With new products, Wellhub increases focus on financial services. 18/08/2026 09:59 Read a summary of this news - Wellhub, known for benefits, expands its presence in financial services with new products. - The company launched Insurance for Partners and Weekly Transfer, complementing its credit offering. - The new products aim to protect businesses and advance receivables for Wellhub's more than 45 thousand partners. - The company seeks to strengthen the ecosystem and support the growth and sustainability of partner businesses. Wellhub may be better known for its benefits side, but in recent times has been investing to advance on another front: that of financial services. Now, exactly one year after launching its first credit product, the company is increasing its bet on the segment, with the launch of new products. In an announcement made this Tuesday (18), the company expanded its financial services portfolio with two launches that address different needs in the partner's journey, one in business protection and the other in the anticipation of receivables. According to Daniel Mazini, Chief Partnerships Officer at Wellhub, the new products reflect the success of the credit line's adoption. "The R$ 100 million initially made available were granted within the 12-month period we had projected, serving more than a thousand partners across Brazil," Daniel says in a conversation with Startups. To be exact, there were 1,059 gyms and studios, with an average ticket of around R$ 130 thousand and terms of up to 30 months - resources used mainly for working capital, renovation, equipment modernization, and opening new units. The appetite, according to the executive, has not cooled. Over the period, credit eligibility grew by about 50%, and today approximately one third of the active partner base already has a pre-approved line, including those who also work with competing platforms. Asked by Startups, Daniel did not say whether the company would release new funds for the credit product, but demand continues and the plan is to serve these clients. "Our goal is to continue developing this front consistently, evaluating its expansion according to partner demand," he states. From credit to business protection. It was this learning that pushed Wellhub from a single solution to a portfolio of financial products. "With the first experience in credit, we began to identify an opportunity to expand the type of support we offer," says Daniel. The first of the new products is Insurance for Partners, developed by Avla Seguros Brasil in partnership with Wellhub, which brings together coverages such as civil liability, property damage, equipment theft, natural events, and loss of profits, with fully digital contracting and plans starting at R$ 54.58 per month. According to the executive, the product's logic, already available to the entire partner base, is complementary. "While credit can support investments to strengthen, modernize, and expand the business, insurance helps protect the operation and the assets built along this trajectory. They are complementary solutions, designed to contribute to stronger and more sustainable businesses," he points out. The second launch is Weekly Transfer, which fulfills the anticipation part: eligible partners can receive weekly the amounts generated by user check-ins at their establishment, at a rate of 1.49%. "This can bring greater predictability to cash flow management and help plan recurring expenses, such as payroll, rent, and supplier payments," says Daniel. As Wellhub's CPO explains, the three products cover different fronts for the partner network - credit to grow, insurance to protect, and weekly transfer to give cash flow breathing room. And the company's appetite should not stop there. "We have a significant ambition to continue expanding our Financial Solutions front and see great potential to deepen the way we support partners," he fires. The size of the ground helps explain the enthusiasm: Wellhub today brings together more than 45 thousand partners in Brazil. Without setting specific goals, Mazini summarizes the thesis that guides the expansion - and that, in the end, converges to Wellhub's own wellness business. "The stronger and more sustainable our partners' businesses are, the stronger the entire Wellhub ecosystem will be," he says. "Looking ahead, we will continue listening to our base and evaluating opportunities to expand this portfolio based on the real needs of partners."

Caring for caregivers: Lee Health brings Wellhub to over 18,000 employees across Southwest Florida. New York, NY and Fort Myers, FL / Jul 10, 2026 / Wellhub Lee Health, Southwest Florida's leading community-focused nonprofit health system, has selected Wellhub, an employee wellbeing platform that provides access to gyms and fitness studios, as well as, mindfulness, nutrition, and sleep resources through a single benefit, to support the health and wellbeing of its more than 18,000 employees across the region. Through Wellhub, Lee Health employees can access thousands of gyms, fitness studios, wellness apps, and wellbeing services nationwide - all through one subscription designed to make everyday wellbeing more accessible and flexible. In South Florida, employees can access Wellhub Affiliated Partners, like: Crunch, LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Orangetheory, Pure Barre, and many boutique options along with more than 20,000 additional in-person and digital options nationwide. With a workforce composed largely of nurses, allied health professionals, and clinical support staff working around the clock across four acute care hospitals, Golisano Children's Hospital, and more than 100 practice locations, Lee Health specifically sought a wellness solution flexible enough to meet employees wherever they are - on any schedule, in any role. Lee Health has long understood that the best patient care starts with a workforce that feels genuinely supported. As one of the largest health systems in Florida - with nurses, allied health professionals, and support staff working around the clock - the organization made a deliberate decision to expand its employee wellbeing offerings beyond traditional health benefits. The data reflects why*: nearly half of corporate employees say work stress is taking a toll on their mental health, and 71% report getting less sleep than recommended. Lee Health's investment in providing its Eligible Employees access to Wellhub is a direct response to those realities - and a signal to its workforce that their wellbeing is a top priority, not an afterthought. "Our team members dedicate themselves every day to caring for others, and it's important that we provide resources that help them care for themselves