SaaS Archives - Athletech News https://athletechnews.com/tag/saas/ The Homepage of the Fitness & Wellness Industry Mon, 09 Dec 2024 13:05:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 https://athletechnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ATHLETECH-FAVICON-KNOCKOUT-LRG-48x48.png SaaS Archives - Athletech News https://athletechnews.com/tag/saas/ 32 32 177284290 Health and Fitness Software Market to Hit $19.1B by 2031 https://athletechnews.com/health-and-fitness-software-market-to-hit-19-1b-by-2031/ Sat, 07 Dec 2024 00:30:47 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=117123 A new report shows the projected health and fitness software market growth is fueled by interest in personalized health solutions, M&As and virtual offerings The health and fitness software market is on track for significant growth, projected to expand by 13.83% from 2024 to 2031, reaching a staggering $19.1 billion, according to a recent report…

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A new report shows the projected health and fitness software market growth is fueled by interest in personalized health solutions, M&As and virtual offerings

The health and fitness software market is on track for significant growth, projected to expand by 13.83% from 2024 to 2031, reaching a staggering $19.1 billion, according to a recent report from Market Research Intellect.

What’s expected to drive the surge? Unsurprisingly, growing consumer focus on personal health and wellness, with many seeking digital solutions to set fitness goals, track progress and personalize their workout plans. Virtual fitness classes, online coaching, wearable devices, and mobile apps are also contributing to the promising health and fitness software landscape.

However, one of the most noteworthy insights from the report is the pivotal role that mergers and acquisitions (M&A) play in the market’s expansion. As Market Research Intellect points out, M&A activities address challenges and support companies in penetrating new markets, driving overall growth.

Indeed, the fitness industry witnessed one of the biggest deals this year with Orangetheory and Anytime Fitness parent Self Esteem Brands in a merger of equals. The two are now housed under Purpose Brands, a new name given to the holding company.

The report also dives into tech advancements in the health and fitness software space, which, in turn, offer improved solutions to streamline operations and enhance product quality. Market Research Intellect finds that several regions (such as North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific) have favorable policies and incentives that support investment and growth, further advancing the market.

This year has seen several software-related deals, especially in the business space— PushPress secured $20 million to advance its platform for gym owners, while Daxko teamed with Edge to boost member engagement, streamline operations and elevate fitness club staff performance.

While North America is projected to hold a significant share of the health and fitness software space, the report finds that Europe is poised to experience steady growth, led by Germany, France and the U.K., in part because of supportive government policies. Still, Asia-Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing region due to its rapid industrialization and urbanization, with China, India and Japan driving demand. Those expected to show moderate growth include Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.

Market Research Intellect’s report can be found here.

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Xplor Technologies Launches Xplor Gym in Australia & New Zealand https://athletechnews.com/xplor-technologies-launches-xplor-gym-australia-new-zealand/ Fri, 27 Sep 2024 22:30:56 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=111987 The all-in-one gym management software platform is ready to serve fitness businesses across Australia and New Zealand Xplor Technologies, a software, payments, and growth solutions leader, has launched Xplor Gym in Australia and New Zealand. The platform has already been employed by two gyms — Shane Cameron Fitness and Evolve Fitness Matamata—which are heralding Xplor…

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The all-in-one gym management software platform is ready to serve fitness businesses across Australia and New Zealand

Xplor Technologies, a software, payments, and growth solutions leader, has launched Xplor Gym in Australia and New Zealand.

The platform has already been employed by two gyms — Shane Cameron Fitness and Evolve Fitness Matamata—which are heralding Xplor Gym for its business streamlining capabilities.

Among the many features of Xplor Gym, the club management software handles billing and payments, offers built-in marketing automation tools, and provides performance metrics. 

an image of Shane Cameron Fitness staff
Credit: Xplor Gym

“Before Xplor Gym, we had to be onsite and dig through multiple systems to find what we needed,” said Casey Potatau, owner of Shane Cameron Fitness, based in Northcote, Auckland. The family-owned gym offers fitness classes, six-week transformation challenges, and personal training.

