Boddy Raises $2.2M To Help People Find Workouts While on Vacation
The Swiss startup allows travelers to search, compare and book wellness, health and fitness activities while they’re away from home
Boddy, Zurich-based a travel, wellness and tech startup, has successfully closed a seed round, raising $2.2 million meant to propel its growth trajectory following its recent North American expansion.
Dr. Li Wu, a health research scientist and founder of behavior-change app Virtusan, has been confirmed as a lead investor in Boddy. The seed round also included support from existing investors. The funding comes after Boddy recently announced its official launch in the U.S. and Canada.
Boddy’s global fitness and wellness marketplace merges travel and a healthy lifestyle by allowing travelers to search, compare and book wellness, health and fitness activities and experiences while on vacation. The platform works to promote optimal wellness but also enables health operators to attract new consumers and increase revenue.
Boddy shared the news of the sizable investment on LinkedIn, writing that the round marks a “major milestone” as the startup doubles down on product evolution and plans to accelerate its global expansion.
The recent funding is accompanied by a strategic partnership between Boddy and Virtusan, which promotes a joint vision for mind and body health.
“We are thrilled to have successfully closed our seed round, and we warmly welcome Dr. Li Wu to the Boddy family,” said Hannes Boller, co-founder and CEO of Boddy. “This significant investment reaffirms our vision to revolutionize the travel and wellness industry and create a positive impact on people’s lives. We are excited about the opportunities ahead as we scale our operations and unlock new possibilities for travelers seeking well-being experiences around the world.”
In a statement, Dr. Wu said she was delighted to lead the investment round for the startup, predicting great opportunities ahead.
“I firmly believe that Boddy is poised to reshape the travel industry, ushering in a brighter future,” said Dr. Wu. “Boddy and Virtusan share a collective mission to empower millions of individuals in need through comprehensive strategies that encompass behavioral transformations for both mental and physical well-being. Through our strategic partnership, we will amplify our impact and accelerate the realization of our respective visions.”
Boddy’s wellness marketplace aligns with a recent Global Travel Trends report by American Express, which revealed that travelers are intrigued by maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle while at a new destination.
Most notably, tech-savvy Gen Z and Millennials are likely to book travel plans centered on personal wellness (61%), compared to 48% of overall survey respondents.
Courtney Rehfeldt has worked in the broadcasting media industry since 2007 and has freelanced since 2012. Her work has been featured in Age of Awareness, Times Beacon Record, The New York Times, and she has an upcoming piece in Slate. She studied yoga & meditation under Beryl Bender Birch at The Hard & The Soft Yoga Institute. She enjoys hiking, being outdoors, and is an avid reader. Courtney has a BA in Media & Communications studies.