Participated · Equity · Feb 2018

Studio launched last year with an app that delivers instructor-led, audio-only treadmill and outdoor running classes, pairing curated music with real-time coaching and competitive leaderboards. The service integrates with smartphones, smartwatches and now, through a new partnership, Life Fitness treadmills equipped with Discover SE3 HD consoles. This integration lets Studio pull distance and biometric data directly from the treadmill to rank users and display leaderboards on the console screen. New gym users will be able to authenticate quickly via Facebook, and while the content is initially free on Life Fitness machines, the company’s goal is to convert these athletes into $15-per-month subscribers. Studio believes hardware partnerships give it Peloton-like reach without manufacturing equipment, and it has bolstered its content team by hiring former Peloton head coach Lisa Niren as director of content and programming. Although no revenue or user figures were disclosed, the company’s model centers on recurring subscription income driven by a growing library of classes and broader gym exposure.

Participated · Seed · Jun 2017

Upbeat offers a cloud-based PR platform that uses data science and natural language processing to match vetted story ideas to journalists. The company launched a public beta and says it has worked with more than 300 companies to date. Upbeat accepts roughly 25% of the ideas it receives and pairs its algorithmic matching with two in-house media strategists who sit alongside engineers to coach clients. Customers span tech startups, nonprofits, activists, self-published authors, conferences, and at least one large company with an in-house communications team. CEO Ricky Yean co-founded Upbeat with CTO David Tran; the pair previously launched Crowdbooster. The company aims to reduce friction in engaging PR support and position its platform as a trusted alternative to traditional agencies.