Debrief #10

Hi folks,
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all!
What a year for the fitness, wellness and health industries!
Thank you for reading, sharing and sending feedback on this 1st year of Salus Debrief!

In today’s and last 2024 edition, we have:

• Hot market news,

• Biggest Sponsorships in Sports of 2024,

• Biggest Health, Fitness and Wellness News of 2024

📣 Announcements

• Wellness Brand Debut: Sports icon David Beckham teams up with global health company Prenetics to introduce IM8 Health, a new venture in the wellness market.

• Running App Upgrade: Runna enhances its popular running app with the release of v3, now boasting a daily dashboard, improved training calendar, and complete workout library access.

• Premium Training Gear: Fitness apparel brand WIT re-emerges with its Core Collection, a line of high-quality training essentials shaped by community input.

• Psychedelic Tracking Integration: Wearable tech company WHOOP now allows users to log psychedelic use (ketamine, LSD, psilocybin) in its Journal feature, linking these experiences to biometric data. Get WHOOP.

• Advanced Weather Gear: Gorewear introduces the CONCURVE GORE-TEX LE1 Jacket, engineered for runners facing all weather conditions, utilizing GORE-TEX's innovative, eco-friendlier ePE fabric.

• Personalized Strength Training: Peloton expands its digital fitness offerings with Strength+, a new app delivering customized strength workouts led by renowned instructors.

• Sustainable Trail Runners: District Vision and New Balance collaborate on environmentally conscious trail shoes, incorporating recycled ReGrind tire material in a retro-inspired design.

• AI-Enhanced Therapy: Jimini Health debuts a novel mental wellness platform, pairing human therapists with an AI assistant named Sage to optimize anxiety treatment.

• High-Fashion Fitness Apparel: UK fashion house Represent joins forces with PUMA to launch a 12-piece performance collection, featuring a special edition PUMA Elite Nitro shoe and promoted by athletic stars.

• Ultra-Running Shoe Review: Endurance athlete Joe Niehaus puts Mount to Coast's debut R1 ultra-running shoe ($160) to the test in Sedona, highlighting its unique ZeroSag technology and ultra-light PEBA foam construction.

• New Product Roundup:

  • Non-alcoholic cocktail alternatives: Athletic Brewing Co. introduces Paloma and Moscow Mule inspired non-alcoholic beverages, best served over ice with lime.

  • Retro running shoe revival: Saucony re-releases its iconic 2010 ProGrid Omni 9, blending classic design with modern comfort features.

  • Electrolyte innovation: Pludo unveils a new electrolyte drink, featuring a clean, organic formula free of sugar and maltodextrin.

  • Sleep optimization supplement: Eight Sleep releases Sleep Elixir, a natural sleep aid developed with Dr. Peter Attia, leveraging extensive sleep data.

  • Bandit offers curated gift sets of their popular running gear at a 10% discount, simplifying holiday shopping for runners.

Biggest Sponsorships in Sports of 2024

• Nike x German National Football Team: Nike lands a major upset by securing the kit sponsorship of the German National Football Team, ending adidas' historic 77-year partnership and demonstrating its global dominance in football apparel.

• LVMH x Paris 2024 Olympics: Luxury conglomerate LVMH masterfully maximizes its domestic sponsorship of the 2024 Paris Olympics, achieving remarkable brand prominence on a global stage despite not being a worldwide Olympic partner.

• Bank of America x FIFA World Cup 2026™: Bank of America breaks new ground as the Official Bank Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, proving that financial institutions can effectively leverage the global appeal of major sporting events.

• Nike x Caitlin Clark: Nike makes a powerful statement in women's sports by signing college basketball phenom Caitlin Clark to a groundbreaking $28 million, 8-year signature shoe deal, the largest ever for a WNBA player, showcasing the growing commercial power of female athletes.

• BetMGM Partners with X to Become Exclusive Live Odds Sports Betting Partner: This deal marks a significant integration of sports betting into social media, allowing X users to access live betting odds directly within the platform and seamlessly transition to BetMGM to place bets.  

