Fitt Insider

Today, I'm joined by Matteo Franceschetti, co-founder & CEO of Eight Sleep.

Scaling its AI-powered, temperature-regulating mattress across 35 countries, the sleep optimization company is tapping the world's largest sleep dataset to pursue predictive health and early disease detection.

In this episode, we discuss the shift from sleep tracking to sleep intervention.

We also cover:

• Building a data-led operating system
• Investing in women's health
• Mattress as medical device

Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcast

Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe

Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider

Eight Sleep's Website: www.eightsleep.com

Eight Sleep on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eightsleep

Matteo on X: https://x.com/m_franceschetti?lang=en

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The Fitt Insider Podcast is brought to you by EGYM. Visit EGYM.com to learn more about its smart fitness ecosystem for fitness and health facilities.

Fitt Talent: https://talent.fitt.co/

Consulting: https://consulting.fitt.co/

Investments: https://capital.fitt.co/

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:19) Global expansion update

(02:50) Sleep optimization evolution

(03:20) AutoPilot technology

(04:40) Product ecosystem

(06:25) Closing the loop on data

(08:15) Clinical research foundation

(10:25) Medical device trajectory

(13:00) Premium positioning

(14:50) Democratization strategy

(15:45) Women's health focus

(16:35) Sleep compression

(18:25) Dataset, hardware, AI pyramid

(19:50) Medical device category evolution

(22:10) Data retention advantage

(23:15) Health operating system

(25:30) Acceleration and prioritization

(27:00) Finding the S-curve

(31:35) CEO role reinvention

(33:00) Women's health and AI

(34:55) Where to find

(35:26) Conclusion

July 1, 2026: Your daily rundown of health and wellness news, in under 5 minutes.

Today's top stories:

• Life Time CEO Bahram Akradi calls GLP-1 threat "a wrong bet," positioning MIORA clinics as companion to treatment as research shows pairing exercise could prevent 50,000 cardiovascular events
• Oura joins research initiative providing biometric data to study veterans undergoing psychedelic therapies, adding continuous physiological context to mental healthcare
• Anthropic launches Claude Science and internal drug discovery program focused on neglected diseases, using AI directly rather than just selling tools to life sciences companies

More from Fitt:

Fitt Insider breaks down the convergence of fitness, wellness, and healthcare — and what it means for business, culture, and capital.

Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe

Work with our recruiting firm → https://talent.fitt.co/

Follow us on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/fittinsider/

Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider

Reach out → [email protected]

June 30, 2026: Your daily rundown of health and wellness news, in under 5 minutes.

Today's top stories:

• Apothékary raises $16M to expand retail distribution and product innovation, targeting $40M revenue as TikTok Shop and omnichannel growth signal a shifting playbook for wellness brands
• Wellness culture expands beyond optimization as listening bars, tea houses, and phone-free gatherings create space for community over performance metrics
• FDA announces advisory committee to determine whether peptides like BPC-157 and TB-500 can be compounded, with some advisers' industry ties raising conflict-of-interest questions

Today's episode is brought to you by AIIR — a modern communications and experiential agency for health, wellness, fitness, and performance brands. From earned media to events and creator-led campaigns, AIIR helps companies sharpen their story, earn attention, and build trust that compounds. Visit https://aiir.agency to learn more.

More from Fitt:

Fitt Insider breaks down the convergence of fitness, wellness, and healthcare — and what it means for business, culture, and capital.

Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe

Work with our recruiting firm → https://talent.fitt.co/

Follow us on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/fittinsider/

Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider

Reach out → [email protected]

Today, I'm joined by Evan Quinn, co-founder and CEO of hiyo.

A nonalcoholic social tonic with adaptogens, nootropics, and botanicals, hiyo has expanded from DTC to 11K+ retail locations nationwide.

In this episode, we discuss building a new category around social wellness.

We also cover:

• Music and culture partnerships
• The household penetration opportunity
• Creating a proprietary "float" feeling from functional ingredients

Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcast Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider

hiyo's Website: www.drinkhiyo.comhiyo's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinkhiyo/

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The Fitt Insider Podcast is brought to you by EGYM. Visit EGYM.com to learn more about its smart fitness ecosystem for fitness and health facilities.

Fitt Talent: https://talent.fitt.co/Consulting: https://consulting.fitt.co/Investments: https://capital.fitt.co/

Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (04:00) Company and founder story (05:25) College inspiration and founding (06:50) Social Tonic category definition (08:35) Avoiding mocktail positioning (10:45) Straddling three industries (12:20) The "float" concept (15:05) Early traction and social proof (16:30) DTC-to-wholesale transition (17:45) Retail expansion strategy (21:00) Music and culture partnerships (23:00) Ingredient philosophy (25:01) Staying disciplined on innovation (28:30) Regulatory compliance and quality (29:16) Category constriction and white space (31:30) Household penetration opportunity (34:00) Red Bull comparison and hiyo lifestyle (35:45) Meaning and ritual in wellness (36:30) Where to find (38:00) Conclusion

June 26, 2026: Your daily rundown of health and wellness news, in under 5 minutes.

