Network-driven recruiting for health & wellness companies.
Robots are making people rethink relationships.
Glitching
Acting as therapists, wellness advisors, best friends, and even romantic partners, chatbots are rising while IRL connections sink.
- In-person socializing dropped 20% from 2003 to 2023.
- 56% of Gen Z adults dated as teens, down from 76% of Gen Xers.
- Over half of Americans actively use LLMs like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.
AI for therapy and companionship has become a top use case, with chronically online users choosing robots over real-world interactions.
A driving factor, 71% of people self-censor in public for fear of cancellation or conflict, and many find it easier to be honest with computers than humans.
Dr. Robot
Nonjudgemental and anonymous, AI is arguably more empathetic and better at respecting boundaries than humans. Yet, relying on it for companionship correlates to worse mental health.
A risk factor, Gen AI that isn’t trained in psychology could fossilize negative neural circuits, making users less tolerant of others and perpetuating isolation.
Still, with over half of US counties lacking psychiatrists, chatbots could also increase access to critical behavioral healthcare, and 55% of 18–29-year-olds are open to computer therapists.
Better than no therapy, results of the first AI therapy clinical trials were promising, reducing depression by 51%, anxiety by 31%, and body image concerns by 19% among participants.
Source Code
Watching consumers go rogue with ChatGPT, companies are developing specialized alternatives to existing models — programming bots on evidence-based practices for specific purposes.
PhD. Backed by a16z, Slingshot AI raised $40M to create a foundation model for psychology, versed in CBT, DBT, ACT, Gestalt, and psychodynamics. A Y Combinator company, Sonia’s voice-based emotional support app promises a 24/7 well-being partner.
Expanding existing ecosystems, Headspace added a conversational chatbot called Ebb, while Talkspace is turning patient sessions into personalized AI-powered podcasts. A hybrid approach, Wysa pairs human therapists with wraparound AI support.
BFF. Founded by Tinder’s former CEO, Meeno’s robo relationship mentor raised a $3.9M seed round led by Sequoia, with a focus on helping men access their emotions.
More casual than clinical, Tolan’s cartoonish companions support self-reflection without trying to replace human connection. A futuristic Furby, Casio’s pet-like bot Moflin soothes owners with its emotive capabilities, while ElliQ is a sidekick for seniors. Syncing with Apple Health, Pallie secured $2M for its AI buddy supporting exercise and stress management.
A red flag, not all AI is created equal. Unequipped to handle mental health, bots from Replika and Character.AI have stirred controversy, with the latter being sued over a teen’s suicide.
Takeaway: A useful tool and potentially dangerous trend, bots are in the eye of the beholder. Training emotional and conversational skills, they could help the anxious overcome their minds. But using them to evade social friction is a recipe for atrophy, not enlightenment.
🎙 On the Podcast
Kin Euphorics co-founder and CEO Jen Batchelor discusses nonalcoholic drinking culture.
Kin is redefining social drinking with functional, zero-proof spirits designed to boost presence, energy, and connection — minus the hangover.
We also cover: Prioritizing loyalty over growth hacking, pioneering psychotropic NA beverages, and applying circadian science to product design.
Listen to today’s episode here
🍏 Wonder bets on personalized nutrition
The $7B food tech company founded by serial entrepreneur Marc Lore is building an AI-powered platform that personalizes food based on your health data, preferences, and goals.
Roll-up. After acquiring Grubhub (delivery), Blue Apron (meal kits), and Tastemade (media), Wonder controls the entire food stack, from ingredients and menus to logistics and data.
That vertical integration powers its most ambitious play: an AI engine that recommends and prepares meals tuned to your body. As Lore put it:
AI tells me what to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner… I love every meal, I’ve never been healthier, and I’m not having to think about what I want to eat.
Layering biomarker data from blood tests, wearables, and CGMs, Lore says 90% of his meals are AI-generated, automatically adjusting for deficiencies like low iodine or high mercury, without sacrificing flavor.
Takeaway: Wonder isn’t a health company; it’s a food company. But by fusing logistics, content, and biometric data, it’s building an OS for personalized eating. If it works, AI-optimized meals could quietly reshape our diets.
🚀 Hire Smarter, Grow Faster
Fitt Talent Partners streamlines hiring for health and wellness companies.
Integrated with Fitt Insider, our full-service recruiting firm leverages personal relationships, network effects, and industry expertise to form dream teams.