• HP x Scuderia Ferrari (F1): HP scores a major coup by becoming the title sponsor of Scuderia Ferrari, Formula 1's most iconic and historically successful team. This partnership provides immense brand visibility and aligns HP with a legacy of speed, innovation, and prestige.

• Fanatics Expands into Live Sports Streaming with Fanatics Live: Diversifying beyond merchandise, Fanatics launches Fanatics Live, a platform for live-streamed sports content and commerce, indicating a major shift in how sports are consumed and monetized.

• Hisense USA x FIFA Club World Cup: Hisense USA takes a calculated risk by becoming the first brand to sponsor the FIFA Club World Cup, demonstrating a forward-thinking approach to a tournament that had initial skepticism but has high potential for global reach.

• Formula E Secures Multi-Year Title Sponsorship with ABB: Formula E, the electric racing series, extends its title partnership with technology leader ABB, highlighting the growing importance of sustainability and electric mobility in the sports industry.

• Tata Group x Indian Premier League: Indian conglomerate Tata Group reinforces its commitment to cricket with a massive 5-year title sponsorship deal (reportedly over $300 million) of the Indian Premier League, solidifying its brand presence in one of the world's most lucrative sports leagues.

• Amazon Prime Video Becomes the Home of a New NASCAR Race Package in 2025: Amazon continues its push into live sports by securing rights to stream a package of NASCAR Cup Series races, starting in 2025. This deal is a part of a larger media rights agreement including Fox Sports, NBC Sports, and Warner Bros. Discovery, and it signals a shift in how NASCAR content is distributed and consumed.  

• LeBron James & Fenway Sports Group Partner to Buy a PGA Tour Team: NBA superstar LeBron James, through his partnership with Fenway Sports Group, invested in a new PGA Tour team. This move demonstrates the increasing interest of athletes and ownership groups in golf, as well as the evolving landscape of professional sports team ownership.

Biggest Health, Fitness & Wellness News of 2024

Health and wellness investments saw a significant increase in 2024, reflecting the growing importance of this sector. Here are some of the biggest funding rounds, categorized by their primary focus:

Top Funding

• Vuori: https://vuoriclothing.com/ Landed a massive $825M, bringing its valuation to $5.5B. Vuori is a performance apparel brand known for its comfortable and stylish activewear.

• Equinox: https://www.equinox.com/ Secured $1.8B in new funding. Equinox is a luxury fitness and lifestyle company operating high-end gyms, hotels, and a digital fitness platform.

• Oura: https://ouraring.com/ Raised $200M, achieving a $5.2B valuation. Oura is a health technology company known for its smart ring that tracks sleep, activity, and other health metrics.

• EGYM: https://egym.com/us Added $200M in funding, reaching a valuation exceeding $1.2B. EGYM is a global fitness technology leader providing intelligent workout solutions for fitness and health facilities.

• Foodsmart: https://www.foodsmart.com/ Closed a $200M round. Foodsmart is a telenutrition platform offering personalized nutrition guidance and food benefits management.

• Flo Health Inc.: https://flo.health/ Added $200M, now valued at over $1B. Flo Health is a female health app providing period tracking, fertility monitoring, and pregnancy support.

• Spring Health: https://www.springhealth.com/ Landed $100M, valued at $3.3B. Spring Health is a mental health platform providing personalized care plans and access to therapists and coaches.

• Headway: https://headway.co/ Scored $100M, reaching a $2.3B valuation. Headway is a platform that connects patients with therapists who accept their insurance.

Metabolic Health

• Glooko: https://www.glooko.com/ Added $100M. Glooko is a diabetes management platform that helps patients and providers track and manage blood glucose levels.

• Biolinq: https://biolinq.com/ Secured $58M. Biolinq is developing a wearable sensor for continuous glucose monitoring.

• Ultrahuman: https://www.ultrahuman.com/ Scored $35M. Ultrahuman is a metabolic fitness platform that uses continuous glucose monitoring and other biomarkers to provide personalized health insights.

