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  • HALO Talks Fast Break: EOS Fitness-The Journey to a Billion Dollar Deal and What Made It Possible

    HALO Talks Fast Break: EOS Fitness-The Journey to a Billion Dollar Deal and What Made It Possible
    2025/05/22

    EōS Fitness is one of the bellwether brands in the HALO space, and for good reason! Listen now to today's HALO Talks Fast Break as Integrity Square Managing Partner & Founder, Pete Moore talks about the history of the brand, where it came from, what the name means, and how this all led up to a pending sale from BRS Capital Partners to TSG Consumer. 🎉

    This is a huge testament to the power of a strong team, innovative business model, and a relentless drive for growth. 🏋️‍♂️✨

    A few key takeaways:

    • Scalable Business Models Attract Investment: EoS’s ability to prove their unit economics and success in multiple states made them highly attractive to investors and real estate partners, facilitating rapid expansion beyond their own balance sheet.

    • Executing on Vision Creates Value: Achieving 10x growth and delivering consistent member experiences built a brand worthy of a $1.5bn+ valuation, supported by more than $100M in EBITDA.

    • Strategic Partnerships Accelerate Growth: Collaborating with top industry leaders and real estate developers enabled EoS to scale efficiently and set the stage for potential IPO ambitions.

      Resources:

    • BRS Aquires EoS: https://brs.com/news/brs-and-performance-equity-management-announce-acquisition-of-eos-fitness/

    • Sales of EoS to TSG: https://www.tsgconsumer.com/news/tsg-consumer-to-acquire-eos-fitness
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    6 分
  • Episode #550: Lessons from AFAA to Telefitness-Michael Pesta on Fitness Industry Innovation

    Episode #550: Lessons from AFAA to Telefitness-Michael Pesta on Fitness Industry Innovation
    2025/05/20

    Today, host Pete Moore sits down with Michael Pesta, a veteran in the HALO space whose career has bridged the fitness, entertainment, and tech industries. Michael shares his journey from his beginnings at AFAA—where he played a key role in pioneering fitness education and telemarketing globally—to an unexpected pivot into film and music production.

    Mike's story started in the mid-1980s, when, as a struggling actor, he agreed to help move boxes at an organization he hadn't heard of—never suspecting it would literally change his life. Michael quickly found himself drawn into the organization’s mission and over time, rose from a casual volunteer to become the director of membership.

    Michael is now back in the HALO sector with an innovative focus on telefitness, aiming to bridge the longstanding gap between the fitness and healthcare industries. Pete and Michael discuss the evolution of fitness education, the changing landscape of personal training, the integration of technology, and Pesta's vision for a new era where trainers, healthcare professionals, and clients all connect seamlessly.

    Key themes discussed

    • Evolution of fitness industry education and certification.
    • Partnerships between fitness brands and major companies (e.x., Reebok.)
    • Transition from fitness to entertainment and back.
    • The rise of telefitness and telehealth platforms.
    • The challenges and benefits of online personal training.
    • The importance of connecting fitness with healthcare services.

    A few key takeaways:

    1. AFAA’s Early Days and Industry Impact: Pesta entered the fitness space by chance with AFAA (Aerobics and Fitness Association of America), which at the time was a key player in fitness education and certifications. He helped develop their telemarketing division and played a major role in expanding programs globally, including strategic partnerships like outfitting instructors worldwide with Reebok shoes.

    2. Adaptation and Collaboration Are Key in Fitness Partnerships: Michael highlighted the importance of partnerships between leading fitness brands and educators. Collaborations with companies like Reebok brought vast exposure and validation to AFAA’s education programs. However, he also notes that how big brands like Nike and Reebok interact with the sector continues to evolve, and education may not always be their current focus, despite massive historical investments.

    3. Career Shifts Bring Transferable Skills: After a successful run in fitness, Pesta took a leap into the entertainment industry, producing films and learning every facet of the production business. This gave him valuable skills in production, marketing, and distribution—skills he would later apply upon returning to the fitness and telehealth sectors.

