Full-Time
Machine Learning Engineer
AI and Machine Learning
Posted on 9/16/2025
Strava
501-1,000 employees
Fitness tracking and social network platform
Compensation Overview
$160k - $175k/yr
San Francisco, CA, USA
Hybrid
Requires three days per week in-office presence.
 AI & Machine Learning (2) |
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- Have worked on numerous machine learning problems and broken them down into incremental tasks.
- Have demonstrated solid interpersonal and communication skills, and collaborative approach to drive business impact across teams.
- Have experience building, shipping, and supporting ML models in production at scale
- Have experience with exploratory data analysis and model prototyping, using languages such as Python or R and tools like Scikit learn, Pandas, Numpy, Pytorch, Tensorflow, Sagemaker
- Have built and worked on data pipelines using large scale data technologies (like Spark, Hadoop, EMR, SQL, Snowflake)
- Are experienced and interested in production ML model operational excellence and best practices, like automated model retraining, performance monitoring, feature logging, A/B testing
- Have built backend production services on cloud environments like AWS, using languages like (but not limited to) Python, Ruby, Java, Scala, Go
- Work at the intersection of AI and fitness to launch and optimize product experiences that will be used by tens of millions of active people worldwide
- Drive key projects powered by ML on the Strava platform end-to-end, from initial model prototyping to shipping production code to scaling and optimizing inference and deployment
- Be a strong voice on a highly collaborative team with a range of experience levels. Work across teams to deploy ML solutions in multiple surfaces and build out our technical ML capabilities
- Design and develop novel models and methodologies to take on novel problems in that improve athlete experience, including recommendation systems, activity prediction, and personalized insights
- Explore and use Strava’s extensive unique fitness and geo datasets from millions of users to extract actionable insights, inform product decisions, and optimize existing features
Strava is a platform for fitness tracking and social networking for athletes. It records and analyzes activities, showing metrics like speed, distance, and pace, and offers features such as Relative Effort to gauge effort. It uses a freemium model, with Premium plans for advanced training, route planning, and deeper analytics, while also letting users share activities and discover routes and clubs with a community of peers. The goal is to help athletes train more effectively, stay motivated, and improve performance through data and community support.
Company Size
501-1,000
Company Stage
Series F
Total Funding
$151.4M
Headquarters
San Francisco, California
Founded
2009
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- 195 million users in 185 countries drive network effects and data moat.
- Gen Z athletes plan increased usage in 2026 per Year in Sport Report.
- Mars Pet Tag partnership launches 2026 challenges for pet owner growth.
What critics are saying
- Garmin Connect bundles hardware with free leaderboards, eroding premium users.
- Runna by Strava locks runners into separate subscriptions, cannibalizing revenue.
- Apple Fitness+ integrates Watch data, accelerating Gen Z churn within 12 months.
What makes Strava unique
- Strava's Global Heatmap from 8 billion activities powers AI route suggestions.
- Strava enforces leaderboard integrity by removing 4.45 million invalid efforts.
- Strava supports 24 languages and 50+ activity types for global athletes.
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Benefits
100% company paid benefits for employees and families
Flexible paid time off
$2,000 annual professional development stipend
Paid time off for volunteering
401(k) Plan with company matching
$1000 annual gear stipend
$500 annual gym reimbursement
Onsite fitness rooms with showers, lockers, and towel service
Weekly team workouts
Free yoga classes
Secure bike storage
Twice weekly dinner for those working late
Monthly happy hours
Dog days
Cell phone reimbursement
Snacks & stocked kitchens
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 0%1 year growth
↑ 1%2 year growth
↑ 0%Mars, the global pet care leader, has partnered with fitness app Strava to launch a "Pet Tag" feature allowing US dog owners to track outdoor activities with their pets. The collaboration, part of Mars' IAMS brand initiative, aims to encourage active lifestyles for both pet parents and their animals. The partnership includes exclusive Strava challenges throughout 2026 and supports Mars' BETTER CITIES FOR PETS programme, which seeks to create more pet-friendly urban spaces. According to Mars research, 76% of Strava users with pets say their companions motivate them to exercise, yet only 40% of urban pet owners consider their neighbourhoods truly pet-friendly. Data from the partnership will help advocate for more welcoming urban environments. Mars aims to increase access to pet-friendly green spaces for 10 million people worldwide by 2030.
