Whoop becomes the most expensive startup in fitness monitoring industry


08/31/2021

Fitness tracker manufacturer Whoop was valued at $3.6 billion after another round of financing. One of the participants of this round, the Japanese company SoftBank invested $200 million in the company through its investment fund Vision Fund.



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According to the Financial Times, as a result, Whoop has become the most expensive startup in the fitness-monitoring industry.

Since its first round of funding last October, Whoop has tripled in value. Institutional Venture Partners invested $100 million in it a year ago, and it participated in the current round as well. 

Whoop co-founder Will Ahmed told the FT that the new capital will allow them to compete with Amazon, Apple and Google, which also develop and sell wearable fitness monitoring devices.

Whoop products are in demand among professional athletes. Some of the company's first customers were basketball player LeBron James and swimmer Michael Phelps. 

In addition, Whoop has signed contracts to provide fitness bracelets for professional golfers and American Football League teams.

source: ft.com