of the top 7 most popular fitness classes taken on ClassPass in the US, and outside of the US, Martial Arts was the number one fitness class taken with friends on ClassPass. The appetite for at-home workouts has never been higher, and FightCamp has successfully brought a favorite workout into consumer’s homes – this funding will allow them to continue to do so on a larger scale. 

“In 2019, Boxing and Kickboxing classes had 33 percent more participation than cycling classes in the USA, yet the connected fitness space has been saturated with cycling options and other look-alike products. With so much opportunity in the Boxing and Kickboxing segment – arguably the most effective and enjoyable fitness discipline – FightCamp has emerged as a clear market leader, and stands alone in its category,” said Harley Miller, Founder and Managing Partner at Left Lane Capital, a preeminent firm for B2C investments. “We spent time with nearly every relevant player in the connected fitness market and found the market to be filled with expensive products and copycats selling into the same affluent audience. In FightCamp, we saw a truly unique product format and experience, which both captured the spirit of the fighter, while providing an authentic entry point to all levels.”
“FightCamp’s overall efficiency and competitive advantage are what made the company an attractive investment for us,” said Rick Yang, General Partner and Head of Consumer Investing at NEA, lead investor in this funding round. “FightCamp has gone above and beyond the basics of interactive cardio by incorporating advanced motion tracking. Boxing, Kickboxing, and other combat sports are huge cultural drivers, and this team knows what it takes to have a solid advantage over any competitors entering this space. Innovation aside, the customer base grew 30 times over two years, with demand outstripping supply, all while burning through minimal capital. This is the type of team and company we love to partner with, and this capital will give them plenty of fuel to continue their rapid scaling.”

Offering wearable punch trackers that display the number of punches and output of each punch thrown and studio-grade equipment, including a bag, base, premium Boxing gloves, quick wraps, and a mat, users are able to learn the necessary skills of the sought-after sport alongside real fighters that teach the authentic skills of Boxing and Kickboxing. Recently, FightCamp launched its Versus Mode that offers users the option to virtually fight against themselves and others on the leaderboard.

FightCamp’s Boxing and Kickboxing experts and certified trainers have carefully curated more than 1000 classes, drills, and trainings to help build the strength and skill of each FightCamp fighter. FightCamp trainers include: Tommy Duquette, former US Boxing team member and Co-Founder of FightCamp; Shanie “Smash” Rusth, a professional MMA competitor; Aaron Swenson, former member of the USA National Kickboxing team; Flo Master, a life-long martial artist and dancer who has worked with many celebrities including Usher, Ciara, Jennifer Lopez, and Will Smith; and PJ Shirdan, a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Certified MMA Strength and Conditioning Coach

“One of the most intriguing aspects of FightCamp is its consumer engagement. While many users simply begin FightCamp for fitness reasons, they quickly become focused on their form and technique, watching fights, reading fighter bios, and really becoming fans of the sport and ultimately part of its culture,” said Michael Blank, Head of Consumer Investments at CAA. “FightCamp’s goal is to bring the training techniques of one of the oldest sports in history to mainstream audiences, and we look forward to accessing our reach and resources in both sports and entertainment to further grow the business into a worldwide leader in at-home fitness.”

Additional investors include: IVP; Y Combinator; Ilkka Paananen, Founder and CEO of Supercell; Fritz Lanman, CEO of ClassPass; Mike Tyson, former WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight champion; Floyd Mayweather, recently named Fighter of The Decade by the BWAA; Georges St-Pierre, UFC Hall of Famer; Francis Ngannou, reigning UFC Heavyweight Champion; Usher, platinum recording artist and dancer; and Katheryn Winnick, actress known for her role in Vikings and 3rd Dan Black Belt holder in Karate and Taekwondo. 

The post FightCamp, Connected Fitness Leader, Raises $90 million from NEA, Left Lane, CAA, Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather, George St Pierre, Francis Ngannou, and More, to Bring Its Interactive Boxing and Kickboxing Gym to Masses appeared first on Athletech News.

