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        Fitness app provider Strava has announced the introduction of several new features and enhancements during its annual event, Camp Strava. These improvements aim to augment user experience through AI applications.
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        Strava's new features include an AI-driven mechanism for distinguishing and removing suspicious activities based on inspecting millions of past user activities. Additionally, the company revealed its &ldquo;athlete intelligence&rdquo; feature, which is exclusive to premium users. This feature leverages GenAI to provide summaries and advice based on user data to assist in performance and fitness goal setting. Another feature announced is introducing dark mode to enhance the user interface experience, available to all users later this summer.
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        According to Strava, these improvements should enhance the credibility and integrity of leaderboard results, add value to the premium subscription, and improve the application's user interface. The new features, they claim, will allow the platform to offer refined, personalized advice to athletes, thereby making the app more engaging and valuable for its user base.
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    <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/16/strava-taps-ai-to-weed-out-leaderboard-cheats-unveils-family-plan-dark-mode-and-more/">
      TechCrunch
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Digital Wellness

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

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<p>Fitness app Strava has revealed several new features and enhancements at its annual event, Camp Strava, aimed to improve user experience with AI applications.</p>
<p>New features include an AI-driven mechanism for distinguishing and removing suspicious activities and an “athlete intelligence” feature for premium users. The latter uses GenAI to provide summaries and advice from user data for fitness goal setting. Strava also announced the addition of dark mode to its user interface, available for all users later this summer.</p>
<p>Strava believes these enhancements will improve leaderboard result integrity, add value to premium subscriptions, and upgrade the app's user interface. They claim these features will allow more personalized advice for athletes, making the app more engaging for users.</p>

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Strava introduces new features for improved user experience

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 <p>Headspace, a California-based company, has launched a new mental health coaching service which provides one-on-one support to help users overcome various challenges in life. This service is accessible to its direct-to-consumer subscribers at $99.99 per month.</p>
 <p>The coaches utilise clinically validated techniques to provide personalised, action-oriented care. They are trained in setting realistic goals, promoting new habits, and motivating change, all the while holding the individuals accountable for their progress. Headspace maintains that this service is a more affordable and accessible alternative to therapy.</p>
 <p>Beyond coaching, Headspace also offers meditation mindfulness tools, stress management programmes, and sleep therapy solutions. These are delivered via a smartphone app. Additionally, the company runs a business-to-business program known as “Headspace for Work".</p>
 
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Headspace introduces direct-to-consumer mental health coaching services

INCUMBENTS_PRESENT

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 <p>Oura, a smart ring health tracker manufacturer, has partnered with US retailer Target to offer its wearable technology in stores and online. This enables customers to readily get Oura's smart rings at Target outlets and benefit from in-store sizing experiences. Additionally, the partnership offers an online purchase of a sizing kit priced at USD 10, which comes with a gift certificate covering the initial cost.</p>
 
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Oura partners with Target to sell smart rings in-store and online

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 <p>Nourish, a telenutrition platform provider, has raised USD 35 million in a Series A funding round led by Index Ventures, with contributions from other venture capital firms and individual investors such as soccer player Alex Morgan and the founders of Oscar, Olipop, and Notion.</p>
 <p>The funds will be used to develop its digital platform that serves patients and providers. Nourish also aims to grow its network of registered dietitians to over 1,000 by 2024 and strengthen its partnerships with health plans.</p>
 <p>The telenutrition platform provided by Nourish gives individuals nutritional advice. Users are matched with dedicated dieticians offering custom support for various life stages and health conditions. Along with working with existing healthcare providers and carrying out an evaluation, dieticians use a holistic approach, considering fitness, sleep, mindfulness, and supplements when forming a personalized nutrition plan. Additionally, users can access goal-setting features and curated content such as recipes and meal suggestions.</p>
 
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Nourish raises USD 35 million in Series A funding

Stayf raises EUR 650,000 in pre-seed funding

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

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 <p>Cristiano Ronaldo, a renowned soccer player, has launched a comprehensive fitness and wellness platform named Erakulis. The platform is scheduled for online release, as well as on iOS and Android, on April 3, 2024. It will cost EUR 4.99 (USD 5.43) per month or EUR 59.88 (USD 65.12) per year to subscribe. Erakulis aims to deliver personalized wellness services to its users.</p>
 <p>Erakulis will offer custom fitness classes, nutrition advice, and mental wellness solutions to assist users in attaining their unique goals. Features include online workout sessions accessible through the app, which can be personalized to match the user's fitness level. The application also enables users to arrange virtual consultations with health and wellness experts, monitor health indicators, and participate in various community engagement activities.</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst Quicktake:<br>
 </b> Christiano Ronaldo is the latest major athlete involved in the health and wellness industry. While he seems to be the company’s brand ambassador, athletes have typically invested in health-related disruptors. Tennis star Serena Williams invested in <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/16053"> Teal Health’s seed funding round </a> through the venture capital fund she backs, Serena Ventures. She also co-led Juno Medical’s Series A funding round in December 2022. Before this, in 2020, fitness company <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/companies/349993"> Tonal </a> saw investments from basketball players Stephen Curry and Paul George and professional golfer Michelle Wie.</p>