    4. The Next Big Thing-Telefitness as an Extension of Telehealth: Michael’s current focus is to create a trusted, HIPAA-compliant platform that not only vets the best personal trainers but also positions them for direct referrals from healthcare providers. This effort aims to solve the industry’s historical inability to connect personal training with mainstream healthcare.

    5. Support and Upskilling for Personal Trainers: Telefitness will provide personal trainers with new opportunities for entrepreneurship, offering lead generation, business-building support (like webinars specifically for virtual training), and potential client referrals sourced from both healthcare and consumer channels. Trainers won’t be charged upfront SaaS fees; instead, the model will center on revenue-sharing. The emphasis is on elevating trainers’ roles, including launching specialties like the “medical personal trainer.”

    Resources:

    • Michael Pesta: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-h-pesta-satori-1a9776a5/
    • AFAA: https://www.afaa.com
    • Classroom Trainer: https://www.classroomtrainer.com
    • Prospect Wizard: https://www.theprospectwizard.com
    • Promotion Vault: http://www.promotionvault.com
    • HigherDose: http://www.higherdose.com
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    27 分
  • Episode #549: Growing an Industry Newsletter-Ed Hertzman’s Path from Sourcing to Athletech News

    Episode #549: Growing an Industry Newsletter-Ed Hertzman’s Path from Sourcing to Athletech News
    2025/05/13
    For a number of years, Ed Hertzman found knee-deep in the middle of the supply chain/logistics world. At 26, he became frustrated by the confusion and lack of timely industry information available—where even a day’s delay in placing an order could mean higher costs—Ed recognized a gap: There was no "Wall Street Journal" for supply chain professionals! Driven by this, he started the Sourcing Journal to provide real-time news and insights for the supply chain and apparel industries. What started as a solution to his own frustrations quickly transformed into a substantial business, making waves in media and challenging more traditional trade publications. Ed, now founder of Athletech News (ATN) realized the same need in the HALO space (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors.) Host Pete Moore and Hertzman sat down and explored the dynamic intersection of fitness, technology, finance, and wellness. He opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship, the evolution from newsletter to nationwide events, and the importance of building a reputation before going big. You’ll hear Ed’s candid thoughts on expanding the definition of the HALO sector—moving beyond just gyms to a broader world of health, active lifestyles, wellness, and recovery. Pete and Ed also discuss the need for more analytical reporting and data transparency around industry deals, and how their partnership aims to deliver the kind of financial insights and case studies that have long existed in other industries but are still missing in health and fitness. Finally, this episode also offers a peek into ATN’s exciting upcoming event in New York—a high-caliber gathering inspired by the likes of "Davos and CES"—where collaboration, innovation, and strategic networking will take center stage. Whether you’re an operator, investor, vendor, or enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights on where the industry is headed, how to drive meaningful connections, and why now is an exciting time to be a part of the ever-evolving HALO sector. Key themes discussed Transition from supply chain to the HALO media spaceBuilding and scaling a B2B media platformThe power of niche, industry-focused eventsImportance of data-driven industry analysisMore and more nontraditional players entering the HALO sectorChallenges in sector terminology and defining “HALO”Fostering collaboration and innovation through quality events A few key takeaways: 1. Spotting and Building in the White Space: Ed shared how his entrepreneurial journey started by identifying under-served sectors, first in supply chain media with Sourcing Journal and now in the HALO/tech space. His experience underscores the importance of finding those “white spaces” in industries—areas where communities need a voice, connection, and credible business news. 2. Slow, Strategic Growth Over Event Hype: Rather than rushing into high-profile events, Ed took a measured approach. He grew his audience steadily through newsletters before expanding into larger conferences, waiting until he had the connections and content quality to make a true impact. A key takeaway? Avoid the temptation to “call in favors too early,” and don’t over-promise before you can truly deliver. 3. Evolving Content for a Diverse Audience: Athletech News (ATN) started as a broad industry newsletter, but Ed also recognizes the need for more tailored communication—envisioning future newsletters and content streams focused specifically on CEOs, CTOs, franchisors, wellness executives, and more. As the industry’s definition of “wellness” has broadened, ATN is beginning to attract nontraditional players from hospitality, tech, finance, and beyond, reflecting the sector’s rapid evolution. 4. The Need for Data-Driven Analysis and Transparency: Hertzman also highlighted the lack of deep analysis regarding deals and trends in the sector—especially compared to more mature industries. He’s working to change that by forging partnerships with data companies and bringing real financial insight (such as deal structure and industry benchmarking) to subscribers. He and Pete also discussed the value of expert deal breakdowns and empircal, data-driven content as a differentiator for the forthcoming ATN 2025 Innovation Summit in June in NYC. 5. Reimagining Industry Events as Collaborative Think Tanks: Ed’s vision for future ATN events is ambitious: He wants to create a “Davos meets YPO meets Sun Valley” for the industry—a highly curated gathering where top CEOs, operators, founders, and even outside thought leaders come together to share, network, and get access to exclusive research and strategic insights. The focus is on intentional programming for different roles, experiential networking spaces, and using the event as the industry’s annual central hub for partnerships, trends, and discoveries. Resources: Athletech News: https://athletechnews.com ATN 2025 Innovation Summit: https://atninnovationsummit-...
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    24 分
  • HALO Talks Fast Break-Julian Barnes HALO Talks Fast Break-Julian Barnes and The BFS Network State of the Industry 2024 Report

