World champion skier Lindsey Vonn will be joining the at-home fitness brand Tempo as its first-ever in-residence Olympic champion, coach, and strategic adviser. She will soon make an appearance at Tempo’s New York City store early next year for a signing of her new memoir, Rise: My Story.
Vonn is also putting her own money in the company as an investor. She recently shared more with Fortune about her decision to team up with the A.I.-powered home gym provider.
- Startup: Tempo
- Location: San Francisco
- Year founded: 2015
- Valuation: Not disclosed
- Investment level: Series C
- Number of employees: 240
- Other major investors: SoftBank, General Catalyst, Norwest Venture Partners, and Bling Capital
Why she invested, in her own words
I am extremely passionate about my wellness and fitness, and Tempo shares my desire to help others lead more active, healthy lifestyles. I’ve long admired their quality product and emphasis on strength training to prepare for every aspect of life—from training for professional competition, to becoming a better runner or simply having the ability to carry the kids up the stairs. But their mission to democratize fitness and provide everyone with an opportunity to access personal training was what truly drew me in.
So did their CEO, Moawia Eldeeb. His story, from homelessness to launching Tempo on the cusp of an at-home fitness revolution, inspired me. As someone who has also faced both personal and professional setbacks, I admire his grit, share his tenacity, and completely align with his mission to show others how impactful a healthy lifestyle can be.
Beyond investing financially, I’ll also be releasing content on the platform, starting with a six-class program inspired by my personal training routine, and serve as a strategic adviser for the company to accelerate business growth as the fitness industry continues to evolve within our own homes.
This is an installment of Why I Invested, a series featuring famous investors from all different backgrounds and industries, revealing what inspired them to invest their own money in a new business.
