Fitt Insider

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

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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

Today, I'm joined by John Klein, Co-founder and CEO of Pause Studio, a chain of wellness studios dedicated to mental and physical recovery.

Founded in Southern California in 2016, Pause Studio offers modern and holistic solutions designed to help clients sleep, train, perform, and live better. Through modalities like vitamin therapy, contrast therapy, flotation, cryotherapy, and light therapy, its franchised clinics are a destination for all things holistic healing and mind-body recovery.

In this episode, we discuss Pause Studio's roots in holistic healing, maintaining the brand while franchising nationwide, and the future of wellness and recovery.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What John learned from his days at Equinox and how he's applying it to Pause
• How the Pause team is building and growing a wellness franchise
• What's trending in holistic healing and mind-body recovery

Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcast Follow us on Twitter → twitter.com/fittinsider

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction 01:19 John's background and experience 03:51 Starting Pause Studio 06:13 Studio growth and franchising 08:42 Maintaining the brand while franchising 13:35 Holistic healing and mind-body recovery methods 14:24 Incorporating product sales into the business model 15:02 Creating a lifestyle brand 17:20 Competition and potential partnerships 20:12 Research behind the methods 22:29 Adding services to the model 25:16 Educating consumers and driving demand 27:53 Near term outlook 29:43 Conclusion

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

Today I'm joined by Recover Athletics Co-founders, Nick Stewart and Nick Kafker.

Recover Athletics is the leading injury-prevention tool for runners. Their mission is to help runners spend more time running and less time injured. Powered by best-in-class injury prevention algorithms and physical therapy content, Recover Athletics allows runners to take control of their training and seamlessly incorporate the recovery needed to stay injury free.

In this episode we discuss the company's prehab app for runners and athletes, and utilizing in-person community growth hacks and storytelling to scale your user base. The guys also talk about selling the company to Strava and reaching tens of millions of athletes.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to leverage your competitive advantages in your product launch
• Simple & powerful growth hacks you can use when starting out
• How Recover began their relationship with Strava

Links & Resources

• Subscribe to the Fitt Insider newsletter
• Visit the Fitt Insider jobs board
• View current Fitt Insider investment and get in touch
• Fitt Insider podcast #137: Michael Horvath, CEO & Co-founder of Strava

Nick Stewart & Nick Kafker's Links

• Recover Athletics' website
• Recover Athletics is on Instagram
• Connect with Recover Athletics on Facebook
• Strava
• Nick Stewart's LinkedIn page
• Follow Nick Stewart on Twitter
• Nick Kafker's LinkedIn page

Today I'm joined by Noosheen Hashemi, Founder and CEO of January AI, a precision health company.

January AI has assembled a team of computational, food, translational, and medical scientists to tackle unmet needs in people with or at risk for developing diabetes. Their multi-omic approach synthesizes wearable, food, and microbiome data to make personalized recommendations and products to address hyperglycemia.

In this episode we talk about using glucose monitoring to improve wellbeing. Noosheen explains how January leverages digital twins to create personalized health insights, and she warns against deceptive marketing practices in the digital health space.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How January balances product development & refinement with product availability
• Noosheen's tips for getting and staying far ahead of your competition
• How January is expanding their customer base and making it easier for people to adopt a healthier lifestyle

Links & Resources

• Subscribe to the Fitt Insider newsletter
• Visit the Fitt Insider jobs board
• View current Fitt Insider investment and get in touch

Noosheen's Links

• Follow Noosheen on Twitter
• January AI's website
• Follow January AI on Twitter
• January AI is on Instagram
• Connect with January AI on Facebook
• January AI's LinkedIn page