Sweat from Home
About the Company
Sweat from Home was designed to bring high-quality, boutique-level fitness workouts directly to people’s homes. It offered over 45 weekly classes spanning various fitness styles, such as HIIT, yoga, and mobility workouts. The sessions were unique, featuring two coaches: one demonstrating movements and another offering real-time feedback and encouragement.
The company's operations were centered in Brooklyn, NY, but its reach extended globally, with participants joining from all over the world. Classes were conducted through Zoom, creating a dynamic and interactive atmosphere. A unique aspect was the use of breakout rooms in Zoom to mimic the feel of physical gym transitions, providing a more engaging experience.
Sweat from Home also emphasized community and giving back. For every class purchased, the company donated a workout pass to those in need. Additionally, it hosted donation-based classes, contributing over $7,000 to charities and providing thousands of free class passes.
Idea Behind Company
The idea for Sweat from Home emerged in March 2020 when Kyle Bergman and his co-founder, Brendan, were laid off from their fitness studio jobs due to the pandemic. Recognizing the gap created by gym closures, they aimed to solve two problems: generating income and helping their former clients stay active.
The founders leveraged their existing loyal community of fitness enthusiasts, who quickly spread the word about the new venture. Their innovative approach to fitness classes—using two coaches and Zoom’s breakout room feature—set them apart in a crowded market of online workouts.
The company name, Sweat from Home, was crowd-sourced from its community after the original name, “Let’s Sweat,” was found to be trademarked. The logo cleverly incorporated themes of sweating, home workouts, and community connection, emphasizing the brand’s mission.
Creating the Company
Sweat from Home utilized existing tools like Zoom to launch with minimal startup costs. Initially, Kyle used his NYU Zoom account, allowing the business to offer classes without significant overhead. The workouts were crafted based on the founders’ expertise in coaching at top-tier fitness studios.
The first class saw over 20 paying participants, a strong indicator of demand. Bringing in Bethany as a third co-founder in July 2020 further expanded the community, as she attracted her own loyal following. This growth continued with the addition of six other skilled coaches who shared the same values.
Marketing relied heavily on word of mouth, bolstered by strong customer retention strategies. Personal touches, such as calling out participants’ names during classes and celebrating their achievements, helped create a welcoming and motivating environment.
Launching the Business
The company scaled quickly, offering a unique workout experience that blended technology and community. Sweat from Home utilized innovative tools like Exer and IntervalCam to enhance class engagement, providing features like movement tracking and clear instructions.
Customer acquisition strategies included a successful referral program, where both referrer and referee received credits. Nonprofit partnerships also played a key role in spreading the word about the company while supporting meaningful causes.
Retention was driven by customer-centric practices, such as surveys to gather feedback and continuous improvements based on member input. The company’s approach to treating every participant as an individual, rather than just another client, distinguished it from competitors like Peloton.
Earnings
At its peak, Sweat from Home generated $25,000 in monthly revenue, driven by consistent member engagement and innovative programming. The business hosted over 800 classes, attracting thousands of participants and creating a strong community.
While the company showed promise, it ultimately closed in 2023. Lessons learned included the importance of thorough testing before implementing new tools, maintaining open communication with customers, and building partnerships to stand out in a crowded market.
Despite its closure, Sweat from Home left a lasting impact, demonstrating the potential of combining technology with personalized coaching. The founders' experience underscores the value of resilience, community building, and innovation in entrepreneurship.