as well," said Carrie Bloemers, system director of wellness for Lee Health. "With employees working in a wide variety of roles, locations, and schedules across its health system, flexibility is essential. Supporting the wellbeing of its caregivers is an investment in its people, its culture, and ultimately the exceptional care Fitt Insider, Inc. provide to its patients and community. "Lee Health is exactly the kind of organization Wellhub exists to serve - a health system that recognizes the people making care possible deserve the same commitment to their wellbeing that they give to their patients every day," said Mike Daoust, Head of North America at Wellhub. "Bringing Wellhub to more than 18,000 Lee Health Eligible Employees across Southwest Florida means more people in this community have access to the gyms, studios, and wellness resources they need to show up at their best, for themselves and for the patients who depend on them."l Wellhub's corporate wellness model is designed to drive meaningful engagement, not just enrollment. Wellhub corporate clients see 3-5x higher adoption rates than organizations using other wellness providers, and employees who engage in physical activity at least five times a month through Wellhub contribute to a 35% decrease in company healthcare costs. Sixty-seven percent of Wellhub members did not have a gym or fitness membership before joining through their employer - meaning Lee Health's investment directly expands access for employees who might not otherwise prioritize their own health. Wellness and fitness operators in South Florida: join the Wellhub network. Wellhub is always actively expanding its global network of 100,000 gyms, studios, and wellness facility partners. Fitness and wellness businesses located in South Florida have the unique opportunity to serve the 18,000 Lee Health Eligible Employees with Wellhub access, along with thousands of other local corporate members. Lee Health's partnering with Wellhub connects local South Florida businesses with those Eligible Employees who subscribe to the Wellhub's 50,000+ global clients, bringing a consistent stream of new members and incremental revenue. Gyms and studios can join the partner network for free to instantly serve a new audience of customers through Wellhub - more than 80% of the Wellhub members visiting partner facilities are new customers to those businesses. Gyms, studios, and wellness providers in South Florida can learn more and join the Wellhub partner network for free. About Lee Health Lee Health has been a cornerstone of health care in Southwest Florida since opening its first hospital in 1916. As a non-profit, integrated health system, Lee Health is dedicated to providing high-quality, compassionate care to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. With a strong commitment to community health and wellness, Lee Health commits to evolving with the growing and changing needs of the region. The system offers comprehensive services through four acute care hospitals, Golisano Children's Hospital, three skilled nursing locations, outpatient facilities, urgent care centers, and a wide network of primary care and specialty practices. Lee Health supports every step of the health journey, from preventive care to advanced treatment for every member of its community. Learn more at www.LeeHealth.org. About Wellhub Wellhub is a corporate wellness platform that connects employees to over 100,000 global partners ranging from fitness, mindfulness, nutrition, and sleep, all included in one subscription. Over 50,000 corporate clients in 18 countries use Wellhub to provide their employees with access to corporate wellbeing programs. With Wellhub, employees can engage with their wellbeing every day. The result is better productivity, higher retention, and lower healthcare costs. This is the Wellhub Effect. Become a wellness company today. For more information, visit www.wellhub.com.

How fitness brands like Barry's capitalize on employer wellness investment. July 8, 2026 Partnership with Wellhub As employers invest more heavily in wellbeing, platforms like Wellhub provide new growth opportunities for fitness and wellness brands while reshaping the relationship between workforce health and business performance. In the corporate wellness world, wellbeing programs have evolved from single-dimension solutions designed to check a box for employees into strategic investments tied directly to business performance. Employers are increasing spending because they see measurable returns across retention, engagement, productivity and workforce resilience. The shift is being accelerated by a changing workplace. As AI reshapes how companies think about talent, HR leaders are placing greater emphasis on retaining their highest performers. In a world of performance compression and burnout, 85% of top talent say they would consider leaving a company that doesn't prioritize their wellbeing, while four out of five employees say wellbeing is as important as salary when evaluating an employer. For the fitness industry, that evolution creates a powerful growth channel. No company sits closer to that intersection than Wellhub. Rebranded from Gympass in 2024, the company has evolved into the world's largest corporate wellness platform, serving as a strategic bridge between employer wellbeing investment and the fitness industry. Today, Wellhub connects more than 50,000 corporate clients (including employers like TikTok, Aflac, SoFi) and their 25 million eligible employees with a global network of more than 100,000 wellness partners, including Barry's, Life Time, Crunch and Anytime Fitness. The business case is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. According to Wellhub's Return on Wellbeing research, 73% of companies using the platform report reduced healthcare costs, while 95% say their wellbeing programs have improved productivity, reinforcing the idea that employee wellness has evolved from an HR benefit into a measurable business strategy. For fitness operators, the opportunity is equally compelling. More than 90% of Wellhub members visiting a gym or studio partner are new to that business, creating a direct link between employer wellbeing investment and operator growth. Barry's has seen that dynamic firsthand after joining Wellhub's partner network in 2020. "Barry's was an early partner in Wellhub's expansion into the U.S. as we recognized that employers were investing more heavily in employee well-being," says Steve Padis, CFO and EVP of Strategy at Barry's. "There's tremendous alignment between our organizations' missions, visions and values." A new growth channel for operators. For fitness operators, the corporate wellness market represents more than