“Now, everything is right there in one place,” Potatau continued. “Having a cloud-based all-in-one system means that our management team can easily and reliably work from home, and everything is at our fingertips. As owners who are busy parents that work and travel a lot, this system has been a game changer.”

Potatau added that Shane Cameron Fitness can now offer a new tool to members to ensure they stay motivated and supported while easing the pain points for its administrative and coaching teams.

a smiling image of two women at Shane Cameron Fitness
Credit: Xplor Gym

“As fitness continues to grow in Australia and New Zealand, it’s more important than ever for gym owners to have the right tools to stay competitive,” Xplor Gym chief commercial officer Michelle Furniss said. “With Xplor Gym, we’re giving gyms the resources they need to run their businesses more smoothly, engage their members, and free up time for what really matters—helping people achieve their fitness goals.” 

The Xplor Gym platform is now available for businesses across Australia and New Zealand. 

Xplor Gym comes as Australia’s fitness scene continues heating up. Next month, the country will host the AusFitness Expo, Sydney’s biggest trade show and summit for fitness enthusiasts. The event, which runs from October 11 to 13 at the ICC in Sydney’s Darling Harbour, will feature over 250 brands, including Hapana, Merrithew, Life Fitness, Matrix, MyZone, Verve Fitness and more.

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Hapana Raises $17 Million to Fuel Growth Across Fitness Markets https://athletechnews.com/hapana-raises-17-million-to-fuel-growth-across-fitness-markets/ Mon, 12 Aug 2024 18:02:00 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=109027 The fitness tech company plans to expand its global footprint and launch an upgraded platform with fresh capital. Hapana, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform used by fitness brands worldwide, has raised $17 million in a funding round led by Australian venture capital firms OIF Ventures and Bailador. The funding will support Hapana’s plans to expand its…

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The fitness tech company plans to expand its global footprint and launch an upgraded platform with fresh capital.

Hapana, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform used by fitness brands worldwide, has raised $17 million in a funding round led by Australian venture capital firms OIF Ventures and Bailador. The funding will support Hapana’s plans to expand its presence in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region and the United States, as well as the launch of its next-generation platform.

Founded in 2014, Hapana provides technology solutions that manage memberships, payments and customer loyalty for gyms, fitness studios and franchises. The company’s platform, used in 17 countries, operates as a white-label solution, allowing fitness brands to maintain their identity while utilizing Hapana’s features to improve operational efficiency.

Paul Wilson, co-founder and managing partner at Bailador, remarked on Hapana’s potential, stating, “Hapana has built a solid reputation in the fitness industry, and we believe the company is well-positioned to continue its growth in Australia and internationally.”

The platform is employed by several fitness brands, including Body Fit Training (BFT), KX Pilates, Gold’s Gym, and F45. Last year, over one million fitness club members used Hapana’s platform, with more than half a billion dollars in payments processed through the system.

This latest funding round follows Hapana’s 2023 investment from Riverside Acceleration Capital (RAC), which was aimed at expanding its sales and marketing teams as the company pursued growth in the U.S. market. With this funding round, Hapana aims to further develop its technology and expand its market reach, particularly focusing on supporting the growth of fitness brands in new markets.

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Hapana CEO Jarron Aizen

Hapana CEO Jarron Aizen noted the importance of the funding for the company’s expansion efforts. “These funds will enable us to expand our go-to-market plans in the US and across the APAC region, facilitating the signing of more franchises and independent gyms,” Aizen said. 

He added that the upcoming platform update would include enhanced features for large franchise fitness brands, offering greater visibility and control over their operations.

Kevin Wilson, Partner at OIF Ventures, commented on Hapana’s progress. “We have been closely following Hapana’s journey and are impressed with their execution and commitment to becoming a leading provider of fitness management software,” Wilson said. He expressed confidence that the new funding would help Hapana continue its growth.