Today Echelon Fitness announces its partnership with GRAMMY®-winning independent international superstar, education advocate, business entrepreneur and motivational speaker, Pitbull. Also known as Mr. Worldwide, Pitbull is ready to ride as part of the official Echelon Fitness team.

In addition to a financial investment in the company, Pitbull’s involvement will offer considerable new content and value for the Echelon Community members, globally. The partnership will include:

• Dedicated anthem song written to inspire members, and get the world moving and feeling good. The Echelon anthem will be released as a single on his new album, heard on his upcoming I Feel Good tour and through radio and TV Echelon spots.
• Special dedicated “Ride with Pitbull” content channel, including the music of Pitbull.
• Ability to ride with Pitbull himself along with some of his dancers including classes created and taught by his dancers, The Most Bad Ones.
• Exclusive, co-branded bike and merchandise centered around his Timeless album launch.
• Echelon’s engagement with Pitbull’s educational learning centers SLAM! by offering internships and college scholarships.

The anchor channel will live within the Echelon Fit app (exclusive to members) featuring Pitbull’s brand, image and music.

“It is truly an honor to partner with Echelon Fitness,” says Armando Christian Perez (Pitbull). “With this new venture, we look forward to producing new avenues for music and fitness. Music is the universal language. Fitness is a cultural movement. Together we will create a powerful generation. I don’t know about you but that makes me feel good, Dale!”

“Learning Pitbull was a fan of our product and our community was humbling,” said Lou Lentine, President and CEO of Echelon Fitness. “We have been experiencing significant growth, and confidence from key financial investors, including a recent investment led by Goldman Sachs. Pitbull has featured and been featured with some of the biggest talents in the music industry. And now his latest feature is with Echelon Fitness. We are so excited to welcome Mr. Worldwide to the team!”

For more information about the Pitbull Listening channel, the Echelon Connected equipment and membership, visit https://echelonfit.com.

The post Pitbull Is Ready to Ride… with Echelon Fitness appeared first on Athletech News.

This expansion was made possible through Xponential’s existing relationship with Palladin Consumer Retail Partners, a Boston-based private equity firm, and their establishment of “PB Metro” in 2019 which is now rebranding six former Flywheel Sports studios that closed permanently last year, along with further territory development in the market. The initial six NYC CycleBar locations include:

●        Noho – 51 Astor Place, New York, NY

●        Flatiron – 39 W. 21^st Street, New York, NY

●        Upper East Side – 201 E. 67^th Street, New York, NY

●        NoMad – 420 Park Ave S., New York, NY

●        Tribeca – 415 Greenwich St., New York NY

●        Williamsburg – 173 North 3rd Street Brooklyn, NY

This partnership with PB Metro will also bring about one new CycleBar studio in Philadelphia at 1521 Locust Street.

“After years of being a staple in the boutique cycling industry, we are excited CycleBar has reached the Big Apple with the help of Palladin,” said Anthony Geisler, CEO of Xponential Fitness. “With a devoted population of riders in NYC and a pent-up demand for local neighborhood boutique fitness, the time could not be better for us to debut our high-energy, rhythm-based workout to such a fitness-focused market in the United States.”

This announcement continues the ongoing partnership between Xponential and Palladin, led by Xponential’s EVP of Franchise Development, Jason Losco, which began with Palladin’s 2019 formation of PB Metro and subsequent expansion of sister-brand, Pure Barre, throughout NYC. There are currently 16 open Pure Barre studios in the greater New York market owned by PB Metro, with an additional 12 licenses to be developed over the next three years.

In addition to converting the six Flywheel locations to CycleBar studios in NYC, the partnership with PB Metro gives the group the right to develop 23 more CycleBar studios in the NY metro market over the next five years. Two of these locations will introduce dual concepts, with both a CycleBar studio and a Pure Barre studio in the same building.

Rob Fioretti, Managing Director of Palladin commented, “We are excited to grow our partnership with Xponential as we begin to grow the CycleBar brand and continue to expand the Pure Barre brand and in New York and other regions. With the exclusive rights to develop both concepts in our territory, our Pure Barre and CycleBar studios will be the premier boutique fitness platform in this area offering clients a truly unique studio fitness experience.”