    HALO Talks Fast Break-Julian Barnes HALO Talks Fast Break-Julian Barnes and The BFS Network State of the Industry 2024 Report
    2025/05/08

    🚀 Exciting Insights from the Boutique Fitness Studio 2025 Report! 🚀

    On the latest HALO Talks Fast Break Julian Barnes peels back the curtain on (some) of their findings in report that took 9 months to put together—and the data reveals some eye-opening strategies for boutique fitness studio success.

    Here are 3 key takeaways every studio owner or industry investor should know:

    🔑 Referrals Power Growth:
    44% of new client leads in profitable studios come from referrals. Word-of-mouth remains the most effective—and cost-efficient—lead generation tactic. Deliver an exceptional member experience, and your clients will do your marketing for you!

    🔑 Profitability is Rising—But Operational Excellence is Key:
    Studios running at a 20% profit margin nearly doubled since 2022—but only when fundamentals are executed rigorously. That means consistently finding (50+ leads/month), enrolling (30% conversion), and retaining (less than 5% churn) your members.

    🔑 Invest in Management for Sustainable Growth:
    There’s a direct correlation between having a full-time manager and higher studio revenue and profit margins. Owners: Empower talented managers to focus on client acquisition, experience, and retention—it’s a proven path to scaling success.

    📊 Want deeper data and actionable benchmarks? Download the full BFS 2025 Report at BFSReport.com

    You can also register for their free webinar on May 13th at 3pm EST where they go into a ton more details:

    https://main.bfsnetwork.com/bfs-upcoming-events

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    11 分
  • Episode #548: Inside Solo Health Collective-Making Healthcare Accessible for Independent Business Owners

