A Fitness Startup Redefining Community Sweatpals, a fast-growing social-fitness startup founded in 2022, has secured a $12 million seed round led by Patron, a16z Speedrun, and HartBeat Ventures. The platform is built around one idea: fitness is more engaging when it’s social. According to Business Insider, Sweatpals now reaches more than 1 million monthly users, […]
Alan Jernigan
Pickleball’s Popularity Surge and What It Means for the Fitness Industry
Pickleball is officially the fastest-growing sport in America — again. According to a recent TIME report, more than 19.8 million Americans now play the game, marking a 45% jump from 2023 and over 300% growth in the past three years. This surge isn’t limited to retirees or hobbyists. The 25–34 age group now represents the […]
FTC Sues LA Fitness Over Difficult Cancellation Policies
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a lawsuit against LA Fitness and its related brands, including Esporta Fitness, City Sports Club, and Club Studio. The complaint accuses the companies of creating unnecessary hurdles for customers trying to cancel memberships, leading to frustration, unwanted fees, and damaged trust. According to the FTC, the gyms required […]
Crunch Fitness Joins the 2025 Inc. 5000 List
When a brand makes the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies, it’s worth paying attention. Crunch Fitness, a name well known in the fitness industry, has landed on the 2025 list — and the numbers behind that achievement tell a story of focus, growth, and smart strategy. Over the last three years, Crunch […]
Leadership Fitness: Integrating Bodybuilding Concepts into Business
Alan Jernigan is a Business & Marketing Expert energized by an unwavering commitment fitness & bodybuilding. As someone who’s all-in in everything from working out to increasing capital, Jernigan often combines the two worlds of business and bodybuilding in a way that works for him. Here are some of the concepts he brings from fitness […]