Gym App GuavaPass Acquired by ClassPass For US$ 4.6M as Asia’s Fitness App Scene Heats Up

Global Fitness behemoth ClassPass has acquired rival APAC workout app, GuavaPass for US$ 4.6 million, as the company looks to extend its reach in international markets. The popular US-based subscription platform, which launched across APAC late last year – first debuting in Singapore shortly before touching down in Hong Kong – is the world’s leading fitness membership, with more than 10,000 partners across the states, UK, Canada, and Australia. Having raised US$ 239 million dollars in funding to date, the acquisition will bring ClassPass into more than 80 markets across 11 countries.

GuavaPass, founded in 2015 by Jeffrey Liu and Rob Pachter, held a stronghold in most Asian & Middle Eastern markets, which partnered with more than 800 boutique fitness studios, including Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Mumbai, Shanghai and Singapore. “To date, we’ve helped over 650,000 members get fitter and have accumulated accumulated approximately 110,000,000 sweat minutes (that’s almost like 460,000 completed marathons!),” GuavaPass Digital Marketing Senior Associate, Cecelia Koo, wrote in an official GuavaPass announcement. “None of this would have been possible without you, our member community, so we’d like to extend a massive thank you for all the support you’ve given us.” GuavaPass will close down operations in cities where ClassPass has a presence such as Hong Kong and Singapore, but will continue under its own brand in cities like Abu Dhabi, Beijing, Shanghai, Jakarta, Manila and Mumbai until ClassPass launches there officially.

News of the GuavaPass deal is more fuel to Asia’s booming fitness industry: whilst global mobile growth has been slowing, usage of fitness apps in the region has skyrocketed, with Hong Kong’s health and fitness apps seeing a YoY growth of 227%. Over in Myanmar, leading fitness app, Flexible Pass, which is set to revolutionize Myanmar’s gym scene (the app features 80 locations across Yangon) just securing six-digit US dollar funding in its latest finance round from top Asian venture capital firms.

Founded in 2013 by former MIT grad Payal Kadakia, ClassPass changed the workout game when it began offering a well-curated selection of NYC-based fitness classes and studios that users could sample with their monthly subscription. Members can now access a variety of exercises from yoga, boxing, strength training and more.

ClassPass Hong Kong currently offers over 140 studios with different class options and skill levels to choose from. With plenty of reviews and photos from users, the website and apps aggregates a solid selection to browse gyms and studios near you. Get two weeks of free workouts when you start a trial period.

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