Fund 1 bids to take Xponential private, Whoop signs LeBron James & Chuze adds Reformer Pilates

In today's episode

1. 01
   Gear

   Sekonda launches £79.99 subscription-free smart ring

   British watch brand Sekonda expanded its wearable technology range with a smart ring priced at £79.99, requiring no ongoing subscription, to track health and wellbeing around the clock. The no-subscription model may be a useful talking point for operators and coaches recommending wearables to cost-conscious clients.

2. 02
   Move

   Chuze Fitness adds Reformer Pilates studios for MAX members

   Chuze Fitness launched Reformer Pilates studios in select locations, offering FreeMotion Reform RX-S reformers in purpose-built spaces with no per-class fees for MAX members. The hybrid model splits each studio between instructor-led group classes and self-guided sessions using on-demand video kiosks, backed by more than 300 iFIT-powered classes at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. For operators considering Reformer Pilates, the model points to one way to address the instructor shortage and equipment intimidation that have kept the format out of mainstream gym environments.

3. 03
   Build

   James Hird joins AI sports data firm backed by Paul Little

   Essendon AFL football legend James Hird has put his coaching ambitions on hold to join an artificial intelligence software firm backed by billionaire Paul Little, which targets the commercial sports data market. Hird's move followed the appointment of former teammate Mark McVeigh as Essendon senior coach in August, after a public campaign to install Hird in that role did not succeed.

4. 04
   Gear

   Whoop signs LeBron James as global ambassador with 3.5 million members

   Health and fitness tracker Whoop signed NBA star LeBron James as its newest global ambassador, the company announced on 29 October 2026. James first wore a Whoop in 2015 as one of its first 100 members, and will now appear in multimedia ad campaigns for the brand, which has 3.5 million active paying members. For fitness brands and investors, the deal signals that wearable companies are investing in high-profile athlete partnerships as they build consumer scale ahead of a potential public offering.

5. 05
   Move

   Fund 1 Investments Pushes to Take Xponential Fitness Private

   Fund 1 Investments LLC, the third-largest shareholder in Xponential Fitness Inc., is seeking to take the company private and is exploring a bid to buy it outright, according to people familiar with the matter. Xponential Fitness owns the Club Pilates brand among other boutique fitness franchises. A successful take-private would remove Xponential from public markets, which could affect how its franchise partners, competitors and suppliers engage with the company going forward.