✅ Access top talent
✅ Scale fast with confidence
✅ Strengthen culture and performance
With direct access to world-class operators and built-in distribution through our media platform, we already know the best person for your open job.
Whether you’re a startup or enterprise org, we specialize in connecting companies with mission-aligned high-performers.
Ready to find your next hire? Get started today.
💪 Consumers want stackable wellness
Health-seekers are building hyper-personalized stacks across sleep, fitness, nutrition, mental well-being, and social connection.
Bought in. A top priority, 78% of consumers plan to spend the same or more on health and fitness this year, per PA Consulting. On average, shoppers intend to add two new products or services, prioritizing exercise equipment, nutrition subscriptions, and sleep aids.
Data-driven. Trust matters, but personalization wins. 57% of consumers are willing to share health data in exchange for custom insights, opening the door for integrated, AI-powered wellness platforms.
Mass market. Wellness is no longer a luxury. 53% of consumers want cheaper health and personal care products, and 47% seek more affordable fitness tech and services — signaling untapped demand for flexible, stackable solutions across price points.
Takeaway: Brands that help consumers design, stack, and personalize their wellness journey will earn loyalty, trust, and recurring revenue.
📰 News & Notes
- Omada Health files for IPO.
- WeightWatchers enters bankruptcy.
- WHOOP drops two next-gen wearables.
- 1Rebel plots five upgraded London clubs.
- Apple Music, UMG debut audio wellness collection.
- OpenAI targets healthcare with LLM benchmark tool.
- AllTrails launches premium tier with on-trail AI features.
- Oura, Ultrahuman feud over ITC patent suit, CGM feature.
- Remedy Place debuts diagnostics-driven self-care programs.
- Peloton, Planet Fitness, Xponential, and Life Time report earnings.
- Cedars-Sinai, Redesign Health partner on digital healthtech incubator.
- Teal Health launches FDA-approved at-home cervical cancer screening.
- Featured role: Head of Marketing at a leading longevity medicine and health optimization company.
💰 Money Moves
US 🇺🇸 / Canada 🇨🇦
PE firm TSG Consumer Partners acquired HVLP gym chain EōS Fitness, valuing it at ~$1.5B.
Youth sports operator Unrivaled Sports secured $120M in a round led by retailer DICK’S Sporting Goods.
Employee health benefits platform Vitable Health acquired ICHRA plan provider Liferaft.
More from Fitt Insider: Alt Health Plans
Ginko, a screentime responsibility platform for parents, closed a $1.5M pre-seed round led by ALIAVIA Ventures.
Better-for-you snack bar maker Tosi Snacks added ~$6.5M in funding.
CueZen, maker of AI-powered personalization software for health platforms, raised $5M in a round led by Point72 Ventures.
Kouper, a concierge post-care navigator, emerged from stealth with $10M in funding.
Fitness equipment maker Sunny Health & Fitness acquired UK-based equipment maker JLL Fitness.
Striking Brands reacquired a minority stake in kickboxing fitness franchise 9Round from Lift Brands.
Lifestyle oncology platform Complement 1, raised $16M in an oversubscribed seed round led by Owl Ventures and Blume Ventures.
Europe 🇪🇺
French food and beverage giant Danone acquired a majority stake in US-based organic baby formula maker Kate Farms.
UK-based Zeus, developer of devices to alleviate snoring and sleep apnea, raised £150K ($200K) from British Design Fund.
Denmark’s Uvisa Health, developer of light therapy therapeutics for vaginal infections, secured 4.2M DKK ($634K).
Spain’s Heura secured €20M ($22.2M) in financing from European Investment Bank (EIB) to develop nutrient-dense plant-based foods.
Asia 🌏
Saudi Arabian weight management platform Kilow raised $2.5M in a seed round led by Sanabil Venture Studio.
Indian healthy snack maker Farmley secured $42M in a Series C led by L Catterton.
Israel’s Mentaily, developer of AI-powered mental health diagnostics, secured $3M in a seed round.
Australia 🇦🇺 / New Zealand 🇳🇿
Auric Essentials, maker of a personalized aromatherapy device, secured funding from Antler.
Latin America 🌎
Patria Investimentos, leading shareholder of Brazilian gym chain Smart Fit, sold a 16.5% stake via block trade auction, raising R$2.2B ($392M).
Africa 🌍
Nigerian preventative health platform Platos Health secured $1.4M in a pre-seed round led by Google for Startups.
Today’s newsletter was brought to you by Anthony Vennare, Joe Vennare, Ryan Deer, and Jasmina Breen.
