Issue No. 312: Missing Link
A smart ecosystem transforming healthcare through exercise.
Continuous hormone monitoring is on the horizon.
Black Box
Chemical messengers, hormones modulate nearly every bodily function — from sleep patterns and blood pressure to immune system and metabolism.
But given day-to-day changes, tracing effects and determining optimal ranges is tricky.
White Space
Recognizing links between hormonal fluctuations and daily health, women are demanding more data and support for endocrine-related symptoms.
- During their cycle, 86% of women report changes in cognition, 57% in mental well-being, 53% in stress levels, and 49% in productivity.
- 52% of women would quit their job for one with menstrual health resources.
- 93% of menopausal women are interested in noninvasive tech solutions.
While DTC tests exist, properly timing them—particularly for women with irregular cycles—is a headache, and results only reflect one snapshot in time.
In the Know
Complicated, stigmatized, and expensive to solve, women’s hormonal health has long been swept aside, with birth control prescribed as a catch-all.
Refusing to settle, femtech startups are tackling on-demand, real-time monitoring.
- Measuring hormones in sweat, Persperity Health secured $1M last month.
- Tapping saliva tests for insights, Eli Health closed a $3.6M seed round in 2023.
- Leveraging urine samples, Mira’s device syncs with its period and fertility tracking app.
- Emulating CGMs, Level Zero is pioneering a DNA-based sensor for continuous tracking.
Meanwhile, pharma and biotech giant Bayer partnered with Impli—maker of an implantable hormone-monitoring biosensor for IVF patients—to advance use case research.
Other Half
As men navigate stigmatized symptoms—from low libido to reduced muscle mass—DTC clinics are making testosterone replacement therapy readily available.
Capturing the zeitgeist, analytics firm IQVIA reports TRT prescriptions are up ~50% since 2013. But, while balanced testosterone is vital to well-being, injections aren’t a silver bullet.
More consistent testing could help delineate want from clinical need, let men track changes through life stages, and pinpoint links between levels and lifestyle habits.
Balancing Out
With vast datasets, AI, and interconnected wearables, new tech could trigger breakthrough insights and inform holistic treatment plans for both sexes.
Starting the conversation, Summa’s saliva-based hormone tests monitor testosterone-to-cortisol ratio in athletes, allowing men and women to train within their bodies’ healthiest range.
Punchline: Tired of compromising on health, consumers want clear metrics and actionable solutions. With hormones directly tied to mental wellness, emotional balance, and stress levels, “optimization” may not be straightforward — but more data is a start.
🎙 On the Podcast
Humanaut Health CEO Jim Donnelly discusses democratizing longevity medicine.
Scaling preventative health clinics, Humanaut leverages the latest medical therapies and wellness tech to help members reach peak functional, physical, and mental performance.
We also cover: Scaling a network of clinics, plans for nationwide expansion, and changing how people approach health.
Listen to today’s episode here.
💸 Ladder scores new funding
The strength training app secured $105M, including a $15M Series B led by Point72 Ventures and ADvantage, plus $90M from General Catalyst.
Growth mode. Delivering progressive workout plans and personalized coaching, Ladder is targeting 400K members within two years and $100M ARR by early 2026.
Entering new territory, it’s planning to enter corporate wellness with employer-subsidized memberships.
Adding weight. Beyond athletes or bodybuilders, strength training is attracting new audiences seeking to improve longevity and overall well-being.
Catering to gym-goers and at-home exercisers alike, digital platforms like Peloton’s Strength+, personal training app Future, and equipment x content bundles from Centr are ushering in a new era of weight training.
Takeaway: According to Ladder, 80% of its members are first-time fitness app users, and 65% opt for a hybrid workout routine, proving there’s untapped potential to reach new demos beyond the already fit.
🔮 Shaping industry change
EGYM has a clear vision for the future of health and fitness.
With connected fitness equipment, AI-powered gym software, and comprehensive corporate wellness offerings — it’s leading the shift toward proactive, preventative health.
For corporations. Partnering with companies worldwide, EGYM’s Wellpass program improves employee health by expanding access to premier fitness and health facilities.
