The FitTech Club Podcast

🔥 What's in this episode?

Garmin's fitness segment grew by 30% in a market where global wearable sales declined by 7% - this is how specialized health devices are challenging the one-size-fits-all approach. In this episode, Jörn Watzke, Senior Director of Garmin Health B2B, reveals why users don't need more data but better guidance and insights. Discover how Garmin is achieving remarkable growth through an open ecosystem that translates complex biometrics into actionable insights for both consumers and B2B partners.

🎤 About our guest:

Jörn Watzke is the Senior Director of Garmin Health B2B at Garmin, a company that achieved a record $6.3 billion revenue in 2024 with the fitness segment alone reaching $1.8 billion. He leads B2B partnerships and integrations across fitness, healthcare, and preventative health sectors. Under his leadership, Garmin Health has developed an open platform approach that powers thousands of partner integrations worldwide, from fitness chains like TechnoGym and CleverFit to research institutions like Harvard University.

🎯 What you'll learn:

[03:23] Why specialized wearables are growing while the overall market declines [07:04] How Garmin translates complex biometrics like HRV into actionable metrics like Body Battery [14:09] The ROI model that fitness businesses should define before implementing wearable partnerships [16:18] Why AI is only as good as its data input, and how continuous monitoring creates personalized training [22:21] The step-by-step process for becoming a Garmin Health B2B partner through API integration [19:50] How the convergence of fitness and healthcare industries will fundamentally change business models

📌 Links & resources

Garmin Health

Connect with Jörn Watzke on LinkedIn

🎧 Enjoyed this episode?

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• Expand your network: Apply for a free power networking session with industry founders & executives.
• Become a member: Join the FitTech Club private community of global decision-makers & innovators in fitness & consumer health tech.

🔥 What's in this episode?

35-40% slower disease progression with early detection - this is how AI is transforming healthcare outcomes for neurological conditions. In this episode, Jeff Rogers, Global Research Leader for Digital Health at IBM, reveals how companies can train effective AI models with just 100 individuals instead of massive datasets previously required.

🎤 About our guest:

Jeff Rogers is the Global Research Leader for Digital Health at IBM and a distinguished scientist. He leads IBM's efforts in combining innovations in electronics for sensing, information technologies like artificial intelligence, and simulation tools with large computing and networking to innovate in healthcare and wellness. Under his leadership, IBM has formed a 10-year partnership with Cleveland Clinic, installing the first dedicated quantum computer for healthcare research.

🎯 What you'll learn

[01:00] How IBM defines digital health and its approach to wellness and disease prevention 

[01:53] IBM's partnership with Cleveland Clinic using quantum computing for healthcare 

[03:30] Using AI to predict and treat neurological diseases like dementia 

[05:50] The reality vs. hype of AI in healthcare applications 

[13:05] Multi-agent AI and fit-for-purpose models for fitness applications 

[19:19] New business models emerging from the separation of foundation model providers and application developers 

[21:10] The future of AI-powered chatbots for personalized health insights

📌 Links & resources

IBM Digital Health Research

Connect with Jeff Rogers

🎧 Enjoyed this episode?

• Tune in: Subscribe to the FitTech Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
• Get more insights: Subscribe to the FitTech Club newsletter.
• Expand your network: Apply for a free power networking session with industry founders & executives.
• Become a member: Join the FitTech Club private community of global decision-makers & innovators in fitness & consumer health tech.

🔥 What's in this episode? 

3x longer gym stays without adding technology - this is how RSG Group, one of the world's largest fitness operators, is challenging conventional wisdom. In this episode, Jörg Fockenberg, VP of Strategy at RSG Group, reveals why strategic tech restraint might be the key to member engagement in an industry where 81% of operators are increasing tech investments. Discover how they're achieving remarkable results through social spaces and selective integration.

🎤 About our guest: 

Jörg Fockenberg is the VP of Strategy, Expansion and Franchise at RSG Group, managing global brands including Gold's Gym, McFIT, and John Reed across 900+ locations with 4.5 million members in 30 countries. He oversees international development, strategic partnerships, and drives innovation across the group's diverse portfolio. Under his leadership, RSG Group has pioneered a pragmatic approach to fitness ecosystem development focused on member value rather than technology for its own sake.

🎯 What you'll learn

[02:35] Strategic vision: How RSG plans to maintain market leadership through selective innovation 

[05:16] The functional fitness revolution: Integrating Hyrox training and electrified strength solutions 

[09:40] Technology selection strategy: Why RSG takes a measured approach in an age of digital hype 

[13:13] Data with purpose: Ensuring every data point collected actually benefits the member 

[14:53] The "third space" phenomenon: Why members spend 3x longer in gyms designed for social interaction

📌 Links & resources 

RSG Group

Connect with Jörg Fockenberg

🎧Enjoyed this episode?

Tune in: Subscribe to the FitTech Podcast on:
Spotify
Get more insights: Subscribe to the FitTech Club newsletter
Expand your network: Apply for a free power networking session with industry founders & executives
Become a member: Join the FitTech Club private community of global decision-makers & innovators in fitness & consumer health tech

🔥 What's in this episode?

20% more app users than gym visitors - this is how SATS, the Nordics’ biggest fitness operator, is witnessing the digital transformation of their business. In this episode, Gaute Sandal, CDO of SATS, speaks about cracking the member retention code. This is how the operator is transforming good intentions into lasting habits through targeted communication and real-time behavioral triggers.

