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features

ukactive: Activelab 2019

Following the ActiveLab Live! finale at the recent Active Uprising conference, we take a look at startups that are using technology to help people become healthier and more active

Published in Health Club Management 2019 issue 7
BlazePod
ESTABLISHED - January 2017
FOUNDER - Yaniv Shneiderman
Yaniv Shneiderman

BlazePod’s uniquely designed lighting Pods create visual cues and prompts to enhance workouts, challenge speed, agility, reaction times and other fitness elements. The BlazePod app is the heart that makes the Pods beat. The app links mobile devices to the Pods via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), controlling the way the Pods work for each specific drill, and receiving data back as each Pod’s light is tapped out.

Key information (at time of application)

• 2,500+ users

• Developing a B2B product

www.blazepod.com

BlazePod enables a variety of visual, interactive drills
HealthPod
ESTABLISHED - January 2018
FOUNDER - Tom Sheppey, CEO
Tom Sheppey

HealthPOD connects consumers with personal trainers and nutritionists for a one-to-one consultancy video-call. It’s an online, live, on-demand consultancy service focusing on health and physical activity in the first instance.

Key information (at time of application)

• £30k total raised

• Website has hosted over 150 trials and driven over 2,000 web visits

www.yourhealthpod.com

PlayerMaker
ESTABLISHED April 2014
FOUNDER(S) Guy Aharon, CEO Yuval Odem, COO
Yuval Odem

PlayerMaker is a next-generation player development solution that focuses on better youth player development and youth coaching enhancement. Trusted by top UK Premier League and Championship academies, PlayerMaker uniquely provides technical, tactical and physical performance insights. Motion sensors and advanced machine learning algorithms track all movement and ball touches to deliver a competitive advantage.

Key information (at time of application)

• £9m total raised

• Looking to develop and release a consumer facing product

www.playmaker.co.uk

Coach AI
ESTABLISHED December 2016
FOUNDER(S) Daniel Cohen, COO Nadav Sala Shai Neiger, CEO
Daniel Cohen

CoachAi is a virtual coach that acts as a personal companion to each and every user via their smartphone, increasing motivation and accountability while reducing friction. By intervening at just the right points along a person’s journey, CoachAi helps them reach the tipping point –the point at which exercise becomes a regular part of their life.

Key information (at time of application)

• US$345,000 total raised

www.coachai.com

CoachAi increases users’ motivation and accountability
Immersive Rehab
ESTABLISHED August 2016
FOUNDER Isabel Van De Keere
Isabel Ven De Keere

Immersive Rehab creates interactive and engaging physical and neuro-rehabilitation and mobility programmes in virtual reality that improve patient mobility and recovery. The goal is to increase the effectiveness of physical and neuro-rehabilitation, reduce referral times into physical therapy and improve patient outcomes.

Key information (at time of application)

• Next generation technology tested with 30+ individuals

www.immersiverehab.com

GoSweat
FOUNDED September 2016
FOUNDERS Alex Hind, CEO Helena Newport, COO
Helena Newport

GoSweat is a curated database that enables people to book 2,000 activities across 1,000 venues, all without needing a membership. GoSweat has the potential to become the new face of employee wellbeing, by replacing traditional gym memberships. Companies pay a monthly fee, which is then converted into GoSweat credit to be redeemed against any booking on-site.

Key information (at time of application)

• Raised £300k investment 1,000+ B2C users

• Participants of the OpenActive Accelerator and the Mayor of London’s Programme

www.gosweat.com

Shapewatch
ESTABLISHED January 2017
FOUNDER Alan Louden
Alan Louden

Shapewatch is an automated self-serve solution that provides a discreet, non-invasive body scanning experience with consistent, accurate results in a matter of seconds. Promoting long-term behavior change through ongoing comparisons using 3D visualisation, the Shapewatch solution enables health clubs to offer members a detailed and highly visual account of their key biometrics It’s like the ultimate animated selfie in 3D.

Key information (at time of application)

• Flexible design architecture enables clubs to integrate Shapewatch into their branded apps

www.shapewatch.com

Shapewatch lets users see how their body is changing, with 3D animated visualisation
Rocket Impact
ESTABLISHED May 2016
FOUNDER Phil Tsang
Phil Tsang

Rocket Impact is a tech start-up company, which specialises in creating mobile games for the health and fitness industry. Rocket Impact’s product is called Afitar® – a pioneering mobile fitness game, designed to encourage the young generation to exercise collectively whilst having fun with an action puzzle game at the same time.