ClassPass parent merges in $7.5B deal as fitness tech consolidates. The company behind ClassPass and Mindbody closes $7.5B merger with EGYM amid industry shakeup PUBLISHED: Tue, Mar 31, 2026, 2:23 PM UTC | UPDATED: Fri, Apr 3, 2026, 2:05 PM UTC 4 mins read * | ClassPass and Mindbody's parent company closes $7.5B merger in fitness tech's largest consolidation deal, per TechCrunch reporting * | Deal reflects broader industry shift as MyFitnessPal acquires AI calorie app Cal AI and Strava buys cycling app The Breakaway and running app Runna * | Merger creates fitness tech giant controlling booking platforms, studio management software, and millions of consumer subscriptions * | Move signals that standalone fitness apps need scale to compete as market matures beyond pandemic boom The fitness tech industry just witnessed its biggest consolidation move yet. The company behind ClassPass and Mindbody has closed a $7.5 billion merger, signaling that even well-funded fitness platforms need scale to survive the post-pandemic shakeout. The deal comes as competitors like MyFitnessPal and Strava race to acquire smaller players, transforming a once-fragmented market into a battle between mega-platforms. For studios, gyms, and the millions who discovered virtual fitness during lockdowns, this merger will reshape how they book classes, track workouts, and manage memberships. The fitness technology sector just got a lot smaller - and a lot more powerful. In a $7.5 billion transaction that rewrites the competitive landscape, the company behind ClassPass and Mindbody has completed a merger that creates one of the industry's largest platforms, according to TechCrunch. The deal isn't happening in isolation. It's the culmination of a consolidation wave that's been building since the pandemic's fitness boom faded. MyFitnessPal recently scooped up Cal AI, an AI-powered calorie counting app, while Strava absorbed both The Breakaway cycling app and Runna, a running-focused platform. The message is clear: in fitness tech, you either scale up or get acquired. What makes this merger particularly significant is the complementary nature of the businesses involved. ClassPass built its reputation connecting consumers with boutique fitness studios through a subscription model, while Mindbody powers the backend operations for thousands of those same studios. The combination creates a vertically integrated powerhouse that touches both sides of the fitness marketplace - a strategic advantage that standalone competitors will struggle to match. The $7.5 billion valuation suggests investors see enormous potential in consolidating a fragmented market. Before the pandemic, fitness tech was awash in venture capital, with dozens of apps competing for user attention. But as growth rates normalized and customer acquisition costs climbed, the economics shifted. Smaller players found themselves squeezed between rising marketing expenses and users' unwillingness to juggle multiple fitness subscriptions. For fitness studios and gyms, the merger brings both opportunities and concerns. On one hand, a single integrated platform could streamline operations, combining booking systems, payment processing, and customer management. On the other, increased market concentration means less negotiating leverage when it comes to fees and platform policies. Studio owners who already felt dependent on ClassPass for customer discovery now face a supplier with even more market power. The competitive response is already taking shape. Strava's acquisitions of The Breakaway and Runna signal an attempt to build a multi-sport ecosystem that keeps users engaged across different activities. MyFitnessPal's move into AI with Cal AI shows another path: using machine learning to create stickier, more personalized experiences that are harder to replicate. But neither approach yet matches the scale of combining consumer bookings with business management software. The timing also reflects broader shifts in consumer behavior. The pandemic-era surge in home fitness has largely reversed, with Peloton's struggles serving as a cautionary tale. Boutique studios have rebounded, but they're competing in a more competitive environment where digital engagement matters as much as physical locations. Platforms that can bridge online and offline experiences - exactly what a ClassPass-Mindbody combination offers - have a structural advantage. What's notably absent from the deal announcement are specifics about integration plans, potential redundancies, or how the combined entity will navigate potential conflicts of interest between its consumer marketplace and studio software businesses. Those details will determine whether this merger creates genuine synergies or simply concentrates market power without improving service. The consolidation trend extends beyond just M&A activity. It reflects a maturing market where network effects and data advantages increasingly separate winners from everyone else. Platforms with more users attract more studios; more studios attract more users. Breaking into that cycle gets harder as the leading players grow larger, which is precisely why we're seeing this rush to merge rather than compete. For consumers, the implications are mixed. Larger platforms can invest more in technology, potentially delivering better app experiences and more sophisticated recommendation algorithms. But reduced competition often leads to higher prices and fewer innovative features. The fitness tech boom of the 2010s was fueled by startups trying radical new approaches; a consolidated industry tends to play it safer. The $7.5 billion merger reshaping fitness tech isn't just about two companies joining forces - it's a signal that the industry's experimental phase is over. As platforms consolidate around a few dominant players, the focus shifts from growth at any cost to sustainable business models built on scale and data advantages. For studios, gyms, and fitness enthusiasts, the next chapter will be defined by how these mega-platforms wield their market power, whether they use it to innovate or simply to extract rents from a captive ecosystem. The M&A wave suggests more consolidation is coming, leaving less room for the scrappy startups that once defined fitness tech's culture. More Topics:
