Sweatpals, a community platform that connects people through fitness, has announced $12 million in Seed funding. The company is built on the growing trend of "daylife," where wellness activities are replacing traditional nightlife as the new way to socialize.
The investment round was led by Patron, a16z speedrun, and Kevin Hart’s HartBeat Ventures. The round also included participation from Max Mullen (Instacart co-founder), WndrCo (founded by Jeffrey Katzenberg), Antler, Pear, and Deb Liu (Ancestry CEO). This new capital brings the company's total funding to $17.2 million.
The investment arrives as social habits are visibly changing. Sweatpals is positioning itself at the front of this movement, noting that younger generations are increasingly choosing movement as their preferred way to find community. Statistics show only 54% of adults now drink alcohol, the lowest rate ever recorded. The company aims to help people meet and build friendships through shared fitness experiences rather than over drinks.
Investors see this as a significant opportunity. "Sweatpals represents a fundamental shift in consumer social behavior," said Andrew Chen, General Partner at a16z speedrun. "While others focus on digital engagement, Sweatpals drives real-world community formation with built-in monetization. They've cracked the code on making community building both meaningful and economically sustainable."
Kevin Hart, entertainer and founder of HartBeat Ventures, shared this view. "When I first saw Sweatpals, I immediately recognized it as the future of how we connect," said Kevin Hart. "As someone who's built my career on bringing people together through entertainment, I see Sweatpals doing the same thing through fitness. They're leading a movement that makes wellness accessible, social, and fun, and it's exactly the kind of innovation that excites me as an investor."
The new capital is tagged for several specific goals. Sweatpals plans a major nationwide expansion, aiming to be in 12 new markets by early 2026. The company currently has a presence in 24 cities.
Funding will also be used to develop new platform features for studios, gyms, and event organizers. This includes improving tools that help hosts earn more income from their communities and adding social features to better connect people after they attend a fitness event.
Sweatpals was co-founded by CEO Salar Shahini and Mandi Zhou, two tech entrepreneurs who personally experienced the power of fitness in creating a sense of belonging. Their platform not only allows users to discover fitness classes but also empowers users to become hosts themselves. This model helps people create income streams while building authentic connections. The company reports that it brings, on average, 30% additional customers to each host on its platform.
"We're building the infrastructure for human connection in an increasingly lonely world," said Salar Shahini, Founder and CEO of Sweatpals. "This funding allows us to accelerate our vision where every gym, studio, park, and community space becomes a hub for meaningful relationships – where daylife becomes as iconic as nightlife once was."
"What excites us most is how Sweatpals empowers everyday people to become community leaders and entrepreneurs," said Mandi Zhou, co-founder of Sweatpals. "We're seeing yoga instructors, run club organizers, and fitness enthusiasts turn their passion into purpose – building communities that truly change lives."
Lead investors emphasized the cultural importance of the platform. "Sweatpals is turning wellness into the new social currency," said Amber Atherton at Patron. "They're bridging tech, community, and culture to create lasting change in how people connect – that's a movement worth backing."