Today's top stories:

• America spent $5.7T on healthcare last year up 7.3%, now 18.4% of the economy with prescription drug spending jumping 11%, projected to reach $9T by 2034
• ABC Fitness finds new gym memberships declined 9% with cancellations up 8%, while studio visits climbed 27% as retention and community become key differentiators
• London Marathon expands to two days and 100,000 participants in 2027 as demand outgrows supply, with races introducing lotteries amid bigger fields and prize purses

More from Fitt:

Fitt Insider breaks down the convergence of fitness, wellness, and healthcare — and what it means for business, culture, and capital.

Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe

Work with our recruiting firm → https://talent.fitt.co/

Follow us on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/fittinsider/

Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider

Reach out → [email protected]

June 24, 2026: Your daily rundown of health and wellness news, in under 5 minutes.

Today's top stories:

• Whoop wins FDA reprieve as agency drops warning letter over Blood Pressure Insights feature, giving wearable companies a clearer path to advanced health metrics without full device oversight
• Xella Health launches multi-omic platform combining genomics, hormones, and lifestyle data to assess 130+ conditions affecting women, building 15,000 waitlist after $3.7M pre-seed
• EGYM Wellpass survey finds 76% of employees exercise weekly yet 66% say jobs drive sedentary behavior, with workplace wellness influencing retention for six in ten workers

More from Fitt:

Fitt Insider breaks down the convergence of fitness, wellness, and healthcare — and what it means for business, culture, and capital.

Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe

Work with our recruiting firm → https://talent.fitt.co/

Follow us on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/fittinsider/

Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider

Reach out → [email protected]

June 23, 2026: Your daily rundown of health and wellness news, in under 5 minutes.

Today's top stories:

• Google researchers publish findings showing smartphones can estimate heart rate by detecting facial blood flow changes through front-facing cameras
• Survey of 18,000 Americans finds people with depression increasingly combine cannabis, supplements, GLP-1s, and online communities alongside traditional care, especially younger adults
• Midi Health expands into skincare with prescription-grade topicals addressing hormone-related skin changes, embedding care into daily routines as women's health expands beyond symptoms

More from Fitt:

Fitt Insider breaks down the convergence of fitness, wellness, and healthcare — and what it means for business, culture, and capital.

Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe

Work with our recruiting firm → https://talent.fitt.co/

Follow us on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/fittinsider/

Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider

Reach out → [email protected]

June 23, 2026: Your daily rundown of health and wellness news, in under 5 minutes.

Today's top stories:

• Temple unveils Entropy, a new biomarker measuring real-time metabolic and stress load using blood flow patterns at the temple to track the physiological cost of exercise and recovery
• Amazfit launches Helio Strap Pro adding motion tracking and muscular load data for HYROX competitors, building a purpose-built system for hybrid training
• Neko Health adds body composition tracking and wearable integrations, combining a year of sleep and activity data with in-clinic scans measuring visceral fat and metabolic health

More from Fitt:

Fitt Insider breaks down the convergence of fitness, wellness, and healthcare — and what it means for business, culture, and capital.

Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe

Work with our recruiting firm → https://talent.fitt.co/

Follow us on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/fittinsider/

Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider

Reach out → [email protected]

Today, I'm joined by Danielle DuBoise, co-founder of Sakara Life.

With 15 years in business, Sakara has evolved from plant-based meal delivery service to full-blown functional food and supplement brand with a focus on gut and metabolic health.

In this episode, we discuss turning operational complexity into a competitive advantage.

We also cover:

• Fresh food logistics
• Raising capital selectively
• Navigating trends vs. nutrition science

Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcast Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider

Sakara's Website: www.sakara.comSakara on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sakaralife/ Danielle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DanielleDuboise/

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The Fitt Insider Podcast is brought to you by EGYM. Visit EGYM.com to learn more about its smart fitness ecosystem for fitness and health facilities.

Fitt Talent: https://talent.fitt.co/Consulting: https://consulting.fitt.co/Investments: https://capital.fitt.co/

Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:15) Company evolution (02:45) Meal delivery complexity (05:45) Operational moat (07:45) Nutrition messaging (09:25) Education and product delivery (10:25) Resisting trends (12:45) Brand philosophy (15:15) "Eat clean, play dirty" (16:45) Maintaining premium brand (18:30) Inflection points (19:15) Nationwide shipping unlock (21:15) Fiber era opportunity (23:00) Growth strategy shift (24:30) Analog and micro-influencers (25:40) Leadership transition (28:15) Raising capital selectively (29:40) Where to find (30:41) Conclusion

June 19, 2026: Your daily rundown of health and wellness news, in under 5 minutes.

Today's top stories:

• Midjourney enters healthcare with full-body ultrasound scanner creating MR-like images in 60 seconds, plus plans for wellness spas with first San Francisco location in 2027
• Nike launches elite training division dedicated to competitive fitness athletes as Adidas and On race to own the hybrid fitness ecosystem following HYROX's rapid growth
• State of the Nation Project finds broad declines in life satisfaction, trust, and social connection across all states despite economic growth, explaining wellness's shift toward community and belonging

Today's episode is brought to you by AIIR — a modern communications and experiential agency for health, wellness, fitness, and performance brands. From earned media to events and creator-led campaigns, AIIR helps companies sharpen their story, earn attention, and build trust that compounds. Visit https://aiir.agency to learn more.

More from Fitt:

Fitt Insider breaks down the convergence of fitness, wellness, and healthcare — and what it means for business, culture, and capital.

Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe

Work with our recruiting firm → https://talent.fitt.co/

Follow us on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/fittinsider/

Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider

Reach out → [email protected]