WEB EXCLUSIVE: Austin is Home to Fast-growing Fitness Start-ups

Austin is known for technology startups, but it is increasingly a place where fitness product and service companies choose to start—and grow. Inc. magazine’s 2012 list of fastest growing companies, the “Inc. 5000 List” includes four Austin-based fitness-oriented businesses. (The full list of Austin-based companies on the 2012 Inc. 5000).

MapMyFitness is the highest-ranking Austin fitness business on the 2012 Inc. 5000 list, coming in at #355 overall, #32 in Consumer Products & Services, and #7 in Austin. This is the company’s first year on the list.

According to Inc. magazine, MapMyFitness had revenue of $6.2 million in 2011, with three-year growth reported as 1,052%, and added 50 jobs within the past three years.

“We moved to Austin to be part of one of most physically active communities and to build a world class team in one of the most active technology communities in the country,” said founder Robin Thurston.

MapMyFitness was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Austin. According to company’s executives, MapMyFitness is a health and fitness technology company that powers the internet's largest social network of fitness enthusiasts as well as a wide array of B2B enterprise solutions. The MapMyFitness suite of website and mobile applications, under the MapMyRun and MapMyRide flagship products, use built-in GPS technology to provide fitness enthusiasts worldwide with the ability to map, record, and share their exercise routes and workouts in an online database. In addition, users have access to a searchable database of over 70 million global routes, online training tools, nutrition tracking, fitness calculators, event listings, and the ability to easily share their activities with friends. The MapMyFitness B2B enterprise platform is a comprehensive product offering for businesses of all sizes, from corporate wellness solutions to the development of custom fitness oriented apps.

Trigger Point Performance ranked #898 overall, #66 in Consumer Products & Services, and #19 in Austin. 

According to Inc. magazine, Trigger Point Performance had revenue of $5.2 million in 2011, with three-year growth reported as 369%, and added 33 jobs within the past three years. This is the company’s first appearance on the Inc. 5000 list.

According to the Inc. magazine listing, the company distributes exercise products that enable self-massage and myofascial compression techniques to help users manage pain, unlock more energy, and enhance workouts. The company also provides education on use of its products, which it sells to the athletic, health care, and personal markets. Representatives of the company did not respond to Austin Fit Magazine’s requests for information.
 

SPIbelt ranked #979 overall, #73 in Consumer Products & Services, and #21 in Austin. 

According to Inc. magazine, SPIbelt had revenue of $4.6 million in 2011, with three-year growth reported as 325%, and added 11 jobs within the past three years. This is the company’s second consecutive appearance on the Inc. 5000 list.

SPIbelt, founded by Kim Overton, is the maker of the SPIbelt (“small personal item belt”) product line. The belt is used to carry cash, keys, phone and other personal items. Many runners use the SPIbelt for training runs and races.
 

Jack & Adam’s Bicycles ranked #4803 overall and #85 in Austin. 

According to Inc. magazine, Jack & Adam’s Bicycles had revenue of $2.5 million in 2011, with three-year growth reported as 12 percent, and added 10 jobs within the past three years. This is the company’s fourth consecutive appearance on the Inc. 5000 list.

We heard from two other fitness-oriented companies in Austin who were not on the Inc. list but who are based in Austin and are growing.
 

DYNAMAX Medicine Balls, owned by Laura Cisneros, was founded in 1985 and has a 53 percent growth rate, with 2011 revenues reported as $2+ million.

“DYNAMAX Medicine Balls were developed by coaches for athletes,” Cisneros said. “For 25years Dynamax has been passed from Head Coach to Assistant Coach, from the NFL to the NCAA. Tried, true and still hand-crafted in the USA, Dynamax is the original soft touch, hard throwing med ball of choice by professionals and weekend warriors alike.”

Flocast, founded in 2006, has a 100 percent growth rate over the past year. Company representatives did not want to share revenue numbers. Co-Founders Mark Floreani, Martin Floreani, Madhu Venkatesan are still with the company. Ryan Ponsonby and James Mcgirr also Co-Founded but are no longer involved.

Flocast is an online sports media company that creates and cultivates community and content for niche sports, such as wrestling, gymnastics, running, and cycling.