    Episode #548: Inside Solo Health Collective-Making Healthcare Accessible for Independent Business Owners
    2025/05/06
    Welcome to HALO Talks! In this episode, host Pete Moore sits down with Tom Morrissey, founder of Solo Health Collective and a seasoned veteran in the health insurance world, to unpack the complex—and often misunderstood—landscape of healthcare for self-employed professionals. With a career spanning decades at Cigna and deep experience serving everyone from major corporations to solo entrepreneurs, Tom shares how he’s dedicated his life to helping small business owners and solopreneurs access quality, affordable health coverage. Despite his success in the large-account space, Tom noticed an unmet need: Small and mid-sized businesses were often overlooked by health insurers and weren’t given access to innovative cost-saving or health improvement solutions that benefited the bigger corporations. If you’re a personal trainer, group ex instructor, wellness coach, massage therapist, or any professional running your own business, this conversation is a game changer. Tom explains the differences between HMO and PPO plans, why traditional ACA ("Affordable Care Act") options can fall short for the self-employed, and how his company’s unique group plan model is designed to deliver robust coverage (including preventive care and nationwide access) with transparent pricing and minimal out-of-pocket surprises. Plus, hear about partnerships with organizations like the Freelancers Union, and learn how innovative features like HSAs can work for you—even covering perks like fitness classes. On the healthcare issues facing entrepreneurs, Morrissey states, "We saw the growth. It depends on who you listen to, but estimates are that there'll be 90M solo business, owners by 2028. I want to say there's about 60M now. The guys and gals that own these businesses . . . I think, especially when they're young and healthy, are the ones that get screwed the most in healthcare. You know? All they really have access to is ACA plans." Key themes discussed Challenges of health insurance for solopreneurs and self-employed.Differences between PPO and HMO health plans.Underwriting and rate-setting for solo business owners.Preventive care coverage and HSA/HSA usage changes.Brand trust versus new insurance providers like Solo Health Collective.Partnerships with organizations such as Freelancers Union.Long-term cost sustainability for healthier insurance collectives. A few key takeaways: 1. Solo Health Plans Are Filling a Major Gap: Morrissey explains how traditional health insurance often overlooks solopreneurs and small business owners, especially in the HALO space. His company, Healthy Business Group via Solo Health Collective, is designed specifically to provide comprehensive PPO health plans to solo business owners—offering an alternative with more flexibility and better coverage than typical limited-network ACA and HMO options. 2. Key Plan Advantages-PPO Access and Maximum Out-of-Pocket Clarity: Unlike many ACA or HMO plans that limit provider networks and access, Solo Health Collective offers nationwide PPO plans, granting members broader access to healthcare providers. They also have a straightforward approach: After the deductible is met, there’s no coinsurance—meaning your deductible is the absolute maximum you’ll pay out-of-pocket for covered expenses (with all preventative care covered in full and not applied to the deductible). 3. Plans Are Designed for Solo Business Owners With Medical Underwriting: To qualify, you must have an EIN (Employer Identification Number) and be a business owner without employees. Members go through a quick, five-question medical underwriting process, which allows the plan to provide tailored age, and location-based rates—often significantly less expensive than standard individual policies, especially for young, healthy professionals. 4. HSAs and Innovative Usage for Wellness Are Embraced: The plan supports health savings accounts (HSAs), and Tom shared how, thanks to evolving IRS guidelines and technology, people can now use HSA funds for things like fitness classes and certain wellness purchases, expanding the value of pre-tax health dollars and encouraging preventive care and healthy lifestyles. 5. Long-Term Value and Stability Solo Health Collective is built on a self-insured, level-funded model supported by robust reinsurance (Odyssey A+ rated.) This allows the collective to stabilize costs and potentially keep renewal increases lower than the industry average—especially as it pools healthier, proactive members like those in the wellness and fitness industries. The long-term goal is to create a sustainable, affordable health insurance solution specifically for entrepreneurs who have historically been underserved. Resources: Thomas Morrissey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommorrisseyhbg Solo Health Collective: https://hbgsolo.com How It Works: https://hbgsolo.com/how-it-works Freelancers Union: https://freelancersunion.org/insurance/health Promotion Vault: http://...
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    32 分
  • HALO Talks Fast Break: A History Lesson On Crunch Fitness

    HALO Talks Fast Break: A History Lesson On Crunch Fitness
    2025/05/01

    A LOT has happened since Crunch's early days!