Key information (at time of application)

• 300 users with no marketing to date

• Product coming to market

www.rocketimpact.com

Afitar is designed to encourage young people to get active in a fun wayn
Fittrack
ESTABLISHED May 2015
FOUNDERS Maximillian Maurer, COO
Bernhard Hackl, CTO Nico Festl, CEO
Nico Festl

Fittrack is a retrofit sensor solution that can be attached to existing fitness equipment, enabling all relevant workout data to be sent in real-time to the user’s app. The service enables athletes to document their fitness workouts completely automatically and helps to motivate them with detailed progress reports, challenges and individualised workout routines. By utilising the training data of their members, gym operators are finally able to adapt their offerings to how their members actually work out in their gyms.

Key information (at time of application)

• €1.3m raised total, installed in eight gyms in Germany, Austria and Spain

• Looking to break into the UK market

www.fittrack.io

Sign up here to get HCM's weekly ezine and every issue of HCM magazine free on digital.
Services that reduce admin and make cash
collection easier can boost a club’s profi ts
Services that reduce admin and make cash collection easier can boost a club’s profi ts
Making the customer journey eff ortless and
intuitive results in more reliable payments
Making the customer journey eff ortless and intuitive results in more reliable payments
https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/imagesX/HCM2019_7ukactive.jpg
Meet the fit-tech startups helping people to get active...
Yaniv Shneiderman, Founder, Blazepod Tom Sheppey, CEO, Healthpod Yuval Odem, COO, PlayerMaker Daniel Cohen, COO, Coach AI Isabel Van De Keere, Founder, Immersive Rehab Helena Newport, GoSweat Alan Louden, Founder, Shapewatch Phil Tsang, Founder, Rocket Impact Nico Festl, CEO, Fittrack ,Blazepod, Healthpod, PlayerMaker, Coach AI, Immersive Rehab, GoSweat, Shapewatch, Rocket Impact, Fittrack
HCM magazine
New legislation is exposing weakness and potential liabilities in the management of customer data in health clubs, says Andy Chesterman
HCM magazine
World Athletics president, Sebastian Coe talks to Liz Terry about the launch of Run X in partnership with Technogym
HCM magazine
We’ve reduced the level of council investment over the last three years by 40 per cent and increased our turnover by 9 per cent
HCM magazine
Lisa Starr tries the Ammortal Chamber to see whether layering 10 modalities into one experience really delivers more
HCM magazine
Fuel the debate about issues and opportunities across the industry. We’d love to hear from you. Write to [email protected]
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Social fitness the missing link to member engagement, according to a new Myzone report
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Starpool supports Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs, says Riccardo Turri
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Third Space partnered with IndigoFitness to deliver a bespoke training space for its new club at The Whiteley
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SnowDome Fitness has added 50 per cent more space with cutting-edge Technogym solutions
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Greg Bradley looks at the shift towards strength training in gyms and advises on how operators can create the ultimate training environment
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David Lloyd is stepping up its commitment to women’s health as it continues to explore what fit-for-purpose looks like for the female population
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Company profile: Brass Monkey
Brass Monkey designs and builds the world’s finest commercial-grade ice baths, working with leading gyms ...
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At Energym, we’re redefining the role of fitness in a sustainable future. Our award-winning British ...
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Supplier Showcase - Future-proofing
Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
Featured press releases
Speedflex (UK press release: Inclusive Fitness in action: The Speedflex Blade at Gym Possible
Following the successful installation of the Speedflex Blade at Gym Possible, the UK based charity gym dedicated to making exercise accessible for people with physical disabilities, the innovative training solution has quickly become one of the facility’s
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BLK BOX press release: Inside the Player Gym at The Open, equipped by BLK BOX
The performance facility at Royal Birkdale gives the world’s leading golfers access to strength, conditioning, mobility and recovery equipment throughout Championship week.
Directory
Industrial washing machines
Miele Company Limited: Industrial washing machines
Spa and beauty equipment
Living Earth Crafts: Spa and beauty equipment
Hot tubs
MSpa International Ltd: Hot tubs
Water experiences and hydrotherapy solutions
Aquaform s.r.l.: Water experiences and hydrotherapy solutions
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Crown Sports Lockers: Lockers
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SpiviTech: Fitness tracking platform
Property & Tenders
Stratford, East London.
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
Property & Tenders
Y Felinheli, LL56 4QN
Newmark
Property & Tenders
Diary dates
21-24 Sep 2026
The Langham Huntington Pasadena , Pasadena, United States
Diary dates
06-08 Oct 2026
Messe Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
Diary dates
22-22 Oct 2026
QEII Conference Centre, London,
Diary dates
26-29 Oct 2027
Koelnmesse Exhibition Centre, Cologne, Germany
Diary dates

features

ukactive: Activelab 2019

Following the ActiveLab Live! finale at the recent Active Uprising conference, we take a look at startups that are using technology to help people become healthier and more active

Published in Health Club Management 2019 issue 7
BlazePod
ESTABLISHED - January 2017
FOUNDER - Yaniv Shneiderman
Yaniv Shneiderman

BlazePod’s uniquely designed lighting Pods create visual cues and prompts to enhance workouts, challenge speed, agility, reaction times and other fitness elements. The BlazePod app is the heart that makes the Pods beat. The app links mobile devices to the Pods via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), controlling the way the Pods work for each specific drill, and receiving data back as each Pod’s light is tapped out.

