Cash Flow: Freeletics Secures $25m, Plant-Based Chicken Brand Scores $8m, Aaptiv Explores Sale

The game-changing investment, acquisition and funding news impacting the industry and driving the business of wellness this week.

AI-powered fitness app Freeletics secures $25m investment

Freeletics, an AI-powered fitness coaching app, has announced the closing of a $25m Series B funding round led by U.S-based JAZZ Venture Partners and Causeway Media Partners, with support from KKCG

The funds will be used to develop new technologies, expand the company’s global footprint and build new business verticals.

Daring Foods raises $8m for plant-based chicken

Plant-based chicken startup daring has raised $8m in a funding round led by Maveron — a prominent venture capital firm that invests in early-stage consumer brands. Additional investors included GoodFriends (from the founders of Allbirds, Harry’s and Warby Parker), Stray Dog Capital, Palm Tree Crew Investments and private investors including Mike Smith (CFO of Stitch Fix) and Brian Swette (former Chair of Burger King). 

The capital will be used to support daring’s mission to remove chicken from the food system and propel the brand’s unprecedented growth through marketing, innovation and staffing.

Image: WTRMLN WTR
WTRMLN WTR acquired by cold-pressed peer

Caribé Juice, a minority-owned business, has acquired WTRMLN WTR, a female-founded company with a mission-forward brand and product portfolio, for an undisclosed amount.

Both brands have been running parallel paths in the cold-pressed juice world since 2013 and are aligned in the drive to provide clean healthy beverages to people who would not otherwise have access.

Caribé Juice says it is committed to continuing to advance the Drink Clean mission of WTRMLN WTR.  

Fitness app Aaptiv explores sale

Aaptiv, the self-dubbed ‘Netflix of fitness’ is exploring a sale, according to sources close to the matter. According to Bloomberg, the company has tapped an adviser after fielding inbound interest.

The move follows the raise of an undisclosed amount from Insight Partners, earlier this year. 

The startup, which has raised more than $60m to date from investors including Amazon and Disney, is valued at $200m.

Plant-based powerhouse Green Monday lands $70m

Green Monday, a plant-based business headquartered in Hong Kong, has raised $70m from a group of investors including CPT Capital, Jefferies Group and Sino Group’s Ng Family Trust

The company, which operates a chain of plant-based grocery stores, as well as manufacturing plant-based food such as OmniPork, has said it will use the funding to bolster R&D efforts, increase production, distribution and supply chain as well as scaling-up its retail footprint.

It plans to establish a presence in over 20 markets across the world within the next 6 months.