Echelon Fitness has formally acquired Fortë, a leading B2B fitness streaming platform, and is rebranding it as Elevate by Echelon—a strategic move that expands Echelon’s SaaS footprint and deepens its enterprise offerings.
Joining Forces: Hardware Meets Software Innovation
Echelon is no stranger to innovation. Over the past year, it’s rolled out recovery technologies, virtual coaching, telehealth through ActiveMD, and AI-powered personalization via Echelon AI and one-on-one live training with Echelon Coach. Fortë, founded in 2015 and supported by investors like the LA Dodgers and Billie Jean King Enterprises, brings streaming hardware and software used by studios, gyms, influencers, and sports organizations in 39 countries.
A Bold Vision: Intelligent Workouts, Anywhere
CEO Lou Lentine emphasizes that Elevate aligns with Echelon’s mission: empowering healthier communities via personalized, accessible wellness experiences anytime and anywhere. The integration of Fortë’s tools allows Echelon to scale branded live and on-demand fitness content across commercial networks globally.
AI-Driven Personalization Enters the Studio
The acquisition paves the way for embedding Echelon’s AI-trained workout builder—developed with AWS’s generative AI-powered BedRock—into gyms worldwide. Personalized content delivery is expected to boost engagement and retention, with initial projections showing a 7% uplift in member retention in trial studios.
Accepting the New Hybrid Model
Fortë’s existing integrations with member management systems like Mindbody, ABC, Mariana Tek, and Daxko make wide deployment seamless. Together with clients such as UFC GYM, 305 Fitness, Curves, and boutique wellness brands like Power + Flow and Melt Method, the platform powers branded digital fitness experiences at scale.
What This Means for Operators—and Your Gym
By uniting hardware and software ecosystems, Echelon can now offer turnkey hybrid solutions for commercial fitness operators: branded streaming content, in-studio immersive workouts, and personalized AI coaching. This is fitness modernization in action—tools that help studios launch, manage, and scale digital offerings without complex integrations or fragmented providers.
Quotes From the Deal Team
Lou Lentine: “With Echelon’s proven technology team and Fortë’s innovative solutions, we can now offer better solutions for enterprise customers.”
Lauren Foundos (Fortë CEO): “By joining Echelon, we extend our vision to more global communities—built on innovation and commitment to personalized wellness.”
Why it matters:
This acquisition marks a tipping point in fitness tech: connected equipment companies are now layering enterprise-grade streaming platforms powered by AI, setting a new standard for hybrid fitness. Gyms and commercial operators able to offer branded, data-driven experiences—from streaming to live classes—stand to gain competitive advantage.
If your studio or asset is exploring ways to extend its digital footprint—or optimize member engagement through branded content—Elevate by Echelon may offer a scalable, integrated solution worth exploring.