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RookMotion Rebrands to ROOK as it Transitions to a B2B SaaS Focus & Announces $1.7M Pre-seed Fundraising Round https://athletechnews.com/rook-b2b-saas-focus-1point7m-funding/ Mon, 20 Mar 2023 17:50:53 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=93901 Real-time data means actionable insights, says ROOK, which has clients ranging from health and fitness brands to those in the insurance, tech, and digital health space RookMotion is closing out March with two major announcements: a rebranding to ROOK, which reflects current innovations and ongoing growth, and a $1.7 million pre-seed funding round. The brand…

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Real-time data means actionable insights, says ROOK, which has clients ranging from health and fitness brands to those in the insurance, tech, and digital health space

RookMotion is closing out March with two major announcements: a rebranding to ROOK, which reflects current innovations and ongoing growth, and a $1.7 million pre-seed funding round.

The brand refresh signals ROOK’s evolution from a fitness-focused, hardware-based company to a B2B SaaS company.

ROOK, founded in 2018 by biomedical engineers, has been eager to use data-driven solutions to create a healthier world – a mission that the company says hasn’t changed.

What began as a heart rate monitoring system has naturally evolved into API and health data analysis, and ROOK has unlocked solutions that extend beyond fitness into healthcare, insurance, wellness, and gaming.

With the advent of API, the company says it has shifted its focus from linking users to fitness centers to connecting businesses with the health data necessary for tailoring interactions, discovering fresh opportunities, and breaking new ground. 

The company points out that now that wearables are commonplace, the health data they collect is extremely valuable and has enormous unrealized potential. As a result, ROOK’s ability to provide a single integration for hundreds of wearables offers a solution by which businesses can collect and implement user data and insights.

“Many companies haven’t even started yet or struggled with the intent to use this data,” said Jonas Duecker, COO. “Leveraging this data can be a total game changer for many companies – enabling them to provide highly personalized, effective and meaningful user experiences. ROOK helps transform this data into actionable insights.” 

Having real-time data allows for better decision-making, Duecker added, as data can be transformed into actionable insights. 

“​​Imagine a world in which we are able to make better decisions in an instant, based on what our current state of mind and body tells us via biomarker insights,” he said.

Many of the integrations the company has built with its partners has been around gamifying the user experience, such as reward systems based on health habits. 

“ROOK enables the tracking and monitoring of healthy habits by allowing any fitness app to become compatible with a wide range of wearables,” Duecker said. “And even more important, ROOK helps to make sense of the data by applying a single format and scoring to the data that allows you to compare users on the same fair metrics – no matter the source of information.”

According to the B2B SaaS company, its clients range from fitness and wellness to those in the insurance, tech, and digital health space.

“Wearable data and integrations have become top-of-mind for many companies in fitness, wellness and health. We are especially excited about our collaboration with Advanta Health Solutions at the intersection of corporate wellness and insurance tech,” Duecker shared.

ROOK sees a future where biomarker data will be utilized to drive better user experiences that are highly personalized – and can help prevent disease.

“We will see biomarker data being used to improve the recommendations of your music playlist, to generate in-game effects in video games, to further decentralize patient monitoring experiences, to share in social circles how we are feeling, to control your smart living environment and in many other ways,” said Duecker. 

On a more macro level, Duecker says the data will be able to create insight and predictions, with the ability to prevent chronic diseases, inactivity, accidents and more. 

As part of the rebrand, ROOK also updated its website, which provides an in-depth look at the company’s offerings.

The recent $1.7 million in pre-seed funding was led by NuFund Venture Group and included participation from AlliedVC, CrossOceanFund, Harvard Business Fund, Hilltop Venture Partners, InstaVC, IrieVC, IQ Ventures, Liebenthal, Mana Ventures, MCMA VC, Stadia Ventures, Techstars, and The SageHouse.

The B2B SaaS company has also welcomed Pankaj Kedia, a prominent angel investor in artificial intelligence and deep technology and a former global head of wearables at Qualcomm, as a board member and investor. 

“We’re excited for this next stage of growth at our company,” said Marco Benitez, CEO & co-founder of ROOK.

“ROOK has always been about connecting people with what they need to achieve more–first through hardware and software, and now more than ever through our API. By centering our ability to provide more meaningful biomarker data and insights, we are able to focus on our power to deliver the tools for better understanding so that companies can turn problems into possibilities and tap into unseen opportunities. With this round of funding, we will drive even more people to discover, build, and achieve more with ROOK.”

