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Sweatpals

Category: AI Search / Retrieval

A social fitness platform that connects people through in-real-life (IRL) wellness events, classes, and experiences, pioneering the 'daylife movement' as an alternative to nightlife Sweatpals was founded in 2022. The company is led by Salar Shahini. Based in Austin, United States. Team size: 41. Total funding raised: $17.2M total (all rounds). Latest round: Seed ($12M, October 2025). Key investors include Patron, a16z speedrun, HartBeat Ventures, Max Mullen (Instacart co-founder), WndrCo (Jeffrey Katzenberg), Antler, Pear VC, Deb Liu (CEO of Ancestry).

Founded
2022
Headquarters
Austin, United States
Team size
41
Total funding
$17.2M total (all rounds)

Value proposition

For users: Discover local fitness communities and events with over 1 million monthly active users. For hosts: Professional tools to manage communities including event creation, ticketing, payments, and automated messaging campaigns with 30% additional customer growth

Products and solutions

Mobile app for users to discover and join fitness events, Suite of tools for hosts to manage communities including event scheduling, digital ticketing, payments, and automated messaging campaigns, Discovery platform reaching over 1 million ready-to-move users

Unique value

Combines social discovery platform for fitness events with business management solution for event hosts, creating a two-sided marketplace that fosters in-person connections. Focuses on 'daylife' movement as alternative to nightlife. Average 30% additional customers for hosts.

Target customer

Fitness enthusiasts looking for community and events, fitness solopreneurs, community leaders, studios, and event hosts seeking to manage and grow their groups

Industries served

Fitness, Wellness, Social Networking, Community Building

Technology advantage

Network effects where growing user base attracts more hosts and vice-versa. AI-driven features for matching workout partners and discovering training opportunities. 3x lower discovery commission than ClassPass. Reaches over 1 million ready-to-move users.

How they differentiate

Sweatpals focuses on building strong sense of community by connecting people through fitness and wellness events. Combines social features similar to Instagram with event discovery tools like Eventbrite, specifically for fitness sector. Focuses on fostering real-life connections through shared fitness interests and creating 'daylife' culture as alternative to nightlife.

Main competitors

Meetup, Strava, ClassPass

Key partnerships

Patron, a16z speedrun, HartBeat Ventures, Max Mullen (Instacart co-founder), WndrCo (Jeffrey Katzenberg), Antler, Pear VC, Deb Liu (CEO of Ancestry)

Notable customers

Lululemon, Barry's, Brex, Various fitness studios and independent instructors

Major milestones

Raised $12 million seed funding round in October 2025, Total funding reached $17.2 million, Surpassed 1 million monthly active users, Won the Barnburner by Sweater VC startup competition securing $250,000 investment, Operating in 24 cities with plans to expand to 12 more markets by early 2026, Selected for a16z speedrun program

Growth metrics

Over 1 million monthly active users, 170,000 weekly active users, 4,500 hosts, 20,000+ new experiences created monthly, operates in 24 cities, plans for 12 more markets by early 2026, hosts gain average 30% additional customers

Market positioning

Positioned as community-driven social fitness platform targeting individuals looking for social connections centered around fitness and wellness activities, with strong host monetization tools. Differentiates from pure activity tracking or general event organization platforms.

Geographic focus

United States, currently operating in 24 cities with strong presence in Austin, Miami, Los Angeles, Dallas, Denver, New York City, with plans to launch in 12 more markets by early 2026

Patents and IP

Not publicly available

About Salar Shahini

Founder and CEO of Sweatpals. Previously founded StreetScan, a smart city technology company that provided road maintenance solutions to over 250 cities and was successfully acquired. Started his first business at age 16. Grew up in Iran and moved to the US in 2012. Has a PhD in Civil Engineering from Northeastern University.

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