another acquisition channel. It's an opportunity to welcome new consumers, build lasting relationships and participate in the growing investment employers are making in workforce wellbeing. "From a purely economic standpoint, we saw Wellhub as a way to introduce Barry's to new clients, fill excess capacity, and drive greater frequency via employer-subsidized fitness," says Padis. That experience mirrors what Wellhub is seeing across its broader network. "We bridge the gap between global corporate investment and the fitness industry." says Emily Smith, Senior Director of Partner Marketing at Wellhub. "We work with clients who are uniquely committed to creating a culture of wellbeing within their organizations. That investment combined with our industry-leading approach to corporate engagement and behaviour change, means we can generate scalable, incremental revenue for gyms and studios, whilst helping to solve one of the industry's greatest challenges-converting the inactive population into new members of the fitness community." According to Wellhub, 89% of fitness businesses report that corporate members stay as long as or longer than members who joined through traditional channels. For Barry's, the partnership has delivered consistent and measurable growth. From May 2025 to May 2026, the company reported 37% growth in unique users and 28% growth in revenue through the platform. Since joining Wellhub as a partner, annual revenue generated through the partnership has increased more than 100x. Turning access into participation. One of the biggest challenges facing corporate wellness programs has always been engagement. Providing access to a benefit is one thing. Encouraging employees to consistently use it is the key indicator of a successful program. Smith says Wellhub was designed to address that challenge through flexibility, personalization and constant innovation of their user experience. "Wellhub consistently delivers 3-5x higher enrollment rates than traditional wellness benefits because we've built a model around choice, personalization and sustained engagement," she says. "Each member is able to build their customized wellness routine inside of Wellhub, and the beauty of it is that custom value looks different for everyone." The company continues to invest in tools designed to keep members active and engaged with partners. Through AI-powered personalization, gamified challenges, international check-ins and enhanced partner experiences, the platform developments are centered around driving incremental business growth for its global wellness partners. This strategy is underpinned by the business' rapid adaption to evolving consumer demands since its inception in 2012. That focus supports Wellhub's broader goal of helping both employers and operators generate measurable results from wellness investments. For employers, higher engagement creates stronger connections between wellbeing initiatives and business outcomes. For operators, it creates a steady stream of active users who arrive with employer support already built into their wellness journey. According to Wellhub, 73% of gym and studio partners report increased profitability through their participation in a corporate wellness platform. "As employers lean in to supporting their people, the gym is emerging as the essential 'third place' following the home and office, where boundaries between personal wellbeing and professional performance blend. Our 2026 Return on Wellbeing report makes one thing clear: employee wellness is a financial imperative, as 95% of companies that measure their program ROI report a positive return. This is where fitness businesses are seeing the momentum- the companies sending their teams through our partners' doors aren't just investing in health, they're investing in their bottom line and generating an industry swell as a result," Smith says. Barry's spotlight: expanding access without compromising brand. For premium fitness brands, growth often comes with a question: how do you balance maintaining brand positioning while expanding accessibility? For Barry's, Wellhub has provided a way to introduce the brand to new consumers while maintaining the positioning that has defined the business. Padis says Wellhub has helped the company connect with prospective members through local office activations, wellness fairs and employer-driven engagement opportunities. "All fitness brands are dealing with rising acquisition costs, so these types of localized activations and high-quality partnerships have proven more attractive, providing access to engaged, health-conscious clients," he says. At the same time, Barry's has maintained the premium positioning that helped define the brand. "At Barry's, we are proud of the recognition as The Best Workout in the World. Sure, the workout is elite, but Barry's is by no means elitist," Padis says. "We welcome all clients, wherever they are on their fitness journey, and Wellhub has helped introduce more people to the Barry's experience." That balance between accessibility and brand integrity is one reason corporate wellness partnerships are attracting attention from operators across the industry. As employers invest more heavily in wellbeing, fitness brands have an opportunity to reach new audiences while staying focused on the experiences that differentiate them in the marketplace. The next phase of corporate wellness. The opportunity is likely to grow. The global corporate wellness market is projected to increase from $70.4 billion in 2024 to more than $106 billion by 2029, positioning it as one of the fastest-growing segments within the broader wellness economy. Smith believes employers will continue to play a larger role in shaping health behaviors and wellness participation. "In this AI age, HR leaders have a singular defining priority of 2026: to retain their top talent. Wellness is becoming their retention moat. For the 88% of HR leaders who say they can't afford to lose their best people, fitness and wellness programs are as much of a frontline talent strategy as they are a financial one," she says. For fitness operators, that shift represents an opportunity to participate in a growing corporate wellness economy - whether they're national brands, regional chains or independent studios. "Our goal is to grow the fitness market as a whole by prioritizing engagement over access," Smith says. "We've doubled users visiting our partners in the past two years and generated more than one billion check-ins across gyms, studios and wellness partners. Every new employer investing in wellbeing creates another opportunity for our partners to welcome new members, build lasting habits and grow alongside the expanding corporate wellness economy."