In addition to the rebranding and the funding, ROOK has also been accepted into the EndeavorLAB and Stadia Ventures accelerator programs, which it will actively participate in over the next three to six months.

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Calculated in the Cloud: bodQR Provides Fitness Businesses with a Comprehensive View of Members https://athletechnews.com/bodqr-comprehensive-view-of-fitness-members/ Wed, 08 Mar 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=93611 If you’re in the results business, bodQR recommends taking note of the benefits of body and needs analysis As technology strives to make life easier and more efficient, why not calculate fitness and business results in the cloud? bodQR, a SaaS company that serves the fitness industry, YMCAs, and coaches, has launched its new body…

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If you’re in the results business, bodQR recommends taking note of the benefits of body and needs analysis

As technology strives to make life easier and more efficient, why not calculate fitness and business results in the cloud?

bodQR, a SaaS company that serves the fitness industry, YMCAs, and coaches, has launched its new body and needs analysis software to provide calculated-in-the-cloud analysis, lowering costs and ensuring private, self-serve body analysis for unlimited fitness users. 

The SaaS product also enables fitness operators to track shifts in fitness interests and trends within a membership and identifies how member motivations for participation in fitness are changing over time. Over the long-term, the data can help keep fitness members engaged.

Fitness members will access a custom-branded bodQR web app for their home club by either scanning a QR code or clicking a link using their smartphone. After quickly entering some info, the members will receive a comprehensive guided body and needs analysis results delivered right to their device browser – without having to download a mobile app. 

The web app will then allow fitness staff to instantly access member results in a bodQR dashboard, along with marketing and analytics features designed for sales and retention. 

The outcomes are twofold: fitness consumers benefit from actionable analysis, while fitness clubs and professionals benefit from business data, allowing them to better understand and serve their fitness consumers.

CEO Paul Amoruso says the results can be eye-opening for fitness facilities that employ bodQR, with the initial surprise of seeing how hungry fitness consumers are to learn about their overall health. Fitness businesses may be taken aback at how much time their members will spend consuming personalized results that give them insights into their own needs.

Paul Amoruso smiling
bodQR founder & CEO Paul Amoruso

“One unique feature in bodQR is the member success factor analysis, which generates scores for each member measuring their need for structure, support, challenge, interaction, modification and instruction,” Amoruso said. “These scores can also be quite surprising as to the diversity of needs with a membership, providing a different and powerful way to think about segmentation and programming to best help members.”

The bodQR body and needs analysis also allows fitness consumers to enjoy the services that higher-paying fitness members, such as personal training clients, typically receive. The SaaS company says this method democratizes analysis by providing continuous access for fitness members without the cost or bottleneck of hardware and staff.  

“Until now, the majority of clubs and studios with group formats and larger memberships have been unable to conduct body & needs analysis with their entire membership on a consistent basis as the process has been too costly or too awkward for members,” said Amoruso. 

“Nonetheless, these members still expect their fitness provider to fully understand their needs, regardless of format, membership size or membership price. This situation makes members feel invisible, causing dissatisfaction and retention risk. bodQR enables fitness businesses of any size or format to systematically know their members at scale, and to concretely demonstrate concern about the condition and needs of each individual member.”

bodQR can easily fold within any size fitness and nutrition business and doesn’t require hardware or public scanning, easing privacy concerns. It’s also designed to be labor-free, without the need for oversight, manual printing, or personal explanation of the results. 

The software was recently unveiled at the Connected Health & Fitness Summit in Los Angeles, where bodQR was chosen as a presenter as well as an Innovation Showcase Finalist.