    • Humble Beginnings & Early Growth: Crunch started in 1989 with Doug Levine, Roger Harvey (Crunch's first COO), and a powerhouse team, quickly making waves in the highly competitive NYC fitness scene.

    • Big Deals & Bumpy Roads: Bally Total Fitness bought Crunch in 2001 for $90 million, but soon faced challenges. A few years later, Angelo Gordon (with Pete Moore himself on the deal side) acquired the company for half that price—$45 million.

    • Growing Pains: Membership dropped from 92,000 to 72,000, forcing Crunch into bankruptcy in 2009. This time was all about resetting, restructuring, and prepping for the future.

    • A Decade of Determination: Crunch worked hard to dial in their business model, launching a successful franchise program and slowly but steadily building momentum.

    • Skyrocketing Success: By 2019, TPG Growth snagged Crunch to accelerate its franchising efforts, which paid off. Fast-forward to today: Leonard Green has acquired Crunch for a stunning $1.5 billion. The company now boasts 500 locations and 3 million members!

    One solid takeaway? Spotting potential in a struggling business—and having the patience, grit, and right partners to see it through—can lead to incredible success. Crunch isn’t just surviving, they’re thriving.

    With blue-chip private equity backing and a proven growth strategy, the future looks bright.

    RESOURCES:

    • Crunch Fitness: https://www.crunchfitness.com
    • Sale of Crunch to TPG: https://www.tpg.com/news-and-insights/tpg-backed-crunch-fitness-announces-strategic-investment-from-leonard-green-partners
    • Doug Levine's Live HALO Talks in NYC: https://youtu.be/h-qDEAS5LsM?si=kh0GclOgGmwXMxhS
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    3 分
  • HALO Academy 2 Minute Financial Drill: Sell Side Process

    HALO Academy 2 Minute Financial Drill: Sell Side Process
    2025/04/30

    Every Wednesday we release our all new “HALO Academy: 2 Minute Financial Drill" by Integrity Square Founder & HALO Talks host, Pete Moore on everything you need to know for financial literacy, unit economics, legal documents used for M&A and capital raises, capital sources you can access, understanding how financings are structured, valuation metrics and parameters, and what you need to know about your own business before engaging in cap raises and/or a potential sale.

    If you missed our email about this, you can re-read it here: https://mailchi.mp/9567da51c0ce/2025programschedule
    ======================================================
    RESOURCES

    • https://www.integritysq.com

    • https://www.halotalks.com

    • https://www.thehaloacademy.com ===================================================

    ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR

    Pete is the Founder, Managing Partner and Chief Dream Architect at Integrity Square ("ISQ"), a leading boutique financial advisory firm focused on the $4.7T Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoor ("HALO") sector. Since founding ISQ in 2010, the firm has played an active advisory role in 100+ mergers & acquisitions, private placements and advisory assignments across North America.

    Pete Moore and his team have also invested in passionate entrepreneurs at HigherDOSE, XTEND, and Promotion Vault. ISQ's media and "live education" properties include HALO Talks, the leading B2B podcast in the sector, Time To Win Again, and the HALO Academy, an Executive Education Bootcamp Series.

    Prior to ISQ, Pete was Head of the Active Lifestyle & Wellness Group at Sagent Advisors (2003-2010.) Prior to 2003, Pete was co-founder of FitnessInsite, a SasS sales management platform with 1500+ clients (based in AZ.) At FitnessInsite, Pete invested his personal capital, leveraged his credit cards and learned what it takes to manage a startup.

    Pete built his business and financial acumen on top of the foundation laid at three critical positions early in his career: Senior Associate at Brockway Moran & Partners, the private equity owner of Gold’s Gym International, Inc; worked as an Associate at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette; and an Analyst at Chase Securities. (Now JP Morgan.)

    ISQ saw a need for a deeper & more useful level of education in the HALO sector. In response, we launched the HALO Talks podcast, with 500+ completed interviews and over 120,000 downloads. HALO Talks has become a “must listen” for anyone working or investing in the sector.