“We are thrilled to watch Xponential’s continued expansion,” said Mark Grabowski, Managing Partner at Snapdragon Capital Partners who backs Xponential Fitness and its brands. “The transaction will establish CycleBar’s footprint in one of the most important markets for boutique fitness, and we are excited for CycleBar to enter the New York market.

ABOUT CYCLEBAR:

Founded in 2004, CycleBar is the largest indoor cycling brand by number of studios and offers a variety of low-impact, high-intensity indoor cycling workouts, which are inclusive of all fitness levels. CycleBar offers an immersive, multi-sensory experience in state-of-the-art “CycleTheaters,” led by specially trained instructors, enhanced with high-energy “CycleBeats” playlists and tracked using rider-specific “CycleStat” performance metrics. Ranked on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 and Fastest-Growing Franchises in 2021 as well as Inc. Magazine’s Inc. 5000 in 2020, CycleBar is headquartered in Irvine, CA and backed by Xponential Fitness, a curator of leading boutique fitness brands. To learn more about CycleBar, visit www.cyclebar.com.

ABOUT XPONENTIAL FITNESS:

Founded in 2017 by Anthony Geisler, Xponential Fitness has built and curated a diversified platform of nine boutique fitness brands spanning across fitness and wellness verticals – including Pilates, indoor cycling, barre, stretch, rowing, dance, boxing, running and yoga. Currently, Xponential Fitness’s portfolio of brands includes Club Pilates, the nation’s largest Pilates brand; CycleBar, the nation’s largest indoor cycling brand; StretchLab, a concept offering one-on-one assisted stretching services and group stretch services; Row House, a high-energy, low-impact indoor rowing workout; AKT, a dance-based cardio workout combining toning, interval and circuit training developed by Celebrity Trainer Anna Kaiser; YogaSix, a modern boutique yoga brand; Pure Barre, a total body workout that uses the ballet barre to perform small isometric movements;  STRIDE, a treadmill-based cardio and strength training concept; and most recently Rumble, a boxing-inspired full-body workout that delivers 45-minute, 10-round, full-body strength and conditioning workouts crafted around specially designed water-filled, teardrop-style boxing bags. Visit www.xponential.com to learn more.

ABOUT PALLADIN RETAIL PARTNERS:

Palladin Consumer Retail Partners is a private equity firm with extensive experience investing in and building leading retail and consumer brands. Founded in 1998, the firm prides itself on working closely with management teams to create value through strategic and operational initiatives. Its principals have previously held CEO and other senior executive roles at several wholesale, retail, and related companies, and have invested in, financed, or managed over 100 public and private companies. Current and former investments include Leapfrog, Decowraps, PB Metro, Splash Car Wash, KT Tape, Nic+Zoe, InMotion Entertainment, J. McLaughlin, Things Remembered, Restoration Hardware, Spencer Gifts, Shearer’s Foods, Jamba Juice, Worldlynx and Kwik-Tek.

ABOUT SNAPDRAGON CAPITAL PARTNERS:

Snapdragon is a private equity investment firm founded by Mark Grabowski in 2018 targeting concentrated investments in health & wellness, and consumer services. The firm leverages its deep industry knowledge and business building experience to work with management teams seeking a partner to reach their full potential. Snapdragon has helped build portfolio company Xponential Fitness, and Snapdragon is also an investor in Nutraceutical, today a leading supplements and personal care platform. For more information about Snapdragon, please visit snapdragoncap.com.

The post CycleBar to Debut in New York City with Multiple Former Flywheel Locations appeared first on Athletech News.