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Virtuagym’s Industry-Leading Fitness Software https://athletechnews.com/virtuagym-industry-leading-fitness-software/ Wed, 10 Aug 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=91451 One of the most comprehensive health and fitness software companies, Virtuagym is empowering business and health professionals through its all-in-one offerings With solutions for business management, performance coaching, and community engagement, Virtuagym is looking to transform the fitness industry. Through its innovative technology solutions, Virtuagym is helping fitness businesses of all types to seamlessly combine…

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One of the most comprehensive health and fitness software companies, Virtuagym is empowering business and health professionals through its all-in-one offerings

With solutions for business management, performance coaching, and community engagement, Virtuagym is looking to transform the fitness industry. Through its innovative technology solutions, Virtuagym is helping fitness businesses of all types to seamlessly combine their physical and digital offerings to improve member engagement and business efficiency. With a reach of 20 million consumers, 9,000 fitness businesses, and 45,000 fitness professionals, the solution is shaping the future of the industry.

Founded in 2008 by brothers Paul and Hugo Braam, Virtuagym was originally launched as a consumer app designed to make working out and tracking nutrition more seamless and enjoyable. Driven by a mission to help people create sustainable lifestyle changes through new technologies, the company has evolved to meet consumer and customer needs. In the early 2010s, Virtuagym became one of the first B2B SaaS solutions in health and fitness coaching, and later added intuitive tools for booking and management. Its solutions allow gyms, studios, and personal training businesses to efficiently and effectively deliver personalized coaching and membership management. Today, the company has over 200 employees across their offices in Amsterdam and the Americas and supports more than 20 million consumers, including businesses like Workout Anytime, AnyTime Fitness, Fitness Park, the YMCA, and Planet Fitness, and many more.

A survey conducted by Virtuagym in Q1 2022 was distributed across the company’s 9,000 customers, and demonstrated the increasing importance of fitness software for the industry. Since February 2020, there has been a 44% increase in the use of Virtuagym’s fitness app. Almost one-third of fitness business owners are using personalized content or combining offline and online classes, with a quarter leveraging flexible, hybrid memberships to recruit new and existing members. On the shift of the industry, Hugo Braam stated, “A hybrid approach, combining physical services with digital technology—from wearables and gamification to video workouts and integrated club apps—can deliver a cost-effective solution. What’s more, it can enable clubs and studios to diversify their offering to fit the different wants and needs of a wider demographic, ultimately fueling growth.”

Virtuagym’s All-In-One solution can enable businesses to focus on growth while providing 24/7 personalized fitness experiences to members wherever they are, driving loyalty and retention. Software offerings like payments and scheduling tools help with management goals, while virtual training and live video workouts help members reach their fitness goals. An integrated Video Workout Platform and PRO+, a turnkey digital membership and engagement solution, have been recent additions to drive consumer fitness goals. Not only are these products driving value for customers, but these solutions do so within a brandable, white-label, mobile app framework. Customers like Pacific Beach Fitness have noticed the shift in app usage among consumers, with Fitness Mentor Junior Leoso remarking, “We noticed our use is going up tremendously nowadays: running things like home challenges, live group training courses, and taking advantage of Video on Demand has been huge.” Andy Johnson, the Head of Operations for Jetts UK, also attested, “With Virtuagym’s end-to-end Customer Mobile Solution, we’ve vastly improved member communications, retention, sales, and business intelligence. This has skyrocketed the continual growth for Jetts UK over the past 18 months.”

So, what’s next for Virtuagym? The company recently raised a $3 million Euro investment from Icecat, an Amsterdam-based company that invests in innovation technology organizations. The investment will support Virtuagym’s international growth and new product launches for cardio tracking, as well as payments and exercise gamification. As the company continues to grow, Virtuagym is focused on supporting businesses around the world to make the world a happier and healthier place through its fitness technology.

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Walla Software Secures $13M, To Assist Boutique Fitness Studios in Navigating ‘New Normal’ https://athletechnews.com/walla-software-13m-funding/ Thu, 14 Jul 2022 19:48:09 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=91263 CEO Laura Munkholm says investors are bullish on the fitness studio management software Walla, an all-in-one studio management software for boutique fitness businesses, has announced an $8 million Series A funding round led by Industry Ventures following a $5 million seed round. TenOneTen Ventures, Keshif Ventures, and Crescent Ridge Partners also participated in the round. …

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CEO Laura Munkholm says investors are bullish on the fitness studio management software

Walla, an all-in-one studio management software for boutique fitness businesses, has announced an $8 million Series A funding round led by Industry Ventures following a $5 million seed round.

