Fitt Insider

Today, I'm joined by Tom Hale, CEO of Oura, maker of a smart ring analyzing a wearer's biometric data with the goal of improving sleep, stress, fitness, and overall health. Founded in Finland in 2013, Oura has quickly become one of the world's fastest-growing wearables, recently eclipsing 1M rings sold. Developed as a sleep tracker, the technology has evolved to provide sleep, readiness, and activity insights to users through Oura's app interface. In this episode, we discuss Tom's experience leading growth-stage startups, his personal health journey with Oura, and how wearables are transforming healthcare. In this episode, you'll learn: • Tom's perspective on growing mid-size subscription businesses • How Oura leverages data to improve users' health • Oura's unique strategies for next-gen wearables Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcast Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider/ Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:15) Tom's background and journey to Oura (05:56) About Oura (10:55) Subscription business model (15:10) Oura's subscription model (18:59) Oura ring vs other wearables (24:08) Marketing strategies (26:04) COVID's impact on healthcare (28:24) Data driven healthcare (33:39) New features to look out for (36:51) Conclusion

Today, I'm joined by Dennis Crowley, co-founder and CEO of Street FC, a tech-enabled street soccer league. Street FC is building the world's biggest football club, organizing 5v5 street soccer games on hard-court surfaces in urban settings. Scheduled and monitored through its app and Discord channel, it runs games in NYC, Austin, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Minneapolis, with plans to expand to 20 cities by the end of 2023. In this episode, we discuss Dennis's experience using technology to bridge digital and real-life communities, plus Street FC's growth plans for soccer and beyond. In this episode, you'll learn: • Dennis's journey from Foursquare to creating the "SoulCycle for soccer" • How Street FC leverages playing surfaces as billboards for brands • Street FC's strategic plan to grow to 20 cities by 2023 Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcast Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider/ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:14 Dennis's background 03:43 Bridging the gap of digital and physical worlds 06:50 Why Street FC exists 09:49 How the community works 12:53 Street FC expansion 15:07 Getting more people to play soccer 16:39 Growth strategy 19:26 Merchandise and branding 23:50 Discord community 26:06 Soho House for soccer 27:57 International expansion and evolving into other sports 29:06 The fun and hard parts about start-ups 31:10 Conclusion

Today, I'm joined by Don Faul, CEO of CrossFit, a functional fitness program with licensed affiliates across the world. Founded in 2001, the high-intensity strength and mobility regimen has expanded rapidly through affiliate gyms, global fitness competitions, and merchandise. Serving 5M athletes through 14K locations, CrossFit's tight-knit community encourages better health and peak physical fitness. In this episode, we discuss how Don's experience in the military, Big Tech, and startups led to his role with CrossFit and how introducing more people to the CrossFit lifestyle is central to the business. In this episode, you'll learn: • Don's path to CEO of CrossFit • How the brand is changing its perception to reach more people • Its strategy to grow and improve the CrossFit ecosystem Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcast Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider/ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:17 Don's Background 03:15 Becoming the CEO of CrossFit 05:24 New strategy for the company 8:03 Key initiatives for the coming years 13:06 Changing brand perception to reach more people 15:04 The value of doing hard things 16:47 How the CrossFit Games affects perception 20:50 Affiliate ecosystem and partners 24:29 How Don plans to grow the brand 30:16 Focusing long term vs. short term 32:31 Conclusion

Today, I'm joined by Derek Flanzraich, founder and CEO of Ness, a wellness-based fintech company. Beginning with a credit card that rewards healthy purchases through an app-based rewards program, Ness is building a world that reduces the cost of wellcare, allowing more people to improve their well-being. Currently offering kickbacks for fitness memberships, wellness experiences, healthy food, and more, the company hopes its credit card creates a wedge into healthcare, aligning incentives between care providers and consumers. In this episode, we discuss the Ness's rewards platform and wellness credit card, the lessons Derek learned from founding and selling media company Greatist, and how Ness plans to address the misaligned incentives in healthcare. In this episode, you'll learn: • What Derek has learned from founding Greatist and Ness • His plan to reprioritize well-being in the healthcare industry • Consumer trends in health and wellness spending Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcast Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider/ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:17 Derek's background 05:10 The Ness origin story 12:10 Incentive alignment in healthcare 15:02 Ness credit card solution 17:28 Credit card points for health and wellness 20:16 Ness rewards app 25:47 Open enrollment and partnership opportunities 27:44 Redefining people's relationships with their health 30:38 Building an audience 35:09 The first Ness credit card reveal 35:46 How to engage with Ness 36:56 Conclusion

John Klein, Co-founder and CEO of Pause Studio, shares insights from his journey in holistic health and wellness. He discusses innovative recovery methods like cryotherapy and flotation while navigating the challenges of franchising a wellness brand. John highlights the rise of post-pandemic wellness trends and the impact of social media on client engagement. He reveals exciting plans for future product launches, including a Sleep Tincture, and his vision for expanding their holistic healing services across the U.S.

