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 1.5M+ active members across 621+ US cities. For hosts: Professional tools (event creation, ticketing, payments, messaging) plus AI-powered studio/gym tools; hosts cited at ~30% additional customer growth; $50M+ paid to fitness businesses
Products and solutions
Mobile app for users to discover and join fitness/wellness events, Host suite: event scheduling, digital ticketing, payments, messaging; gym/studio tools with analytics and AI-powered features, Discovery network reaching 1.5M+ active members across 621+ cities
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
Daybreaker (exclusive host/ticketing & event-tech platform), HYROX, Zumba, Faces of Fitness
Notable customers
Daybreaker, Lululemon, Barry's, Brex, HYROX communities, Various fitness studios and independent instructors
Major milestones
Raised $12M seed (Oct 2025) led by Patron, a16z speedrun, HartBeat Ventures; total funding $17.2M, Selected for a16z speedrun; won Barnburner by Sweater VC ($250K), Daybreaker named Sweatpals exclusive host/ticketing platform (Jan 2026), Scaled to 1.5M+ active members and 621+ cities nationwide (per official site 2026), $50M+ paid to fitness businesses
Growth metrics
1.5M+ active members and $50M+ paid to fitness businesses (official site); Antler cites ~2M monthly platform visitors (2026); 621+ cities nationwide; team ~41; hosts still cited at ~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 nationwide — official site claims 621+ cities (expanded beyond the Oct 2025 plan of 24 cities + 12 markets by early 2026); strong presence across major metros including Austin, Miami, LA, NYC, Chicago, Denver, Arizona markets
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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Official website: https://www.sweatpals.com/