Strava adds support for ten additional languages, continuing global growth and expansion. March 24, 2026 Additional Support Brings Total of 24 Languages Across Product and Supporting Surfaces. San Francisco, CA - March 25, 2026 - Strava, the app for active people with more than 195 million users, today announced the support of ten additional languages on the platform. The announcement underscores the company's commitment to providing a localized platform experience in additional regions that enables users to make new connections with local communities, find motivation and achieve their goals. The additional languages supported are: * Czech * Danish * Malay * Norwegian Bokmal * Polish * Swedish * Tagalog * Thai * Turkish * Vietnamese "With the addition of these new languages, Strava is more international than ever before, enabling users to unlock the full Strava experience in their native language," said Louisa Wee, Chief Marketing Officer at Strava. "The expansion is a key part of our broader global growth strategy, which includes regional partnerships, localized content libraries, and market-specific challenges and programs launching later this year." Free users will be able to enjoy localized features including the ability to track over 50 types of activities and connect with friends, while subscribers can unlock personalized workout recommendations, tools to discover and plan new Routes, motivating Challenges and competition, and deeper training insights to help reach their fitness goals. About Strava Strava is the app for active people. With over 195 million athletes in more than 185 countries, it's more than tracking workouts - it's where people make progress together, from new habits to new personal bests. No matter your sport or how you track it, Strava's got you covered. Find your crew, crush your goals, and make every effort count. Start your journey with Strava today. Join the Strava Club or follow Strava on Instagram, X, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Visit www.strava.com for more information.
Mountain racing and endurance sports: the 2026 landscape. By Pro Mountain Sports · March 14, 2026 · Updated March 30, 2026 I've raced three mountain ultras in the past two years, and the growth is visible at every start line - fields that used to cap at 200 are now selling out at 500. Three hundred percent. That's how much visitor numbers spike during mountain marathon events in some host cities - a phenomenon driving the 2026 mountain tourism surge. If you needed proof that endurance sports and mountain adventure have merged into a single cultural force, that statistic tells the whole story. The endurance sports landscape in 2026 is evolving rapidly. Participation is at record levels, the technology is transforming how athletes train and compete, and the events themselves are becoming more diverse - from ski mountaineering's Olympic debut to ultra-marathons in Patagonia. Here's what's happening. Participation is still climbing. Despite what social media discourse might suggest about "peak running," actual participation numbers in road races, trail runs, triathlons, and cycling events continue growing. Trail running participation hit 12.4 million in the US alone, according to Sports & Fitness Industry Association research. Trail running, in particular, has seen the steepest growth curve - new events are launching monthly, and existing races are expanding capacity to meet demand. The UTMB World Series, which has become trail running's equivalent of Formula 1, keeps adding qualifying races on new continents. Regional trail series in North America, Europe, and increasingly Asia and South America are creating entry points for runners who aren't ready for (or interested in) elite-level events. Image: Unsplash / Greg Rosenke - Endurance athletes competing in mountain terrain Technology: smarter training, better gear. Carbon-plated shoes and advanced foam midsoles get the headlines, but the real technology revolution in endurance sports is happening in training. Wearable tech - from heart rate variability monitors to running power meters - is giving amateur athletes access to training data that was exclusive to professional teams five years ago. Platforms like TrainingPeaks, Strava, and COROS are integrating AI-driven coaching that adapts training plans in real-time based on recovery metrics, sleep quality, and performance trends. It's not perfect, but it's getting remarkably close to having a personal coach for a fraction of the cost. Hybrid fitness events: the Hyrox effect. One of the fastest-growing segments isn't pure endurance at all. Hybrid events like Hyrox, obstacle course races, and outdoor climbing, and functional fitness competitions combine running with strength challenges. These events appeal to gym-focused athletes who want the social energy of a race without committing to a marathon training block. The crossover effect is real. Athletes who start with Hyrox or Tough Mudder frequently progress to trail races, bikepacking expeditions, and mountain events. It's becoming a pipeline that feeds the broader endurance community. The social dimension. Run clubs changed the game in 2024-2025. What started as a road running phenomenon - weekly group runs that are equal parts workout and social event - has expanded to trail running, cycling, and multi-sport