Today I'm joined by Fritz Lanman, CEO of Mindbody. Mindbody's 20 years of product innovation, research, and thought leadership fueled the boom of the boutique wellness revolution and continue to foster the growth of the global wellness industry. Mindbody serves wellness professionals around the world who have dedicated their lives to bettering other lives, connecting them with millions of people seeking those transformative experiences. In this episode, Fritz talks about his experience running ClassPass, why the company was acquired by Mindbody, and his transition to the Chief Executive role. Plus, we cover wellness trends, the fitness industry's recovery, and more. In this episode, you'll learn: The pricing model that ClassPass' studio partners hated and hurt the company's bottom line How Fritz convinced studios, spas, and salons to integrate ClassPass and convinced outside investors of its potential Why in-person fitness experience is making a comeback and how Mindbody is capitalizing on its resurgence Links & Resources Subscribe to the Fitt Insider newsletter Visit the Fitt Insider jobs board View current Fitt Insider investment and get in touch Fritz' Links Mindbody's website Follow Mindbody on Twitter Mindbody is on Instagram Connect with Mindbody on Facebook Check out Mindbody on YouTube ClassPass' website Follow Fritz on Twitter Fritz' LinkedIn page Fitt Insider podcast #86: Josh McCarter, CEO of Mindbody Fitt Insider podcast #36: Fritz Lanman, CEO of ClassPass Fitt Insider podcast #11: Rick Stollmeyer, Co-founder and CEO of MINDBODY

Today I'm joined by Jason Moore, CEO of Spren. Spren uses the light and camera from a smartphone to detect subtle changes in blood volume between cardiac cycles by measuring the light absorption in the user's finger through a simple finger scan. With Spren, fitness, wellbeing or human performance brands can harness the power of large-scale deep learning and years of signal processing research—instantly. In this episode we discuss the company's heart rate variability tech, how they turned a bootstrapped direct-to-consumer app into a B2B platform, and we talk about using data and wearables to help people form healthier habits. In this episode, you'll learn: Jason's strategy for giving customers the best end-user experience How being turned down by some investors helped Spren develop a better product How Spren is scaling their business and partnering with other health & fitness companies Links & Resources Subscribe to the Fitt Insider newsletter Visit the Fitt Insider jobs board View current Fitt Insider investment and get in touch Jason's Links Spren's website Elite HRV: the free Heart Rate Variability app Check out Fitbod Marius Pharmaceuticals' website

Today I'm joined by Nick Green, Co-Founder and CEO of Thrive Market. Thrive Market is a membership e-commerce platform on a mission to make the world's highest quality natural and organic products affordable for every American family. For $60/year, Thrive members get access to their favorite healthy snacks, supplements, home, beauty, and baby products at 30-50% off retail value—all shipped to their front door for free. In this episode we discuss the company's mission to make healthy living more accessible, and the shift toward holistic wellbeing from mental wellness to sustainability. We also talk about emerging trends, including health, data, personalization, and more. In this episode, you'll learn: How Thrive identifies upcoming trends to stay ahead of their competition Why Thrive's business model is more profitable than typical grocery businesses Thrive's plans to integrate data and technology to personalize and automate their customers' shopping experience Nick's thoughts on the future of subsidies for natural food products Links & Resources Subscribe to the Fitt Insider newsletter Visit the Fitt Insider jobs board View current Fitt Insider investment and get in touch Nick's Links Thrive Market's website Follow Thrive Market on Twitter Thrive Market is on Instagram Connect with Thrive Market on Facebook Check out Thrive Market on YouTube Fitt Insider podcast #55: Nick Green, CEO of Thrive Market

Today I'm joined by Ronan Levy, Co-founder and CEO of Field Trip Health. Field Trip is redefining mental health and well-being through ground-breaking work in psychedelics and psychedelic-enhanced psychotherapy. With Field Trip Health centers opening across North America, and drug development and advanced research on plant-based psychedelics through Field Trip Discovery, Field Trip helps people heal and heighten engagement with the world. In this episode we discuss the company's approach to Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. Ronan details the key factors moving psychedelics into the mainstream. Plus, we explore use cases for mental health, depression, PTSD, and more. In this episode, you'll learn: How Field Trip is expanding their sales funnel & scaling their company Tips for succeeding in a highly regulated & sometimes stigmatized industry Ronan's thoughts on becoming a lifestyle brand Links & Resources Subscribe to the Fitt Insider newsletter Visit the Fitt Insider jobs board View current Fitt Insider investment and get in touch Ronan's Links Field Trip Health's website Field Trip's app Follow Field Trip on Twitter Field Trip is on Instagram Connect with Field Trip on Facebook Field Trip's LinkedIn page Follow Ronan on Twitter Ronan is on Instagram Ronan's book: The Trip Journal Ronan's upcoming book with Dr. Mike Dow: The Ketamine Breakthrough: How to Find Freedom from Depression, Lift Anxiety, and Open Up to a New World of Possibilities

Today I'm joined by Joey Gonzalez, CEO of Barry's. Founded in 1998, Barry's has led the fitness industry in innovation. Today, you can experience their signature Red Room in more than 70 studios across 10 countries, as well as in the comfort of your own home. Whether you're sprinting, lifting, or riding, in-studio or at-home, Barry's is on a mission to inspire you to work(out) hard, have fun, find your strength, and be your best. In this episode we discuss the launch of RIDE, the company's new indoor cycling concept. Joey explains how Barry's weathered the pandemic without closing a single studio, and we lay out a framework for making boutique fitness irreplaceable. In this episode, you'll learn: How Barry's is leveraging their brand to add new services Joey's strategy for scaling a brick and mortar fitness company How Barry's survived COVID without permanently closing any of their studios Links & Resources Subscribe to the Fitt Insider newsletter Visit the Fitt Insider jobs board View current Fitt Insider investment and get in touch Joey's Links Barry's website Barry's RIDE website Follow Barry's on Twitter Barry's is on Instagram Connect with Barry's on Facebook Follow Joey on Twitter