Key information (at time of application)

• 2,500+ users

• Developing a B2B product

www.blazepod.com

BlazePod enables a variety of visual, interactive drills
HealthPod
ESTABLISHED - January 2018
FOUNDER - Tom Sheppey, CEO
Tom Sheppey

HealthPOD connects consumers with personal trainers and nutritionists for a one-to-one consultancy video-call. It’s an online, live, on-demand consultancy service focusing on health and physical activity in the first instance.

Key information (at time of application)

• £30k total raised

• Website has hosted over 150 trials and driven over 2,000 web visits

www.yourhealthpod.com

PlayerMaker
ESTABLISHED April 2014
FOUNDER(S) Guy Aharon, CEO Yuval Odem, COO
Yuval Odem

PlayerMaker is a next-generation player development solution that focuses on better youth player development and youth coaching enhancement. Trusted by top UK Premier League and Championship academies, PlayerMaker uniquely provides technical, tactical and physical performance insights. Motion sensors and advanced machine learning algorithms track all movement and ball touches to deliver a competitive advantage.

Key information (at time of application)

• £9m total raised

• Looking to develop and release a consumer facing product

www.playmaker.co.uk

Coach AI
ESTABLISHED December 2016
FOUNDER(S) Daniel Cohen, COO Nadav Sala Shai Neiger, CEO
Daniel Cohen

CoachAi is a virtual coach that acts as a personal companion to each and every user via their smartphone, increasing motivation and accountability while reducing friction. By intervening at just the right points along a person’s journey, CoachAi helps them reach the tipping point –the point at which exercise becomes a regular part of their life.

Key information (at time of application)

• US$345,000 total raised

www.coachai.com

CoachAi increases users’ motivation and accountability
Immersive Rehab
ESTABLISHED August 2016
FOUNDER Isabel Van De Keere
Isabel Ven De Keere

Immersive Rehab creates interactive and engaging physical and neuro-rehabilitation and mobility programmes in virtual reality that improve patient mobility and recovery. The goal is to increase the effectiveness of physical and neuro-rehabilitation, reduce referral times into physical therapy and improve patient outcomes.

Key information (at time of application)

• Next generation technology tested with 30+ individuals

www.immersiverehab.com

GoSweat
FOUNDED September 2016
FOUNDERS Alex Hind, CEO Helena Newport, COO
Helena Newport

GoSweat is a curated database that enables people to book 2,000 activities across 1,000 venues, all without needing a membership. GoSweat has the potential to become the new face of employee wellbeing, by replacing traditional gym memberships. Companies pay a monthly fee, which is then converted into GoSweat credit to be redeemed against any booking on-site.

Key information (at time of application)

• Raised £300k investment 1,000+ B2C users

• Participants of the OpenActive Accelerator and the Mayor of London’s Programme

www.gosweat.com

Shapewatch
ESTABLISHED January 2017
FOUNDER Alan Louden
Alan Louden

Shapewatch is an automated self-serve solution that provides a discreet, non-invasive body scanning experience with consistent, accurate results in a matter of seconds. Promoting long-term behavior change through ongoing comparisons using 3D visualisation, the Shapewatch solution enables health clubs to offer members a detailed and highly visual account of their key biometrics It’s like the ultimate animated selfie in 3D.

Key information (at time of application)

• Flexible design architecture enables clubs to integrate Shapewatch into their branded apps

www.shapewatch.com

Shapewatch lets users see how their body is changing, with 3D animated visualisation
Rocket Impact
ESTABLISHED May 2016
FOUNDER Phil Tsang
Phil Tsang

Rocket Impact is a tech start-up company, which specialises in creating mobile games for the health and fitness industry. Rocket Impact’s product is called Afitar® – a pioneering mobile fitness game, designed to encourage the young generation to exercise collectively whilst having fun with an action puzzle game at the same time.

Key information (at time of application)

• 300 users with no marketing to date

• Product coming to market

www.rocketimpact.com

Afitar is designed to encourage young people to get active in a fun wayn
Fittrack
ESTABLISHED May 2015
FOUNDERS Maximillian Maurer, COO
Bernhard Hackl, CTO Nico Festl, CEO
Nico Festl

Fittrack is a retrofit sensor solution that can be attached to existing fitness equipment, enabling all relevant workout data to be sent in real-time to the user’s app. The service enables athletes to document their fitness workouts completely automatically and helps to motivate them with detailed progress reports, challenges and individualised workout routines. By utilising the training data of their members, gym operators are finally able to adapt their offerings to how their members actually work out in their gyms.

