Fitt Insider

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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