Inspired by a busy schedule and inability to make regularly scheduled gym classes, John Foley decided to bring the elements of these classes into the consumer’s home. The idea was to develop one piece of interconnected equipment that would create a class-like feel. But investors balked at the idea that an individual or even a small team could tackle the three elements required: a high-quality bike, tablet software to connect individuals and content to keep them engaged. Eventually Foley found investors that bet more on him than the idea, and the rest is history:
Peloton currently has one million members. On average, each live class attracts 400 riders. The company—which plans to go public in 2019—recently launched a new treadmill line ($3,995), and Foley has teased a third proprietary machine. By the end of 2018, Peloton will have nearly 70 retail showrooms across the U.S., the U.K. and Canada.
Impressive for a company founded in 2012. (This article was published in the WSJ Magazine Innovator’s Issue, which had several terrific accounts.)