Retrofit
TypePrivate
IndustryWeight Loss,
Weight Management,
and Nutrition
FoundedChicago, Illinois, 2011[1]
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois[2]
Key people
Jeff Hyman
Founder[3] & CEO[4]
Number of employees
80[5]
Websitewww.retrofitme.com

Retrofit is a weight loss company for business professionals based in Chicago, Illinois.[6] It is known for its use of technology to help people with weight loss and track their progress. Technologies used include Skype (for clients to speak with program advisers and wellness experts), Wi-Fi scales, and Fitbit.[4][7] Wellness experts include a registered dietitian, exercise physiologist, and behavior coach to cover the core subject matter areas of nutrition, fitness, and behavior change.[4][7]

Retrofit uses the measure of percent of body weight lost at the end of one year as their primary metric[8] and claims a greater than 90% rate of weight loss for their active client base.[9]

History

Retrofit was founded by Jeff Hyman in 2011.[1] The initial idea for the company came from his personal experience with weight gain.[4] He founded the company after consulting with dietitians, nutritionists, therapists, and doctors over a two-year period following his experience at a weight loss resort.[3]

Growth

In the first two years of operation, the company tripled its workforce and secured clients such as Accretive Health,[10] Dolby Laboratories,[11] Salesforce.com,[10] and former players of the NFLPA.[4] The company has also raised $10.7 million in capital from investors such as J. B. Pritzker, Larry Levy,[2] and Draper Fisher Jurvetson.[5]

The company ran a nationwide contest in 2013 in which they gave away $300,000 in services. Salt Lake City-based company VISTA Staffing Solutions was the recipient of the services after their content essay was chosen from those who entered.[11] They were also named one of the 50 Hottest Health And Fitness Apps by TechCrunch in 2012.[12]

Program

The program offered by the company is personalized for each individual and is also offered as part of weight loss programs for certain corporations. It is said to be focused on professionals who are too busy to take time off work to attend weight loss clinics or resorts.[1]

Each client is partnered with individuals to help them with their progress, including a dietitian, exercise physiologist, a program manager, and a behavior coach.[13] Interaction between clients and the professionals is done online through services such as Skype. The progress of each client is monitored electronically through Fitbit and a scale enabled through Wi-Fi.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Reid, Kelly (14 August 2012). "Healthcare Startups Are Hot, And Chicago's Retrofit Is Blazing The Trail". Forbes Magazine. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  2. 1 2 Pletz, John (28 January 2013). "The New Diet Aid: Startup Retrofit". Crain’s Chicago Business. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  3. 1 2 Shontell, Alyson (14 December 2012). "Tech Finally Tackles The Fat Problem". The Business Insider. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Jeff Hyman (16 May 2013). Retrofit Uses Technology For Weight Loss Goals (Television). Fox Business.
  5. 1 2 "Weight Loss Startup Retrofit Nets $8 Million, Launches Contest". Chicago Business Journal. 13 November 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  6. ↑ Grant, Rebecca (13 November 2012). "Big Data Is The New Atkins: Retrofit's Approach To Weight Loss Helps Users Slim Down". Venture Beat. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  7. 1 2 Kolodny, Lora (13 November 2012). "New Weight-Loss Tech Helping Companies Curb Health-Care Costs". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  8. ↑ Hyman, Jeff (14 September 2012). "A New Metric For Wellness: Percent Body Weight Lost and Kept Off Through One Year". Sustainable Brands. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  9. ↑ The Fitness Show (Television). Windy City Live. 19 June 2013.
  10. 1 2 Bendersky, Ari (25 April 2013). "Jeff Hyman '95 Harnesses High Tech For A New Data-Driven Weight-Loss Company". Kellogg School of Management. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  11. 1 2 House, Dawn (2 January 2013). "Healthy Benefits Coming Utah Workers Way". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  12. ↑ Empson, Rip (2 January 2013). "The Ultimate Guide To The 50+ Hottest Health And Fitness Apps, Gadgets And Startups Of The Year". Tech Crunch. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  13. 1 2 Shaywitz, David (17 November 2012). "Three Lessons A Hot Midwestern Weight-Loss Startup Can Teach Us About Digital Health". Forbes Magazine. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
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