September 1, 2026

Nike Sponsors Sororities, UK Gyms Expand, Healf Lands New Capital

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Health and fitness are showing up in unexpected places.

Nike is going after sororities

Throughout August, Nike sponsored rush events for at least six sororities at schools including South Carolina, Texas, and Arizona State.

  • Engaging with sororities for the first time, the brand supplied training, running, and sportswear for members to wear in social media content as part of its “campus athletes” strategy.
  • According to FOS, the move taps into a demographic Nike says is a powerful cultural force on college campuses while putting the brand directly into one of the biggest social moments of the college year.

Hinting at future collaborations, the company wants to build long-term relationships with these campus communities as sport, style, and culture continue to converge.

UK gyms have room to grow

New research from PwC UK estimates the country could support between 1,500 and 1,750 HVLP gyms. With 884 operating as of January, the sector could add upwards of 850 locations.

  • The model now accounts for roughly 42% of private-sector gym memberships and 20% of market value, as operators add premium features, digital tools, studios, and classes while keeping prices low.
  • PwC expects the expansion to continue for at least another decade, supported by rising participation, population growth, and the growing popularity of flexible gym memberships.

Also, weight-loss drugs could also help drive demand. A PwC survey found a 22% net increase in reported gym use among UK consumers taking the medications.

Healf landed new funding

SEMCAP Beauty & Wellness made a minority investment in the UK-based wellbeing platform, which combines expert curation, blood biomarkers, and wearable data to make personalized recommendations.

  • Healf has surpassed £100M in annualized revenue and was recently named the fastest-growing company in Europe.
  • The new capital will support continued development of its personalization platform and international expansion, following Healf’s launch in Germany.

The pitch is simple: consumers have more health products and information than ever, but still need help figuring out what actually works for them.

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