Fitt Insider

Today I'm joined by Caitlin Landesberg. Caitlin is the founder and CEO of Sufferfest Beer Company. On today's episode, we talk with Caitlin about what makes Sufferfest a happy accident, how she's creating the go-to beer for sweaty experiences, and why there's no such thing as luck. I had a great time chatting with Caitlin and I hope you enjoy listening. More from Caitlin & Sufferfest >> Driven by her desire to have the best "finish line" beer in the world, Caitlin Landesberg took matters into her own hands. In 2012 she began to develop the beer she wanted to see in the world, and as fellow runners and endurance athletes rapidly drove demand, she launched Sufferfest Beer Company in Spring 2016. Based in San Francisco and a Certified B Corporation, Sufferfest inspires active, healthy and passionate humans with award-winning, purpose-brewed craft beer. As the company's Founder and CEO, Caitlin brings 14 years of consumer marketing experience to the company, with prior positions including Director of Marketing at Strava—a social network for athletes. Three successful years into business, Sufferfest was fully acquired by Chico-based Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Spring 2019. Caitlin is an avid trail runner, proud mom, member of the San Francisco Brewers Guild, and a graduate of Kenyon College. More from Fitt Insider >> Fitt Insider is a weekly newsletter and podcast about the business of fitness and wellness. From product launches and funding news to game-changing innovation, Fitt Insider provides listeners with insights and analysis on this ever-evolving industry. Join your peers and colleagues from companies like Equinox, lululemon, Peloton, Beyond Meat, Nike, and ClassPass by subscribing at http://insider.fitt.co.

Today I'm joined by Ethan Agarwal. Ethan is the founder and CEO of Aaptiv. In today's episode, we talked to Ethan about building an executive team as a solo founder, how Aaptiv creates community among its users, and the role of personalization in the future of fitness. I had a great time chatting with Ethan and I hope you enjoy listening. Let's get into it. More from Ethan & Aaptiv >> Aaptiv Founder and CEO Ethan Agarwal first thought of Aaptiv while working as a business consultant – tired, traveling, and 30 pounds overweight. During this time, he realized there was no product on the market that removed all of the barriers he and so many others were up against when trying to make fitness a priority. He set out to transform the way everyone works out and founded Aaptiv in 2016. Three years later, the company – backed by leading venture capital firms and top companies including the Amazon Alexa Fund and Disney – is a leader in the digital health space with over 230,000 paying members who have taken more than 30 million Aaptiv classes. Prior to launching Aaptiv, Ethan spent three years at McKinsey & Co, advising clients in the technology, media, and financial industries. He was previously an investor at LionEye Capital, a $2.5B AUM hedge fund, focused on a merger arbitrage strategy across energy, tech, and healthcare. Ethan began his career as an investment banker at Lehman Brothers, focused on healthcare M&A. Ethan holds bachelor's degrees in economics and political science from The Johns Hopkins University, with a minor in entrepreneurship. He earned his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Get in touch >> https://aaptiv.com/ https://www.instagram.com/aaptiv/ More from Fitt Insider >> Fitt Insider is a weekly newsletter and podcast about the business of fitness and wellness. From product launches and funding news to game-changing innovation, Fitt Insider provides listeners with insights and analysis on this ever-evolving industry. Join your peers and colleagues from companies like Equinox, lululemon, Peloton, Beyond Meat, Nike, and ClassPass by subscribing at http://insider.fitt.co.

Today I'm joined by Sadie Kurzban. Sadie is the founder and CEO of 305 Fitness. On today's episode, we talked to Sadie about her journey from winning a pitch competition to scaling a boutique fitness business, her mission to democratize fitness, and the importance of staying true to who you are. I had a great time chatting with Sadie and hope you enjoy listening. Let's get into it. More from Sadie & 305 Fitness >> Sadie Kurzban is the 29-year old founder and CEO of 305 Fitness. Named "the next fitness cult leader," by the New York Observer, Kurzban, a graduate of Brown University, has been featured in numerous media outlets like Good Morning America, Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, the TODAY show, Vogue, Refinery 29, and Fast Company for her unique ability to turn painful workouts into outrageous fun. Just months out of college, Kurzban launched 305 Fitness, a dance cardio workout with a live DJ. She won Brown University's prestigious Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition and took her $25,000 prize to launch 305 Fitness in New York City. In seven years, Kurzban has grown a tremendous following. Over 100,000 clients have experienced the brand, which boasts a family of 100 instructors and 50 DJs. 305 Fitness currently has 6 locations in New York, Washington D.C., and Boston, with weekly pop-up experiences in Los Angeles and Chicago and San Francisco. 305 Fitness has certified hundreds of dancers around the country to teach their method as licensed 305 instructors. Get in touch >> https://305fitness.com https://www.instagram.com/305fitness/ More from Fitt Insider >> Fitt Insider is a weekly newsletter and podcast about the business of fitness and wellness. From product launches and funding news to game-changing innovation, Fitt Insider provides listeners with insights and analysis on this ever-evolving industry. Join your peers and colleagues from companies like Equinox, lululemon, Peloton, Beyond Meat, Nike, and ClassPass by subscribing at http://insider.fitt.co.