TenOneTen Ventures, Keshif Ventures, and Crescent Ridge Partners also participated in the round. 

Walla plans to use the funds to expand its software offerings, which will include an email and text automation platform as well as an appointment solution for private sessions.

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The SaaS platform, which debuted in 2020, has assisted fitness studios such as The River, Salt Fitness, Seattle Yoga Arts, and 502 Power Yoga in improving daily operations, strengthening client relationships, and bolstering their fitness business ventures.

“We’ve had our eyes on the impact of the pandemic on various industries, and the fitness industry has had to make some of the biggest pivots and concessions, making it ripe for technology disruption,” points out Jonathan Roosevelt, Managing Director, Industry Ventures. “We’re fully aligned with Walla’s vision to make boutique fitness studios more agile and future-proof through technology.”

Walla employs behavioral psychology to foster loyalty, community, and client retention, resulting in students developing consistent habits of attending classes and meeting their personal health objectives.

Laura Munkholm, President and Co-founder of Walla, says her mission is to revolutionize the fitness industry’s software so clients can get (and keep) clients moving. She sees the challenges of the last two years as an opportunity for the fitness industry. “The COVID-19 pandemic brought upon a new era for fitness businesses, and we want to provide all studios with the ability to adapt, grow and thrive, leaving the tech fatigue of the past two years behind,” Munkholm says.

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Munkholm tells Athletech News that despite the difficult fundraising environment, this latest round of investment shows that investors are bullish on Walla and confirms how powerful a player the fitness-SaaS platform is in the FitTech space.

“A very small percentage of women-owned companies ever get to this stage, and I feel incredibly lucky to have an executive team and bench of investors that believe in Walla’s vision alongside me. This is especially true given our customer base is so heavily women-owned–I’m more fired up than ever to help women small business owners future-proof their fitness businesses,” Munkholm says.

The capital infusion has come at an opportune time, Munkholm remarked, particularly as fitness businesses face a potential recession. Regardless of what may come, Munkholm says Walla is ready for it. 

“We’re feeling fully equipped and committed to helping our clients weather any storm, and through this series A investment, we’re in a position to do so at scale. We’re using the investment to grow our team to support our growing base of clients and expand our product offering to deliver the most complete studio management software on the market. This includes taking a handful of ancillary products studio owners use outside of our platform, like text and email marketing, and bringing them into the Walla solution for a more seamless experience,” Munkholm tells us.

Boutique fitness studio owners are encouraged to schedule a 10-minute intro call with Walla.

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ABC Fitness Solutions Names Sharad Mohan as Chief SaaS Officer https://athletechnews.com/sharad-mohan-abc-new-chief-saas-officer/ Wed, 08 Jun 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=90944 ABC Fitness calls Mohan’s new role as Chief Saas Officer a “natural next step” Leading fitness tech provider ABC Fitness Solutions (ABC) has named Sharad Mohan as Chief SaaS Officer. Mohan, who co-founded Trainerize, will oversee ABC’s SaaS offerings, which includes Trainerize, EVO, and GymSales.  According to ABC, the new appointment will unify and accelerate…

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ABC Fitness calls Mohan’s new role as Chief Saas Officer a “natural next step”

Leading fitness tech provider ABC Fitness Solutions (ABC) has named Sharad Mohan as Chief SaaS Officer. Mohan, who co-founded Trainerize, will oversee ABC’s SaaS offerings, which includes Trainerize, EVO, and GymSales. 

According to ABC, the new appointment will unify and accelerate growth for ABC’s SaaS solutions, and Mohan’s new role as Chief Saas Officer is a “natural next step.”

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Sharad Mohan

“It is an honor to be named the Chief SaaS Officer for ABC. My passion is to continuously find ways to make fitness accessible, and empowering fitness professionals and enterprises to reach and impact more clients,” says Sharad Mohan of his appointment to Chief Saas Officer. “In this new role, I hope to take what we’ve learned through the incredible success we’ve had at Trainerize and use that to facilitate organizational growth across all three solutions that I am now so proud to help lead.”