“The TRIPP experience leverages a large body of existing research on the use of technology in the mental wellness arena and utilizes proven mindfulness structures, targeted sound frequencies, visuals and interactions that have a multiplicative effect when administered through the immersion of VR.” TRIPP is part of an increasing number of startups that are focused on well-being and mindfulness. In a recent interview with TechCrunch, the startup disclosed that they have secured $11 million in funding led by Vine Ventures and Mayfield with participation from Integrated, among others. Since it’s launch, Tripp has raised some $15 million in funding. Despite the growing attention on mental health, VR startups have had trouble earning investor attention as major tech platforms have abandoned their virtual reality efforts as they struggled to monetize them. VR companies focused on gaming and computer vision have seen better financial success.

The post TRIPP, a Psychedelic VR Meditation Startup, Raises $11M appeared first on Athletech News.

Xponential Fitness is the largest boutique fitness franchisor in the US that owns well-known boutique fitness companies such Club Pilates, Pure Barre, Rumble and CycleBar. The company had been rumored to go public last year but when the pandemic hit plans were halted. During the pandemic, Xponential Fitness turned to outdoor and digital programming to drive sales for its brands. Original plans anticipated Xponential to be valued at about $1.3 billion, Bloomberg News reported at the time. The company’s revenue was severely hit by COVID-19 with a net loss of $4.8 million on revenue of $29 million for the three months that ended March 31, compared with a loss of $1.9 million on revenue of $32 million in the first quarter of 2020.

The post After the Pandemic Halted Original Plans, Xponential Fitness Files for IPO appeared first on Athletech News.

Dick’s Sporting Goods is looking forward to a world post pandemic and it’s all about brick and mortar.

The Coraopolis, Pennsylvania-based America’s largest sporting goods retail company is not only aggressively building new locations, but also testing a line of House of Sport experiential stores with turf playing fields, climbing walls, batting cages, yoga classes and a host of other features designed to make the store more than a place to simply purchase fitness equipment.

The sporting goods retailer was established by Richard “Dick” Stack in 1948 and has approximately 854 stores and 50,100 employees.

In a recent interview with PYMNTS, the senior director of technology for Stores and Omnicommerce for the company, J.P. White, explained, “The store is hardly a sideshow for Dick’s, it’s the centerpiece of the retailer’s business and will remain so, even in the wake of shifting consumers’ purchasing preferences.”

Included in their 2021 strategy and beyond is to also meet the customer in the digital realm to address the much desired omnicommerce experience.

Through leveraging technology and personalization to create optimal digital experiences the team at Dick’s Sporting Goods believes it can continue to drive customer engagement and sales.

This article comes on the heels of the sporting goods retail company raising its full-year outlook after momentum continued in the fiscal first quarter.

The post Dick’s Sporting Goods Looks Ahead Focusing on Stores, Digital Experience, Personalization appeared first on Athletech News.

It comes as no surprise that Reebok is trying to reinvent itself. Over the past decade the brand has struggled to solidify its identity and define its niche amongst a competitive market of fitness brands.

Adidas, which acquired Reebok in 2006 for $3.8B, has plans to sell off the brand in the near future driven by continued underperformance and accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. As it prepares for its future, Reebok has released the first look at its “refreshed brand creative direction” under Vice President of Creative Direction Kerby Jean-Raymond.

Jean-Raymond joined Reebok in September of 2020 and is responsible for defining a new vision for the brand along with Artistic Marketing Director Jide Osifeso. 

According to Retail Drive, a video collection dubbed “Reconnect” is the first step in changing Reebok’s creative direction.

“Reconnect” features a series of vignettes and one long-form video exploring sports and community directed by Jonas Lindstroem. The videos are available on YouTube and will be rolled out through Reebok’s Instagram over the next few weeks.

According to President Matt O’Toole, Reebok wants to be a challenger brand telling a “bolder story than its competitors” and is also looking to broaden its scope to athletic lifestyle rather than just traditional fitness products.

The post Reebok Gets a Refresh. Will it Work? appeared first on Athletech News.