Erakulis announces launch of personalized wellness app

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 <p>Luxury fitness provider, Equinox, secured around USD 1.8 billion in a debt financing round led by Sixth Street and Silver Lake, along with other venture capital firms. The funding will refinance loans worth USD 1.2 billion, support general corporate goals, and finance the expansion of its clubs. Equinox aims to inaugurate 25 new sites in various key markets.</p>
 
 <p>The company presents a blend of physical workout locations and digital fitness alternatives. Physical facilities include curated classes, personal training and a variety of luxury amenities like on-site spas, massage parlors, and meditation areas. Digital services can be accessed through the Equinox+ app, offering on-demand workouts and classes. As per March 2024 records, the company witnessed a 27% revenue increase in 2023, with record-breaking member engagement and operates 107 clubs globally. </p>
 
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Equinox raises USD 1.8 billion in new funding

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 <p>Headspace, a popular meditation application, has collaborated with Meta to introduce "Headspace XR," which can be accessed for an upfront payment of USD 30. This new service offers guided mindfulness and meditation practices led by instructors known to regular Headspace users. The exercises range from breathing control, body identification, and mood tracking. Furthermore, Headspace XR adds a social touch, including interactive gaming in immersive metaverse-style surroundings.</p>
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> Headspace XR represents the company's entry into the VR market, distinguishing itself from existing players by leveraging Headspace's extensive customer base. The app also differentiates itself from its primary competitors, <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/companies/101625"> Calm </a> and <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/companies/419069"> Insight Timer </a> , which do not offer a dedicated VR app. Additionally, the company opted for outright sales of its app, as opposed to its standard subscription-based offerings (USD 12.99 monthly).</p>

Meta and Headspace collaborate to launch VR meditation app at USD 30

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 <p>PEAR Health Labs, a digital fitness company, is partnering with Google Cloud to utilize its Vertex AI platform to improve PEAR's AI-based fitness app, Aaptiv. The partnership aims to develop advanced health and wellness coaching solutions and facilitate personalized user interactions within the Aaptiv app. The Cloud Text-to-Speech API will be used to allow seamless voice interactions and tailored workout recommendations via the Aaptiv Virtual Assistant (AVA).</p>
 <p>Highlights of PEAR Health Labs include Aaptiv, a fitness app offering fitness workout plans on demand and digital workouts; Training Intelligence mobile app, providing personalized workouts for enterprise clients' employees; and Fit Warrior Mom, helping mothers pass military fitness tests postpartum. PEAR's solutions blend AI with psychological sciences to support users in reaching their fitness goals and sticking to training plans.</p>

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PEAR Health Labs partners with Google Cloud to enhance AI-powered fitness coaching solution

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 <p>Stellar Sleep, a tech firm focusing on chronic insomnia management, has secured USD 6 million in seed funding from Initialized Capital and other investors.</p>
 <p>The investment will be used to expand the company's workforce, particularly in software engineering and clinical roles. The funding will also be utilized to scale and broaden the company's reach, improve its digital content and user experience. Stellar Sleep is also considering integrating gamification methods to encourage adherence to the app’s treatment plans.</p>
 <p>Stellar Sleep provides a personalized, interactive program designed to improve sleep through a mobile app. The program combines psychological methods including cognitive behavior therapy and acceptance. A clinical trial showed the app to be 50% more effective than sleeping pills. As of February 2024, the app has delivered over 1 million more hours of sleep and has a user base of over 1,000.</p>
 
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All Updates

Strava introduces new features for improved user experience

Headspace introduces direct-to-consumer mental health coaching services

Oura partners with Target to sell smart rings in-store and online

Nourish raises USD 35 million in Series A funding

Stayf raises EUR 650,000 in pre-seed funding

Erakulis announces launch of personalized wellness app

Equinox raises USD 1.8 billion in new funding

Meta and Headspace collaborate to launch VR meditation app at USD 30

PEAR Health Labs partners with Google Cloud to enhance AI-powered fitness coaching solution

Stellar Sleep raises USD 6 million in seed funding

Digital Wellness

Strava introduces new features for improved user experience

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