groups. The emphasis is shifting from competitive performance to shared experience. This matters because it lowers the barrier to entry. When endurance sports feel like a community activity rather than an individual suffering competition, more people participate. And the mountain sports world is better for having a wider, more diverse participant base. Planning your 2026 race calendar. If you're looking to race mountains this year, start mapping your calendar now. Spring events are mostly full, but summer and autumn still have slots in most regions. A few standouts worth registering for: the Broken Arrow Skyrace in June, the Chamonix Marathon du Mont-Blanc in July, and Transgrancanaria (already sold out for 2026, but lottery entries for 2027 open in autumn). For first-time mountain racers, look for events with shorter distance options - many major trail races offer 20K or vertical kilometer categories alongside the ultras. You get the event atmosphere, the mountain terrain, and the finish-line experience - just make sure your mountain safety preparation matches the terrain without needing six months of ultra-specific training. The line between mountain sports and endurance sports barely exists anymore. Whether you call yourself a runner, a hiker, a cyclist, or just someone who likes hard days in big mountains - 2026 has something for you. Recovery is the training nobody talks about. I used to think recovery meant sitting on the couch. Then I DNF'd a 50K because my legs were still trashed from a hard training block two weeks earlier. That failure taught me something that every sports physiologist already knew: adaptation happens during rest, not during effort. You don't get stronger on the trail - you get stronger recovering from the trail. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends 48-72 hours between high-intensity mountain efforts, and at least one full rest week every 4-6 weeks of training. Sleep is the most underrated performance tool - research from Stanford's sleep lab showed that extending sleep to 9-10 hours improved endurance performance by 9% in trained athletes. I started prioritizing eight hours and saw my long-run paces drop noticeably within three weeks. Active recovery works better than total rest for most athletes. A 30-minute walk, easy swim, or gentle yoga session the day after a hard effort promotes blood flow without adding training stress. Foam rolling and massage guns have decent evidence behind them for reducing perceived soreness, though the mechanisms are still debated. What definitely doesn't work is "recovery runs" at 80% effort - if you're breathing hard, it's not recovery. Nutrition during recovery windows matters as much as nutrition during racing. The 30-minute post-effort window for carbohydrate and protein intake is real - 1.2g of carbs per kilogram of body weight plus 20-30g of protein within that window accelerates glycogen replenishment measurably. A chocolate milk and a banana is not a joke recommendation. And while nutrition fuels the engine, footwear protects the chassis - its trail shoe reviews cover the best options for race day and training. It genuinely works. Its trail running guide covers the full nutrition picture from training through race day and recovery.
Eden Coffee powers Haku and Strava brand activations at Running USA conference. Press Services Today at 2:40pm PST Mobile coffee cart delivers sponsor brand activations at the 2026 Running USA Industry Conference St Louis, United States - March 7, 2026 / Eden Coffee Co. / Eden Coffee Co., a St. Louis-based mobile coffee experience company focused on experiential hospitality and brand activations, supported two sponsor activations during the 2026 Running USA Industry Conference at Union Station - helping national brands create high-touch attendee engagement through premium, on-brand coffee service. Eden Coffee Co. partnered with Haku, the conference's presenting sponsor, to execute a fully branded coffee activation designed to elevate the expo floor experience. Eden delivered beginning-to-end operational support and a brand-forward setup, including a branded cart and custom cups - turning each drink served into a mobile brand impression as attendees moved throughout the venue. "Impactful events are built on moments that feel personal - even in a crowded room," said Alyson, owner of Eden Coffee Co. "Coffee creates a natural pause for connection. When the service is smooth, and the presentation is intentional, it becomes more than a beverage - it becomes part of how people remember the brand." Eden Coffee Co. also partnered with Runna by Strava to support the conference's running track experience, delivering a post-run hospitality moment designed to feel both celebratory and useful. Following group runs, attendees were welcomed at the finish with branded bottled lattes, hot chocolate, and fresh black coffee, featuring custom labeling and presentation aligned with the sponsor experience. Throughout the conference, Eden Coffee Co. supported sponsor goals by combining logistics and execution with guest-first hospitality - helping brands create a visible, talked-about experience without disrupting the flow of the event. About Eden Coffee Co. Eden Coffee Co. is a St. Louis-based mobile coffee experience company providing elevated espresso and coffee service for events, brand activations, and corporate gatherings. With a focus on thoughtful hospitality, operational excellence, and brand-forward presentation, Eden Coffee Co. helps organizations create memorable moments of connection - one drink at a time. Learn more at edencoffeecocart.com. Contact Information: Eden Coffee Co. Serving the Greater St Louis Area St Louis, MO 63101 United States This is a paid placement. For further inquiries, please contact Press Services directly.