A study conducted last month by Orangetheory of over 1,000 18+ adults uncovered that 70 percent of “exercising-Americans admit they miss their routine before COVID-19, with more than 30 percent missing being inside a gym; having access to different fitness equipment; or having variety in their workouts.” The study also found that 68 percent of Americans feel their fitness regimen during the pandemic was less effective and disciplined compared to prior workouts, despite a continued commitment to exercising. So what does this mean looking forward? It means that Americans are eager to set new fitness goals, take their workouts outside and back to the gym to find the camaraderie they can’t replicate at home. This sentiment bodes well for the gym industry hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, let’s see if they can capitalize on this consumer opportunity…

The post Is “Basement Burnout” Real? And if so, What Does it Mean for the Fitness Industry? appeared first on Athletech News.

According to The Verge, Facebook is planning to unveil its first smartwatch next summer. The Facebook watch can possibly give Apple a run for its money.

The smartwatch by the social networking giant will feature two cameras and a detachable display module that allows people to capture images and videos on the go.

The camera sensor at the front is designed to be used for video calls.

This announcement does not come as a surprise as the social media behemoth continues to try to compete with Apple across multiple areas, including with Facebook watch to give apple some tough time.

Facebook demonstrated interest in participating in the smartwatch arena when it looked to purchase San Francisco-headquartered consumer electronics and fitness company Fitbit in 2019 (Google ended up snatching the fitness wearable maker).

Since then, Facebook has spent roughly $1 billion to develop the first version of its watch and has hundreds of people working on the effort.

According to the Verge article, the first edition watch will come in three color options – black, gold, and white, and will be priced around $400.

Whether Facebook watch and Apple Watch will make choosing a smartwatch between them difficult for smartwatch enthusiasts remains to be seen, but Facebook’s can be expected to be a force to be reckoned with for Apple.

The post Can Facebook Watch Give Apple Tough Time? appeared first on Athletech News.

This may just be the bike for the masses. A recent article in Digital Journal, calls the VRAi Fitness SB1000X the “next-generation” bike that every fitness fanatic must-have. Unlike many smart bikes on the market that leverage proprietary technology and custom apps, the VRAi Fitness SB1000X allows users to choose their fitness app such as Zwift, Kinomap, Sufferfest, Rouvy, BKool, Fitshow, Les Mills and Fulgaz) while pedaling. The Bluetooth app connectivity allows the bike to sync directly to the user’s smartphone, tablet or television seamlessly, processing fitness data to the apps in real-time. This unique setup coupled with the lower price points (it costs a fraction of the price of competitors like Peloton or Echelon) makes this bike quite the compelling product for those interested in spinning. Will this British based company succeed in proving you don’t need to spend $2,000+ to be part of the spinning fitness craze?

The post Can This Cheaper Spin Bike Compete? appeared first on Athletech News.

Mobi Health News reports that Apple’s latest releases in the newest operating system include real-time assessment of walking stability and fall risk, additional context for lab test results, new tools for tracking health trends for individuals as well as caregivers and new integrations with major EHR vendors.

“This past year has emphasized the importance of health, and we’re enabling our users to take a more active role in their well-being,” Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer, said. “We’ve added powerful features that give users the most comprehensive set of insights to better understand their health trends over time.”

He added, “Many people around the world are caring for someone, and we want to provide a secure and private way for users to have a trusted partner on their health journey. We’re excited to bring these innovative tools directly into users’ hands.”

Other new releases by Apple include respiratory rate (breaths taken per minute) in the sleep app and Tai Chi and Pilates in its list of recognized workout types.

These features, as well as several others, demonstrate Apple’s continued commitment to improving the mental and physical health of its users.

It also corresponds with the growth of mental health companies and the additional funding pouring into the space.

The post Apple’s Latest Releases Are All About Health & Wellbeing appeared first on Athletech News.

This event held annually is a well known information technology meeting that serves as a launchpad for new products. Apple may be introducing this “Mind” app during the keynote address. While Apple works to keep these releases a secret until the event, a developer discovered app bundle identifiers pointing to the potential new features destined for watchOS 8. We are extremely interested to see what this will look like (should it really exist) and how it might compete with mental health apps such as Calm and Headspace already in the market.

The post Apple’s Next Release Could be “Mindful” appeared first on Athletech News.