Orangetheory adds Apple Watch tracking for $99, Club Studio plans two LA openings & JOHN REED launches in Stuttgart

In today's episode

1. 01
   Gear

   Orangetheory Fitness adds Apple Watch option for $99 one-time fee

   Orangetheory Fitness launched OTconnect for Apple Watch on October 23 at participating U.S. studios, letting members pair their own Apple Watch to the brand's in-studio performance-tracking platform for a one-time $99 connection fee. During class, members can see heart rate, heart rate zones, calories burned and Splat Points on their wrist, and review a performance summary in the Orangetheory app afterward. The move shows one way a studio brand can offer members device choice while keeping proprietary tracking at the centre of the experience.

2. 02
   Build

   Club Studio to open two new LA locations in Beverly Hills and Santa Monica

   Club Studio, the premium group fitness concept from Fitness International, the parent company of LA Fitness, plans to open clubs at 8484 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills and 2001 Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica. The Santa Monica site will be its second in that city. No opening dates have been announced. The expansion shows continued appetite for concepts that combine boutique group fitness, strength and cardio equipment, personal training, and recovery services under one roof, a model studio owners in competitive urban markets may want to monitor.

3. 03
   Gear

   Nirva raises $33m to launch AI pendant wearable

   Nirva has raised $33 million to bring an AI pendant wearable to market.

4. 04
   Signal

   JOHN REED opens first Stuttgart location at over 2,200 sq m

   JOHN REED opened its first Fitness Music Club in Stuttgart, Germany, on 23 October 2026. The club, at Arnulf-Klett-Platz 1 near the main railway station, covers more than 2,200 square metres and includes cardio and strength equipment, a 110-square-metre functional training area, milon X machines, 12 Reformer Pilates benches from Your Reformer, planned regular HYROX classes, two saunas, a rest area, and a coffee and health bar.

5. 05
   Signal

   WILDE Raises $40M to Expand Protein Chip Range and Retail Reach

   WILDE, a US maker of chips and crackers derived from chicken breast, egg whites, and bone broth, secured $40 million from investor S2G Investments on 22 October 2026 to expand retail distribution and launch new products. The company already sells in more than 30,000 retailers and recorded over $100 million in sales last year, and is opening a 130,000-square-foot facility that will increase production capacity sixfold. Coaches who sell or recommend snacks to clients may find high-protein whole-food options like these easier to position as consumer demand for protein-rich foods continues to grow.