Bringing AI to every fitness floor.
👀 Fitt Insider x Eudēmonia Health Innovation Lab is a few weeks away — we’re locking in sessions, workouts, and dinners. Excited to see everyone in West Palm Beach. Reply to this email if you’ll be there or need anything.
Men need a wellness check.
Man’s World
American men are hurting mentally, physically, spiritually, and economically.
Two-thirds of young men say nobody knows them well. They’re more likely than women to be unemployed and live with their parents. Their suicide rates are up 25% since 2001.
And as guys skip medical care, the five-year lifespan gap between men and women is widening.
Machismo
American individualism fuels a sickness stigma that hits men hardest. With manhood tied to providing, many men struggle to accept help, turning instead to self-directed wellness.
Signals. ED can stem from heart disease, diabetes, and psychological disorders, but most men assume low T is the culprit. Seeking a quick fix, online ED visits jumped 1,500% from ’17–’19.
With TRT skyrocketing, Hims entered the space, Hone Health bundles with longevity care, and specialty clinics like Gameday Men’s Health are scaling. But convenience can mask risk, with studies suggesting meds are often prescribed without oversight.
Seeds. One-third of men think fertility is mostly a woman’s issue, when it’s a 50/50 problem.
Balancing the scales, SwimClub launched a science-backed reproductive health supp for men. A weird flex, Sperm Racing raised $10M to make virility a competitive sport. Part of the sexual wellness wave, sperm testing and freezing are taking off alongside next-gen IVF.
Looks. From steroids to looksmaxxing, appearance is becoming part of men’s wellness.
Chasing gains, gym-goers are injecting grey market BPC-157 and TB500 peptides, known as the “Wolverine Stack.” Beautifying bros, brands like Dr. Squatch, Duke Cannon, and MALIN+GOETZ are making male self-care socially acceptable.
Feels. Less likely to be formally diagnosed with depression or confide in friends, men commit suicide at 4x the rate of women.
Reframing resilience, veteran-focused University of Health and Performance trains emotional intelligence, communication, and entrepreneurship within holistic programs. Rehabilitating, Heroic Hearts Program offers psychedelic retreats for post-combat PTSD.
Equal Rites
As gender roles evolve, no one can agree what “masculinity” is, leaving 68% of Gen Z boys questioning how to be a man and 61% turning to “manosphere” influencers.
Combating online echo chambers, real-world rites of passages and authentic human connection could readjust the sails.
Takeaway: Getting men invested in health is good, but there’s no biohack for being vulnerable.
🎙 On the Podcast
Myo co-founder & CEO Scott Marcaccio discusses scaling premium physical therapy.
With 23 locations and counting, Myo is bringing next-gen PT to the masses — helping people futureproof their bodies with preventative care.
We also cover: Raising global “body IQ,” the 10-year journey to product-market fit, and shifting from an athlete niche to mass premium positioning.
Listen to today’s episode here
🛍️ The future of fitness x retail
UK sporting goods chain Sports Direct just opened a 90K-sq-ft London flagship, featuring a Everlast Gym+, HYROX training center, Pilates studio, saunas, and ice baths under one roof.
Tag team. A related move, Reebok x F45 Training launched a global partnership spanning co-branded gear and a smart ring while teasing an integrated in-studio concept.
Touchpoints. As more consumers embrace fitness as an identity and 80% seek out IRL brand experiences, performance, wellness, and retail are merging — forming cross-channel ecosystems.
Breaking new ground, Nike is scaling fitness studios and strength equipment. lululemon’s Glow Up Studio transformed retail into a pop-up fitness hub. And concepts like MAAP LaBs and Bandit’s flagship represent lifestyle x community spaces.
Punchline: From owned events to authentic content and integrated experiences, the next era of retail isn’t just about selling products; it’s about building ecosystems that move people.
🏋️ Give Your Trainers Superpowers
EGYM is bringing AI to every fitness floor.
Smarter workouts. Combining real-time performance data with each member’s unique BioAge, EGYM Genius creates adaptive training plans — integrating free weights, smart machines, and 200+ tech partners.
✅ Members get tailored, progressive workouts
✅ Trainers deliver more support with less busywork
✅ Facilities gain modern, expert-led, and member-focused upgrades
Personalization at scale. It’s AI and BioAge working together to boost retention, efficiency, and outcomes.