Mohan, who has long been passionate about technology and making fitness accessible for all, will continue to lead Trainerize while contributing to ABC’s expansion into the fitness technology space. His new position will oversee the needs of more than 8,000 clubs, 245,000 coaches, and 3 million members worldwide.

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“Sharad’s expanded role is reflective of his growth-minded leadership and his capacity to have an outsized influence on ABC as a whole—when it comes to our culture, and our vision to innovate more SaaS offerings into our business,” says ABC CEO Bill Davis. “Our commitment and ongoing investment through our ‘build, buy, partner’ strategy means we are uniquely positioned to help the full spectrum of fitness providers: club operators, gym owners, coaches simplify their business with a holistic and modular suite of offerings. I am excited he has accepted this new challenge.”

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CEO Corner: Laura Munkholm, Fit Tech Founder – From Yoga to SaaS https://athletechnews.com/laura-munkholm-walla-co-founder-president-interview/ Thu, 05 May 2022 14:55:09 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=90754 Laura Munkholm has been busy building Walla, an all-in-one SaaS platform to help boutique studios As the fitness industry is recovering from the pandemic, Laura Munkholm has been hard at work building Walla, an all-in-one SaaS platform to help boutique studios manage, grow, and optimize their businesses.  As the President and Co-founder of Walla Software,…

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Laura Munkholm has been busy building Walla, an all-in-one SaaS platform to help boutique studios

As the fitness industry is recovering from the pandemic, Laura Munkholm has been hard at work building Walla, an all-in-one SaaS platform to help boutique studios manage, grow, and optimize their businesses. 

As the President and Co-founder of Walla Software, Munkholm brings over two decades in the fitness and wellness industry; she was a teacher, yoga studio manager, boutique studio consultant to a SaaS expert at a well-known global company, and is now a fit tech founder.

As a woman in tech, Munkholm says she envisions an environment where studio owners and their members are able to achieve fitness, wellness, and success, regardless of age, race, gender, or sexuality. Munkholm’s method has led a boutique studio chain to double its revenue within 12 months. 

We spoke to Munkholm, a wine enthusiast and book junkie, about the future of hybrid fitness, the experience of being a woman in tech, her advice for entrepreneurs, and more. 

Athletech News (ATN): How has yoga helped you in business?

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Walla Software President & Co-Founder Laura Munkholm

Laura Munkholm: Yoga is a practice that teaches you consistency, resilience, and flexibility. You don’t start with a peak pose in yoga, you work for it. You earn it over time. I’ve had to apply this mindset and these values as I work with my business partner to scale Walla. It’s rarely a linear journey towards success. We’ve had some serious hurdles and two steps forward, one step back moments, but staying the course and moving with purpose helps achieve the end game. Oh, and did I mention breathing? That’s been key, too.

ATN: Can you speak a bit to behavioral psychology when it comes to results with clients?

Laura Munkholm: Behavioral psychology might sound like a “big” term for fitness and wellness—but in reality, it is the very cornerstone of what motivates your clients. By understanding what drives each individual to work out, book (and skip) classes, you are equipped to make personalized connections that directly influence retention. 

Think about it this way: Only 20 percent of people who book classes at your studio will maintain their routine. But what about the other 80 percent? They aren’t forever lost—instead, they have different personalities. Different behaviors. And at the end of the day, the same motivators and marketing strategies don’t work for everyone because not every client is the same. That’s where behavior psychology comes in. We connected a “personality quiz” (designed by leading researchers in wellness psychology) to the Walla platform, giving you additional insights to impact client retention positively. I am not talking about their favorite color or food, but rather an easy-to-understand personality quiz that dives into their why and motivators. By knowing who a client is based on their personality type, targeted communication becomes even more effective so you can offer the classes, packages, and plans that best fit their specific needs. Think of it as the love languages test, but your motivation language. It will help studios customize communication and experience in a whole new way!

ATN: Where do you think the future of the fitness industry is headed? Do you think hybrid is here to stay?