🎤 About Our Guest:

Gaute Sandal is the Chief Digital Officer at SATS, the Nordic region's #1 fitness provider with 276 clubs and 731,000 members. He leads a 50+ in-house technology team delivering digital solutions that have achieved over 400,000 unique weekly app users. Under his leadership, SATS has successfully implemented machine learning models and transformed their digital engagement strategy.

🎯 What You'll Learn

[01:11] How SATS defines digital success in the fitness industry

[03:25] The crucial first 8 weeks: Breaking down their member retention strategy

[06:32] Building an effective fitness ecosystem: Physical meets digital

[14:38] Smart data tracking: What really matters for member success

[22:07] The future of fitness technology and behavior change

📌 Links & Resources

SATS Group

Connect with Gaute Sandal

🎧 Enjoyed this episode?

• Tune in: Subscribe to the FitTech Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
• Get more insights: Subscribe to the FitTech Club newsletter.
• Expand your network: Apply for a free power networking session with industry founders & executives.
• Become a member: Join the FitTech Club private community of global decision-makers & innovators in fitness & consumer health tech.

AI Innovation in Fitness with Karl Foster, CTO of GymNation

In this episode of the FitTech Club podcast, we explore how GymNation, a leading fitness chain in the Middle East with 20 locations and over 100,000 members, is revolutionizing the industry through AI implementation.

Key Insights

1.  AI Implementation
   - Custom-built solutions tailored to specific organizational needs
   - In-house development team of six specialists
   - Integration of OpenAI and Anthropic APIs

2. Data and Analytics
   - Comprehensive collection of behavioral, demographic, and financial data
   - Performance metrics including body composition and wearable data
   - Historical conversation tracking with AI agents

3.  Member Experience
   - 10-second response time to new member inquiries
   - Multi-channel communication (app, WhatsApp, SMS, email, voice)
   - Spotify-style engagement program improving retention rates

4. Business Impact
   - 3x increase in human team efficiency with AI support
   - Significant ROI through smart billing and fintech solutions
   - Improved member retention through data-driven engagement

Keywords

AI, GymNation, data integration, voice AI, member experience, fintech, business growth, technology innovation, fitness industry, automation

Connect with FitTech Club

🤝 Join our community: FitTech Club
💪 Apply for a free power networking session to meet fitness & health industry peers.
🎯 Connect with industry peers and innovators

🤖 FitTech AI Series: Building AI for the Average Gym-Goer with EGYM's CTO

Join us for an quick and insightful conversation with Florian Sauter, CTO and co-founder of EGYM. Florian discusses the integration of AI in fitness technology, particularly at EGYM.

He emphasizes the importance of collecting hard assessment data to build effective AI solutions. The conversation explores various AI applications, the distinction between machine learning and generative AI, and the challenges of developing AI in-house. Florian also highlights the role of AI in enhancing gym member care, the emerging opportunities in the fitness and health sector, and offers advice for technical founders in the industry.

Duration: 17 minutes.
Guest: Florian Sauter, CTO & Co-founder, EGYM

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Take-aways: 

• Data collection is crucial for effective AI solutions.
• EGYM's core product, Genius, utilizes machine learning.
• The focus is more on classical machine learning than generative AI.
• Computer vision plays a significant role in user feedback.
• In-house development allows for tailored solutions.
• AI helps guide inexperienced gym members effectively.
• Experimentation with AI tools is ongoing at EGYM.
• Combining hardware and software provides unique data opportunities.
• The convergence of fitness and health is an exciting trend.
• Building habits is essential for achieving fitness results.

Who should listen: Perfect for fitness founders, executives, industry professionals, tech leaders, and anyone interested in how AI is transforming the gym experience for everyday users.

Key topics: AI, fitness technology, machine learning, data analysis, health benefits, EGYM, user experience, gym member care, product development, generative AI.

Throw out a promising career in consulting for a venture into the world of fitness tech and an attempt to revolutionize electric muscle stimulation (EMS) training? Meet German entrepreneur Emilia von Keyserlingk, her company “Pepper”, and a promise to make EMS 30% more effective.

Recorded live at FitTech Summit VIII "Health Yourself": Neuroscientist and Stanford University researcher Walter Greenleaf discusses the future of virtual reality in healthcare and why the “home health hub” could be the next big thing.

Navy Seal-turned-founder Randy Hetrich has built one of the most recognizable global fitness brands, TRX. After exiting the company and witnessing its demise under new ownership, he took over again to return his baby to former glory. Can he manage running two companies – and not ruining himself instead?

After leaving her home country, Belarus, Tanya Parfenyuk had to start all over again. Today, as her fitness training app Zing Coach has reached 500,000 users and the stakes are getting higher, Tanya reflects on her past mistakes and learnings – and predicts where her future competitors will come from.

Conceived in the basement gym of Columbia University in New York, eGym has teleported thousands of itness studios into the digital world. Now, founder and CEO Philipp Roesch-Schlanderer faces the challenge of growing his pre-pandemic company in a post-pandemic world. 

Welcome to the FitTech Club Podcast! Join us for an intro, meet your hosts Natalia and Stefan, and find out what you can expect from the upcoming episodes as we find out "what's next after next" in the fitness and health tech industries.