Today I'm joined by Amanda Eilian. Amanda is a co-founder of Able partners. In today's episode, we talked about Amanda's experience as an investor in the positive living space, her take on the future of the wellness industry—including mental health and psychedelics, and her advice for founders looking to break into the space. I had a great time chatting with Amanda and hope you enjoy listening. More from Amanda Eilian & Able Partners >> Amanda Eilian is the co-founder of __able Partners, a venture capital fund focused on early-stage companies in the positive living space. With over 40 companies in the portfolio, investments include Goop, The Wing, Daily Harvest, and Bulletproof. Amanda was also the Co-Founder and President of Videolicious, an enterprise video creation platform backed by Amazon and acquired by a strategic buyer in 2019. Amanda was instrumental in the launch and growth of Videolicious to over 5,000,000 users in 103 countries, including Fortune 500 companies such as IBM, Walmart, SAP, Verizon and GE. Prior to forming Videolicious, Amanda was a founding partner of Capitol Acquisition Corporation, a special purpose acquisition vehicle (SPAC) that completed a $265 million initial public offering and closed a merger that led to the formation of Two Harbors Investment Corp., a $3 billion NYSE listed REIT (TWO) and Silver Bay Realty Trust (SBY). Amanda previously worked in private equity and mergers and acquisitions. Amanda is a Truman Scholar and received her MBA from Harvard Business School where she was a Baker Scholar, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service with Honors in Economics. Amanda serves on the Board of Directors of Juice Beauty, the largest organic skincare brand in North America, and on the Board of Directors of the Melanoma Research Alliance, the largest private funder of melanoma research with more than $100 million in grants awarded to date. She is also a member of the Tech:NYC Leadership Council. Amanda resides in New York City with her husband and four children. Get in touch >> https://ablepartners.nyc/ More from Fitt Insider >> Fitt Insider is a weekly newsletter and podcast about the business of fitness and wellness. From product launches and funding news to game-changing innovation, Fitt Insider provides listeners with insights and analysis on this ever-evolving industry. Join your peers and colleagues from companies like Equinox, lululemon, Peloton, Beyond Meat, Nike, and ClassPass by subscribing at http://insider.fitt.co

Today I'm joined by Bruce Smith. Bruce is the CEO of Hydrow. In today's episode, we talked about Bruce's goal to make rowing more accessible, Hydrow's place in the connected fitness landscape, and how the company could use augmented reality to create at-home experiences like rock climbing. I had a great time chatting with Bruce and hope you enjoy listening. More from Bruce Smith & Hydrow >> A lifelong entrepreneur, rower and coach, Bruce Smith is the CEO & Founder of Hydrow, the Live Outdoor Reality rower. As a U.S. National Team Rowing Coach and Head of the Charles Regatta winner himself, he coached the U.S. Lightweight Eight to a Bronze medal at the 2015 World Rowing Championships, and is the former Executive Director of Community Rowing Inc. in Boston where he sought to increase access to the sport. With a continued passion for the mental and physical benefits of rowing, plus the empathy and community it creates, Bruce's goal for Hydrow is to make a positive impact through the sport of rowing, allowing people to feel more connected to one another, and live healthier lives on a daily basis. Hailing from Canada, Bruce makes his home in Cambridge, MA just blocks away from the famous Charles River. Get in touch >> https://hydrow.com More from Fitt Insider >> Fitt Insider is a weekly newsletter and podcast about the business of fitness and wellness. From product launches and funding news to game-changing innovation, Fitt Insider provides listeners with insights and analysis on this ever-evolving industry. Join your peers and colleagues from companies like Equinox, lululemon, Peloton, Beyond Meat, Nike, and ClassPass by subscribing at insider.fitt.co

Hi, I'm Joe Vennare, co-founder and COO of Fitt. Here to tell you about my new podcast, Fitt Insider — a weekly interview show where I talk with the entrepreneurs, executives, and investors who are redefining the business of fitness and wellness. Every week, we'll discuss the most important topics impacting boutique studios, the future of food, fitness technology, wellness trends, and more. From product launches and funding news to game-changing innovation, it's my goal to provide listeners with insights and analysis on this ever-evolving industry. Join your peers and colleagues from companies like Equinox, lululemon, Peloton, Beyond Meat, Nike, and ClassPass by subscribing to the weekly Fitt Insider newsletter. And hear every episode of the Fitt Insider by subscribing on Apple podcast or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Insider.fitt.co