Learn more → EGYM.com
🩺 VCs, health systems incubate Medicine 3.0
Khosla Ventures partnered with Cleveland Clinic to pilot and scale emerging healthcare technologies.
All-access. Together, they’ll give startups clinical access while co-incubating next-gen solutions in AI, therapeutics, and diagnostics.
New playbook. Instead of betting on ideas, investors are embedding startups inside health systems — aligning incentives, accelerating adoption, and sharing upside. Linking up, Khosla x Cleveland Clinic joins a wave of partnerships reshaping healthcare’s operating model.
- General Catalyst acquired Summa Health to test its portfolio in house.
- Redesign Health and Cedars-Sinai formed a joint venture to co-create startups.
- Targeting novel therapeutics, a16z teamed with Eli Lilly for a $500M biotech fund.
Looking ahead: A step in the right direction, startup x healthcare partnerships can spark innovation. But without systemic reform, the sector will likely struggle to turn promise into measurable outcomes.
📰 News & Notes
- Community fuels fitness culture.
- Smart toilets become health trackers.
- Hers enters menopause specialty care.
- AG1 signs student scientists to NIL deals.
- Centr launches women’s strength program.
- Plunge advances contrast therapy research.
- WISEcode scores ingredient, nutrient quality.
- Clinique La Prairie preps first US longevity hub.
- Alma adds chef/athlete Dan Churchill to c-suite.
- Natural Cycles unveils perimenopause wearable.
- Elektra Health, Oscar unveil menopause health plan.
- DICK’S Sporting Goods lands Gymshark wholesale biz.
- Club Studio targets 50 boutique x big-box sites by EOY.
- Flex, Johnson Fitness & Wellness enable HSA/FSA payments.
- New Engen reveals growth strategies for active lifestyle brands.
- We already know your next hire: Fitt Talent offers specialized recruiting for healthtech, CPG, and wellness brands. Talk to our team.
💰 Money Moves
US 🇺🇸 / Canada 🇨🇦
Sunday Lighting, maker of circadian rhythm-optimized light fixtures, raised $1M in a pre-seed round led by Collaborative Fund.
Greek yogurt maker Chobani raised $650M in equity capital at a $20B valuation.
Adaptyx, developer of a continuous multi-analyte biosensor, raised $14M in a seed round led by Interlagos.
NewLimit, developer of longevity medicines, added $45M in funding.
Counsel Health, an AI-powered triaging platform for healthcare, raised a $25M Series A led by a16z and GV.
BiomeSense, maker of an AI-powered, at-home gut microbiome lab, closed $7M in funding.
Weight management clinic knownwell added $25M in a round led by CVS Health Ventures.
Youth sports company Unrivaled Sports acquired Football ‘N’ America, a youth flag football league co-founded by NFL vet Drew Brees.
Functional hemp beverage maker Shift Naturals secured an investment from NBA star Kevin Love.
KilgourMD, a scalp care brand for menopausal women, closed a $5M round led by Willow Growth Partners.
Pediatric mental health platform Triplemoon closed a $3.5M seed round.
School-based telehealth provider Hazel Health acquired children’s mental health platform Little Otter.
Manatee, a family-centered mental health platform, acquired parent-child therapy coaching platform Happypillar.
Supplements maker Designs for Health landed an investment from BDT & MSD Partners.
Europe 🇪🇺
Spanish padel gear maker NOX Sport raised undisclosed funding from Oakley Capital.
UK-based gut health brand ZOE raised £3.8M ($5.1M) in crowdfunding.
everystate, a UK-based functional mushroom wellness brand co-founded by singer Ellie Goulding, landed funding from Era VC.
Asia 🌏
Chinese beauty & wellness company Beauty Farm acquired skincare brand Siyanli for RMB 1.25B ($175.6M).
Australia 🇦🇺 / New Zealand 🇳🇿
Australia’s Indi, an AI healthcare co-pilot for parents of kids with complex needs, raised A$1.46M ($950K).
Today’s newsletter was brought to you by Anthony Vennare, Joe Vennare, Ryan Deer, and Jasmina Breen.