    Pete graduated from Emory University (BBA, 1994) and received his MBA from Harvard Business School (1999.) While at HBS, he co-founded IRON PLANET, the leading B2B auction site for used heavy equipment, which was sold to Ritchie Bros for $758 million. His hobbies include: Football, basketball, tennis, podcasting, amateur ventriloquism, pro bono DJ and fitness enthusiast.
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    2 分
  • Episode #547: Perspectives on Longevity-Opportunities, Obstacles, and Gabriel Cian’s Mission

    Episode #547: Perspectives on Longevity-Opportunities, Obstacles, and Gabriel Cian’s Mission
    2025/04/29

    On this episode of HALO Talks, host Pete Moore sits down with Gabriel Cian, a serial entrepreneur from France with a passion for longevity and health innovation. Gabriel shares his journey from building and successfully exiting two tech startups to founding the 2060 Foundation, an organization dedicated to advancing longevity through investment and policy change. The conversation dives further into the intricacies of selling a company, the booming field of longevity science, and the crucial roles of healthspan, lifespan, and mental health in extending quality of life.

    Gabriel and Pete also discuss the challenges and opportunities facing entrepreneurs in this space, the global landscape of longevity policy, and how his foundation is helping drive change through investment and advocacy. Whether you’re a startup founder, investor, or simply curious about the future of human health and well-being, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration from one of the leading voices in the field.

    When it comes to the aging process, Cian states, "We are trying to slow it down, stop it, or even, let's be crazy, reverse it! And this is more science fiction-like. It's more futuristic, and it's certainly riskier as a business model."

    Key themes discussed

    • Serial entrepreneurship and successful tech company exits.
    • Structuring and achieving earn-outs during company acquisitions.
    • Transition from tech to longevity and health span focus.
    • The mission and activities of the 2060 Foundation.
    • Importance of mental health and social connections in aging.

    A few key takeaways:

    1. Career Pivot to Longevity: Gabriel built and successfully exited two tech startups (including getemail.io), primarily in AI, big data, and marketing automation. After his last exit in 2021, he shifted his focus entirely to the field of longevity, dedicating the next chapter of his life to helping people live longer, healthier lives.

    2. Longevity Ecosystem: Healthspan vs. Lifespan
    Gabriel outlined two "ecosystems" within longevity:

    Healthspan: Practical, current interventions like physical activity, nutrition, sleep, stress management, and proven supplements.
    Lifespan: The science-driven, experimental side aiming to understand and potentially slow or even reverse aging at the biological level—an area that's more risky but with potentially greater breakthroughs.

    3. The 2060 Foundation’s Unique Model: His 2060 Foundation is structured to bridge short-term and long-term solutions. In the short-term, they're building startups focused on healthspan (which investors and VCs more easily understand.) The profits and expertise from those support longer-term, riskier projects—like advocating for legal and regulatory changes and funding true lifespan-extending science.

    4. Investment Club Approach: A core project of the 2060 Foundation is an investment group made up of entrepreneurs passionate about longevity. Their aim is to funnel more capital and mentor talent into both healthspan startups and true longevity biotech, without seeking profit for the foundation itself.

    5. Policy, Prevention, and Advocacy
    Gabriel emphasized two roadblocks to progress in longevity: Governments’ reluctance to fund true "preventative" healthcare versus reactive "sick care", and the fact that aging isn’t classified as a disease on a global medical level, which limits research funding.

    Resources:

    • Gabriel Cian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-cian-807b39156/?originalSubdomain=fr
    • Ikare.ai: https://www.ikare.ai
    • 2060 Life Foundation: https://2060.life
    • Prospect Wizard: http://www.theprospectwizard.com
    • Promotion Vault: http://www.promotionvault.com
    • HigherDose: http://www.higherdose.com
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    27 分