Ronaldo, LeBron, and McIlroy join Steven Bartlett in backing the fitness startup – and an IPO could be next
WHOOP has raised $575 million in a Series G funding round that values the Boston-based wearable startup at $10.1 billion, as it accelerates its expansion ahead of a potential IPO.
The Series G round was led by Collaborative Fund and drew backing from sovereign wealth funds, healthcare heavyweights, and a roster of athlete-investors, Cristiano Ronaldo, LeBron James, and Rory McIlroy. Institutional participants included the Qatar Investment Authority, Mubadala, Abbott, and Mayo Clinic. Among its more visible long-term supporters is entrepreneur and host of The Diary of a CEO, Steven Bartlett, an early backer of the fitness-wearable through his investment arm Flight Fund.
Founded in 2012 by CEO Will Ahmed, WHOOP is a screenless fitness band paired with a subscription service that tracks sleep, recovery, and physical strain.
The fitness startup now counts more than 2.5 million members worldwide and, by its own account, hit a $1.1 billion annual revenue run rate at the end of 2025 – with bookings more than doubling year-over-year and the business running cash-flow positive.
How WHOOP built a screenless wearable business
The new capital will be used to support growth in the US and internationally, with a focus on Europe, the Gulf, Latin America, and Asia. Bloomberg previously reported that the funding puts WHOOP on a path toward a potential initial public offering.
WHOOP has long positioned itself as something different from a traditional smartwatch. No screen, no step counts, just continuous health data delivered through an app and a membership model.
It’s a bet that serious athletes and health-conscious consumers will pay for insight rather than features, and so far the numbers suggest it’s working.
Cristiano Ronaldo, a WHOOP investor and global ambassador, said the startup has become “one of the most important tools” he uses to support his “long-term health.”
“I am proud to participate in this round because I believe in the future we are building together,” he said in the fundraising announcement. “No other company has created a health platform this powerful that people are proud to wear.”
Steven Bartlett is an investor in both Founded and WHOOP