Laura Munkholm: Two words come to mind when I think of the future of fitness: customization and flexibility. I believe that we, as consumers, have become used to, even addicted to, the world adapting to us. Communication is customized to us—businesses know which products we like, where we spend our time, and who we spend our time with. Product advertising is tailored to us. Services, including fitness, will have to follow. You will have to know your clients and ideal prospects better than ever.  What does the individual need to hear? What unique experiences do they want? 

Flexibility will have to play hand in hand with customized communication and programming. The literal landscape of our lives has changed along with the myriad of custom choices we have every day. Our work lives have shifted from commuting to an office and being locked at a desk to freedom of location and longer working hours. This means people have different schedule needs and windows of time for workouts. Sometimes it’s 20 minutes between meetings, and sometimes it’s an hour at 4 pm. The great news is that this shift has opened up time slots that were always thought to be non-starters for working folk, and allowed studios to keep their brand front and center when their clients are at home moving with them on demand. 

ATN: Can you share a bit about your experience of being a woman in tech?

Laura Munkholm: As a woman in the technology industry serving business owners in fitness, I feel my role is incredibly important in developing solutions. In most rooms, I am one of few women in C-level positions, especially when it comes to software-as-a-service. And yet, we’re building solutions for a heavily female-led audience. There’s a disconnect here!

The fitness tech industry needs women more than ever, especially. 70% of the business owners in fitness are women. They need women who understand and empathize with their needs building the software they use. 

In my own experience as a woman leading a technology organization, I have felt the need to prove myself more than I have in other business situations. Whether it’s potential investor calls or calls with prospective partners, I often feel I must spend extra time validating my experience and why they can trust me. And still, it’s evident when questions—even about my area of expertise—are directed at my (male) business partner. In those situations, I use it as a growth opportunity to show that I am just as knowledgeable, confident, and capable as any counterpart in the room (virtual or IRL). There’s no time to second-guess myself.

As such, I’ve made it my mission, given my position and experience in the industry, to give women opportunities that might be slightly out of their reach. You’ll see that in action on our team with my collaborative female counterparts. We continually expand our skillset, share knowledge and insights, encourage each other, and celebrate everyday accomplishments. 

ATN: Many fitness facilities have suffered greatly through the pandemic… What have we learned, and what will it take to get things back on track?

Laura Munkholm: We’ve learned a lot, but the resounding lesson to me is that we need each other to rise the tide of wellness. Sure, a small portion of the population can stay motivated on their own at home, day in and day out. But the vast majority of us need each other for accountability, support, community, and fun! 

We also learned that the industry has a whole new message. It’s not about a six-pack or a bikini body. It’s about health. We saw what lack of attention to health and well-being could do to a population through the horrific lens of a pandemic. We, in boutique fitness, have unique positioning to make a massive difference in overall wellness. People have seen the consequence when they don’t take care of themselves, and we have a customized, community-driven way to help them create a habit of movement. This is our moment! 

ATN: What product elements truly speak to your passion (and what’s your favorite Walla feature)?

Laura Munkholm: I like our personality quiz and profile. I love the idea of customization, making the individual feel seen, heard, and motivated. The colorful word “Giver” on your class roster with a description of how to engage with that individual gives the user a completely different mindset than checking a box next to a client’s name. That name is a unique individual, and we help the studio recognize that. 

ATN: Any words of wisdom for entrepreneurs out there?

Laura Munkholm: It’s got to be about more than money. The amount of work, brain space, energy, and commitment is intense but incredibly rewarding when you have a big why. Find reminders of your why as often as possible. For me, it’s our clients, so I make sure to spend time on calls or in-person with them weekly. Whenever I hear about how our product has made their life easier or that we’ve taken something stressful off their plate, it’s like a shot of adrenaline for me to keep going. Find that adrenaline for yourself! 

One last thing here–I learned a while ago that to run a first-class company, I have to be in first-class shape, physically and mentally. For me, that means early morning walks or yoga, cardio, and meditation. I’m exponentially better at making decisions with a clear head once I’ve worked out and found some time to close my eyes and breathe.

The post CEO Corner: Laura Munkholm, Fit Tech Founder – From Yoga to SaaS appeared first on Athletech News.

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