Issue No. 316: Behind the Scenes
Hey gang!
To close out the year, we’re sharing a behind-the-scenes look at Fitt Insider and what’s on tap for 2025.
Next week, it’s back to breaking down the industry’s biggest news and trends.
The Why
“If you don’t have your health, you have nothing.” I don’t know who said that, but I know it’s true.
I was already into fitness when my dad was diagnosed with brain cancer, but his death solidified my path.
After my battle with brain tumors in 2021 and again this year, personal well-being became paramount — fueling our mission to help people live healthier lives.
The Vision
We’re building the definitive platform for health and wellness operators.
With 15+ years of experience in the space, we produce research-driven content that fuels a flywheel spanning media, recruiting, consulting, investing, and more.
By sharing our specialized knowledge, network, and resources with business leaders, we hope to accelerate the industry’s impact.
The Progress
To achieve this aim, we solve problems for industry operators — whether that’s staying informed, hiring talent, shaping strategy, or reaching customers.
If we do our job, you can focus on yours, and we can create a healthier world together.
Going deep in 2024, we honed the platform to amplify our impact.
- Unified media, services, and products at Fitt.co
- Debuted Fitt Talent, hiring key roles for top companies
- Launched Wellworthy, connecting consumers and brands
- Optimized Fitt Consulting, providing more hands-on support
Plus, we upgraded our press release hub, jobs board, and talent network.
The Future
Going big in 2025, we’re unleashing Fitt’s full potential.
When talking with operators, the desire for more insights, connection, and access to talent/career advancement is clear. So, that’s exactly what we’ll provide.
- Produce more content across formats and mediums
- Scale Fitt Talent into the industry’s premier recruiting firm
- Host IRL events to strengthen relationships and build new ones
- Grow Wellworthy to help brands reach new consumer audiences
Leveraging our expertise and built-in distribution, we also plan to co-found, acquire, and launch new companies through the Fitt platform.
Looking Ahead
From loneliness and mental health to physical inactivity and obesity, catalyzing change will take a team effort — and the world is counting on our industry to deliver solutions.
With more work to be done, we’ll keep obsessing over making Fitt Insider as valuable as possible, so email me if we can ever be helpful: anthony@fitt.co
Thanks again for all the support + work that you do.
Let’s get after it!
– Anthony, Joe, and the Fitt Team
🎙 On the Podcast
Midi Health founder & CEO Joanna Strober discusses the company’s platform for women’s midlife health.
Providing personalized virtual care for women through perimenopause and menopause, Midi Health integrates medication, lifestyle coaching, and wellness therapies.
We also cover: Midi Health’s pilot program, tackling women’s health stigma, and the future of personalized digital care.
Listen to today’s episode here.
💸 2024’s top funding rounds
Contracting in recent years, capital has been harder to come by — but health and wellness companies are surging.
Unicorn status. Notching billion-dollar-plus valuations, German fitness technology company EGYM and London-based fertility-tracking app Flo Health scored $200M.
On the fringe, nonalcoholic beer maker Athletic Brewing was valued at $800M in a $50M round.
Mega-rounds. Proven growth-stage companies with strong economics and deft execution are scaling up.
Smart ring maker Oura and telenutrition platform Foodsmart added $200M, with the former reaching a $5.2B valuation.
Raising $100M+ each, digital MSK provider Sword Health, fertility care operator Maven Clinic, and B2B mental health solution Spring Health notched $3B, $1.7B, and $3.3B valuations.
Sporty. Structured as a secondary sale, apparel maker Vuori closed $825M. TOCA Football scored $100M for soccer clinics and eatertainment venues. And LOVB landed $100M to grow women’s volleyball.
Heating up. Gaining traction, women’s health, longevity care, and metabolic health were among the most funded sectors, signaling untapped opportunities going forward.
Punchline: Efforts to overhaul reactive healthcare will accelerate innovation and funding. As AI x wellness reaches a fever pitch, founders delivering value x outcomes will be flush with cash.
💪 Physical activity linked to longer life
New research quantified the life-extending impact of physical activity for adults over 40.
- Life expectancy is 11 years longer for the top 25% of exercisers.
- If all Americans 40+ matched the highest cohort, they could gain 5.3 years.
- Walking an extra hour per day for the least active adds 6.3 hours of life expectancy.
Going down. US life expectancy has been falling since 2014, and lack of physical activity accounts for ~8.3% of deaths across age groups.
A miracle drug, regular exercise prevents heart disease, treats depression, and boosts longevity, which–if adopted at scale—could help stem this preventable decline.
Takeaway: Selling fitness hasn’t succeeded in reversing sedentary lifestyles. Pitching physical activity as key to longevity could be a more powerful message.
📰 News & Notes
- 15 trends shaping the future of fitness.
- Wellworthy curates top wellness products of ’24.
- Apple readies satellite messaging, BP sensor for Watch.
- ABC Fitness, Sunnyside partner on Dry January coaching.
- MasterClass offers menopause course led by Halle Berry.
- Netflix secures FIFA Women’s World Cup streaming rights.
- Dexcom develops AI-powered insight feature for Stelo CGMs.
- US House passes EXPLORE Act promoting outdoor recreation.
- Lilly lands FDA nod to treat sleep apnea with GLP-1 Zepbound.
- Withings cellular blood pressure monitor scores FDA clearance.
- UCLA taps web3-focused smart ring CUDIS for athlete wellness.
- European boutique fitness platform bsport accelerates global expansion.
💰 Money Moves
US 🇺🇸 / Canada 🇨🇦
AI-enabled health data platform SuperTruth acquired diagnostics firm imaware.
Supplement maker USANA acquired Hiya Health, makers of children’s wellness products, for $205M
Better-for-you ramen maker immi added $3M in funding.
Clinical nutrition platform Culina Health raised $7.9M in a Series A led by Healthworx.
Peregrine Health, a behavioral healthcare provider for underserved communities, added $5M in funding.
Mineral water brand Liquid Death secured a $55M credit facility from Ares Commercial Finance.
Europe 🇪🇺
Oura closed a $200M Series D round with participation from Fidelity Management & Research Company and Dexcom.
Belgian sleep diagnostics company Sunrise acquired US-based sleep clinic Dreem Health.
Swedish AI sports video analytics platform Spiideo acquired Signality, a real-time sports data company.
Asia 🌏
Japan’s Kosé Corporation acquired a majority stake in Thai beauty and wellness brand Pañpuri.
Australia 🇦🇺 / New Zealand 🇳🇿
Umps, a wearable-enabled home monitoring platform for seniors, raised A$4M ($2.5M).
Latin America 🌎
BIOMAKERS, an Argentina-born cancer diagnostics firm, landed funding from Oncology Ventures.
Today’s newsletter was brought to you by Anthony Vennare, Joe Vennare, Ryan Deer, and Jasmina Breen.