Key information (at time of application)

• €1.3m raised total, installed in eight gyms in Germany, Austria and Spain

• Looking to break into the UK market

www.fittrack.io

Sign up here to get HCM's weekly ezine and every issue of HCM magazine free on digital.
Services that reduce admin and make cash
collection easier can boost a club’s profi ts
Services that reduce admin and make cash collection easier can boost a club’s profi ts
Making the customer journey eff ortless and
intuitive results in more reliable payments
Making the customer journey eff ortless and intuitive results in more reliable payments
https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/imagesX/HCM2019_7ukactive.jpg
Meet the fit-tech startups helping people to get active...
Yaniv Shneiderman, Founder, Blazepod Tom Sheppey, CEO, Healthpod Yuval Odem, COO, PlayerMaker Daniel Cohen, COO, Coach AI Isabel Van De Keere, Founder, Immersive Rehab Helena Newport, GoSweat Alan Louden, Founder, Shapewatch Phil Tsang, Founder, Rocket Impact Nico Festl, CEO, Fittrack ,Blazepod, Healthpod, PlayerMaker, Coach AI, Immersive Rehab, GoSweat, Shapewatch, Rocket Impact, Fittrack
Latest News
Les Mills has launched a reformer Pilates workout. The 45-minute workout blends traditional reformer movements ...
Latest News
The inaugural HCM Invest event has opened applications for pitching slots ahead of its launch ...
Latest News
Girls in the UK are missing out on 280 million hours of sport every year ...
Latest News
According to research which tracked more than 147,000 people for 30 years, 90-120 minutes of ...
Latest News
Everlast Gyms expands its footprint outside of the UK this month with the imminent launch ...
Latest News
The UK's four Chief Medical Officers have published a refreshed edition of  Physical activity guidelines: ...
Latest News
Places Leisure has exchanged contracts to build and operate a flagship £60m water and wellness ...
Latest News
The Republic of Ireland will become the latest market in PureGym’s expanding international portfolio, with ...
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Sophie Lawler, CEO of Total Fitness, has launched a leadership coaching business aimed at helping ...
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Anytime Fitness reaches a milestone this week with the launch of its 6000th site. The ...
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The £33.9 million Leighton Leisure and Community Centre has opened in Leighton Buzzard, UK, creating ...
Opinion
promotion
Strength training has moved from the margins to the mainstream.
Opinion: Building smarter strength spaces for today’s operators
Featured supplier news
Featured supplier news: Legends never die: four legends, four philosophies of life
Panatta brought together four of the most influential figures in bodybuilding history on the stage of RiminiWellness 2026: Phil Heath, Lee Haney, Ronnie Coleman and Hany Rambod.
Featured supplier news
Featured supplier news: Introducing a new era of Nautilus Leverage
Strength training has never been more important for member retention, facility differentiation and long-term commercial success.
Company profiles
Company profile: Brass Monkey
Brass Monkey designs and builds the world’s finest commercial-grade ice baths, working with leading gyms ...
Company profiles
Company profile: Energym
At Energym, we’re redefining the role of fitness in a sustainable future. Our award-winning British ...
Supplier Showcases
Supplier Showcase - Future-proofing
Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
Featured press releases
Speedflex (UK press release: Inclusive Fitness in action: The Speedflex Blade at Gym Possible
Following the successful installation of the Speedflex Blade at Gym Possible, the UK based charity gym dedicated to making exercise accessible for people with physical disabilities, the innovative training solution has quickly become one of the facility’s
Featured press releases
BLK BOX press release: Inside the Player Gym at The Open, equipped by BLK BOX
The performance facility at Royal Birkdale gives the world’s leading golfers access to strength, conditioning, mobility and recovery equipment throughout Championship week.
Directory
Industrial washing machines
Miele Company Limited: Industrial washing machines
Spa and beauty equipment
Living Earth Crafts: Spa and beauty equipment
Hot tubs
MSpa International Ltd: Hot tubs
Water experiences and hydrotherapy solutions
Aquaform s.r.l.: Water experiences and hydrotherapy solutions
Lockers
Crown Sports Lockers: Lockers
Fitness tracking platform
SpiviTech: Fitness tracking platform
Property & Tenders
Stratford, East London.
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
Property & Tenders
Y Felinheli, LL56 4QN
Newmark
Property & Tenders
Diary dates
21-24 Sep 2026
The Langham Huntington Pasadena , Pasadena, United States
Diary dates
06-08 Oct 2026
Messe Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
Diary dates
22-22 Oct 2026
QEII Conference Centre, London,
Diary dates
26-29 Oct 2027
Koelnmesse Exhibition Centre, Cologne, Germany
Diary dates
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