WHOOP

WHOOP is a wearable technology company based in Boston that builds screen-free health trackers designed to measure strain, recovery, and sleep. Founded in 2012 by Will Ahmed, John Capodilupo, and Aurelian Nicolae while they were undergraduates at Harvard, the company grew out of Ahmed's own experience with chronic fatigue from over-training as captain of the squash team. Rather than offering another smartwatch, WHOOP deliberately omitted a screen, notifications, and step counting, positioning its device as a pure performance tool for serious athletes.

The first product, WHOOP 1.0, launched in September 2015 and early adopters included LeBron James and Michael Phelps, reached through their personal trainers. The company nearly went bankrupt before pivoting in 2018 to a subscription model where users pay a monthly or annual fee that includes the hardware, software, data insights, and coaching. This shift proved decisive: by 2026 WHOOP reported over 2.7 million users globally, with roughly 60% of sales coming from outside the United States across 60 countries.

Product evolution has been steady. WHOOP 4.0 arrived in 2021, followed by WHOOP 5.0 and the medical-grade WHOOP MG in May 2025. The company also sells WHOOP Body smart apparel. In March 2026, WHOOP raised $575 million in a Series G round led by SoftBank's Vision Fund 2, valuing the company at $10.1 billion, up from $3.6 billion in 2021. Revenue reached $1.1 billion in 2025. The company plans to add roughly 600 new employees, primarily at its Boston headquarters, and is widely seen as positioning for an IPO.

WHOOP has not been without controversy. In May 2025, the launch of WHOOP 5.0 triggered backlash when existing subscribers were told they would need to pay a $49 upgrade fee or extend their subscription by 12 months, contradicting earlier statements that upgrades would be free after six months of membership. Separately, the FDA asked WHOOP to remove a blood pressure tracking feature from its highest-end device, though the company continued discussions with regulators. Updated FDA guidance in 2026 suggested blood pressure monitoring could be incorporated into wellness products under certain conditions, potentially opening new opportunities. [edit]