• Levels: https://www.levelshealth.com/ Raised $10M. Levels is a metabolic health company that provides continuous glucose monitoring and personalized insights to help users optimize their diet and lifestyle.

Fitness

• Ladder: https://ladder.sport/ Landed $105M. Ladder is a sports nutrition company founded by LeBron James and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

• OxeFit: https://www.oxefit.com/ Raised $17.5M. OxeFit is an AI-powered strength training platform offering personalized workouts and real-time feedback.

• B/Sport: https://www.bsport.io/ Raised €30M. B/Sport is a leading SaaS platform for booking and managing boutique fitness studios. This funding round highlights the growing trend of technology solutions that streamline operations for fitness businesses.

Women's Health

• Midi Health: https://www.joinmidi.com/ $60M. Midi Health is a virtual clinic focused on providing specialized care for women experiencing perimenopause and menopause.

• Natural Cycles: https://www.naturalcycles.com/ $55M. Natural Cycles is an FDA-cleared birth control app that uses body temperature and other biomarkers to track fertility.

• Oula: https://www.oulahealth.com/ Collected $28M. Oula is a modern maternity clinic offering a collaborative care model that combines obstetrics and midwifery.

Preventative Health x Longevity

• Function Health: https://www.functionhealth.com/ Added $53M. Function Health is a proactive health platform providing comprehensive biomarker testing and personalized health insights.

• Ezra: https://ezra.com/ Secured $21M. Ezra is a company offering full-body MRI scans for early cancer detection.

• Humanaut Health: https://humanauthealth.com/ Landed $8.7M. Humanaut Health is a membership-based platform that connects users with health coaches who create personalized longevity plans that include nutrition, exercise, and stress management.

Mental Health

• Talkiatry: https://www.talkiatry.com/ Picked up $130M. Talkiatry is a mental healthcare company that provides in-network psychiatric care, including medication management and therapy.

• Grow Therapy: https://growtherapy.com/ Added $88M. Grow Therapy is a platform that helps therapists launch and manage their own in-network private practices.

• Two Chairs: https://www.twochairs.com/ Secured $72M. Two Chairs is a mental healthcare company that offers a matching system to connect patients with the right therapist and provides both in-person and virtual therapy.

Food as Medicine

• Nourish: https://www.usenourish.com/ Raised $35M. Nourish is a telenutrition platform that connects patients with registered dietitians and helps them access insurance-covered nutrition counseling.

• Fay: https://www.faynutrition.com/ Secured $20M. Fay is a platform that connects users with registered dietitians for personalized nutrition counseling, with a focus on making nutrition care more accessible and affordable.

• ModifyHealth: https://modifyhealth.com/ Added $13.5M. ModifyHealth provides medically tailored meals and nutrition support for individuals with chronic conditions.

Microbiome

• Viome: https://www.viome.com/ Raised $25M. Viome is a company that analyzes the gut microbiome to provide personalized nutrition recommendations and precision supplements.

• ZOE: https://zoe.com/ Collected $15M. ZOE is a nutrition science company that uses microbiome analysis and blood sugar testing to create personalized nutrition plans.

• Tiny Health: https://www.tinyhealth.com/ Added $8.5M. Tiny Health is a company focused on infant gut health, offering microbiome testing and personalized recommendations for parents.

• Holobiome: https://www.holobiome.org/ Landed $9M. Holobiome is a microbiome company developing live biotherapeutics to treat a range of diseases.

Supplements

• Bloom Nutrition: https://bloomnu.com/ Raised $90M. Bloom Nutrition is a supplement company that offers a range of products, including greens powders, protein powders, and pre-workouts.

• ALOHA: https://aloha.com/ Added $68M. ALOHA is a plant-based nutrition company that offers protein powders, bars, and drinks.

• Timeline: https://www.timelinenutrition.com/ Scored $66M. Timeline is a longevity company that offers a proprietary compound called Mitopure, designed to improve mitochondrial health.

• Momentous: https://www.livemomentous.com/ Picked up $32M. Momentous is a human performance company offering a range of supplements and products designed for athletes and high performers.

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