For gyms. Upgrading gym floors, EGYM equips operators with smart equipment and AI tools to create hyper-personalized training plans for every exerciser.
All together, its ecosystem is transforming healthcare through exercise.
Learn more about its intelligent solutions at EGYM.com.
🏐 Women’s sports scale up
League One Volleyball (LOVB) raised $100M from Atwater Capital, Ares, and Left Lane Capital.
Ace. Scaling pipeline programs alongside its impending pro league, LOVB operates 58 youth clubs with ~16K girls nationwide — offering partner brands like adidas and REVOLVE direct access to a coveted demo.
Way up. Women’s sports revenue spiked >300% in the past three years, with no signs of slowing.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Build Your Legacy Ventures backed 3-on-3 women’s basketball league Unrivaled.
- Disney CEO Bob Iger and Willow Bay acquired Angel City FC for a record $250M in September.
- Alexis Ohanian’s Seven Seven Six held its first Athlos women’s track event this fall.
As the WNBA, NWSL, and PWHL add expansion teams, Women’s Elite Rugby (WER), Women’s Lacrosse League (WLL), and Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) are preparing their debuts.
Punchline: Women will control 75% of discretionary spending by 2029. Seizing their influence, new leagues offer early backers lower cost of entry plus potentially higher returns.
📰 News & Notes
- Strava limits API access in data update.
- Pilates operators push international expansion.
- Self Esteem, Orangetheory rebrand to target wellness.
- Hims & Hers launches meal replacement bars and shakes.
- Michele Kang pledges $30M to advance women’s and girls soccer.
- FivePointFive debuts music-driven, biometric-based breathwork app.
- Startup Q&A: HYBRD co-founder Ben Katz on quantifying hybrid training.
- Appeals board green lights Woodway patent suit against Assault Fitness.
- Remedy Place, Kohler to host immersive ice bath pop-up at Design Miami.
- Kineon’s red light therapy devices score a spot on Next Big Things in Tech list.
- Wellworthy rounded up 30+ Black Friday deals from top health & fitness brands.
- Fitt’s more than a newsletter. Learn more about our recruiting firm, consulting services, and media platform here.
💰 Money Moves
US 🇺🇸 / Canada 🇨🇦
Pro sports league League One Volleyball (LOVB) secured $100M in a round led by Atwater Capital.
NBA legend Michael Jordan backed Courtside Ventures as an investor in its next sports-focused fund.
Zarminali Health, provider of pediatric specialty care, raised $40M in a seed round led by General Catalyst.
Investment firm Paine Schwartz Partners acquired clean supplements maker Promix.
Women’s professional 3v3 basketball league Unrivaled landed undisclosed funding from NBA’er Giannis Antetokounmpo’s BYL Ventures.
Skincare hygiene company Clean Skin Club raised $32M in a round led by Astō Consumer Partners and Amberstone.
Performance beverage maker BARCODE landed an undisclosed investment from former NBA star Metta World Peace.
Intimate wellness brand Foria acquired sleep health brand Ned.
Europe 🇪🇺
Investment firm True acquired a minority stake in British luxury streetwear and sportswear brand Represent.
MAGIC AI, makers of connected fitness mirrors, raised $5M in a round led by IW Capital.
Superlativa, Spanish maker of stress-regulating supplements for women, raised an undisclosed seed round led by IRIS Ventures.
German better-for-you snack brand KoRo closed an oversubscribed €35M Series C round led by Coefficient Capital.
Spanish club operator VivaGym acquired four gyms from One Fit.
Kyan Health, a Swiss AI-powered workplace wellness platform, announced $16.7M in funding.
Asia 🌏
Israeli AI-enabled fertility platform FertilAI raised $4.5M in a seed round co-led by Longevity Venture Partners and Redseed.
Australia 🇦🇺 / New Zealand 🇳🇿
Australian food company Arnott’s Group acquired three better-for-you snack brands from NZ’s Prolife Foods.
Latin America 🌎
Mexican employee wellness platform minu raised $30M in a Series B round.
Today’s newsletter was brought to you by Anthony Vennare, Joe Vennare, Ryan Deer, and Jasmina Breen.
