Latest news with #WillAhmed
Bloomberg
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Bloomberg
The Deal: Will Ahmed
In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez tells Jason Kelly how he's feeling leading up to his first press conference as the owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx at the NBA's Summer League, and what he's looking forward to at the MLB All-Star Game next week. Then, they speak with Will Ahmed about how he came to found the fitness tracker Whoop. Ahmed tells the hosts the unique way he got early adapters Michael Phelps and LeBron James to try his product, which investor he was most excited to bring on board, and what it's like competing with giants like Nike and Apple.
Gulf Business
09-06-2025
- Health
- Gulf Business
‘WHOOP 5.0 Is our biggest leap yet', says founder and CEO Will Ahmed
Images: Supplied With the launch of WHOOP 5.0 and the medical-grade WHOOP MG, founder and CEO Will Ahmed is ushering in a new era for wearable technology — one that goes far beyond fitness tracking. In this interview with Gulf Business, the health tech pioneer shares how the latest innovations position the brand as a central operating system for human health. From AI-powered insights that drive meaningful behaviour change to the platform's growing popularity in the Middle East, Ahmed outlines how WHOOP is redefining performance, longevity, and recovery for its global user base. What makes the WHOOP 5.0 launch a true leap forward for the brand — rather than just the next iteration? This launch marks the beginning of a new chapter for us. With the launch of WHOOP 5.0 and WHOOP MG, along with our new health software features, WHOOP 5.0 and WHOOP MG introduce medical-grade capabilities and insights never before offered in a single wearable. The new sensors deliver 14 days of battery life — three times what our last device offered — while being 7 per cent smaller. WHOOP MG builds on that with Heart Screener with ECG, Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications, and Blood Pressure Insights. We've also introduced new software features including Healthspan with WHOOP Age, updated Sleep Performance, Hormonal Insights, and an improved Steps experience — all designed to help members perform better and live longer. This isn't just a product update. It's the biggest leap forward in WHOOP technology to date, not just to our hardware, but to the entire WHOOP experience. As wearables grow in popularity, how is WHOOP helping users turn data into meaningful behavior change and long-term habits? WHOOP is transforming how people turn data into meaningful behavior change and lasting habits by shifting the focus from passive data collection to personalised, actionable insights that drive outcomes. WHOOP does this through a deeply integrated system of features designed to coach rather than just track. For instance, our new Healthspan with WHOOP Age reveals how your behaviours — from sleep to strength training — are directly influencing your physiological age. This isn't just data — it becomes a call to action to our members. How would you describe the significance of the Middle East market for WHOOP — and what sets this region apart in terms of demand and adoption? The GCC is a rapidly growing This is a region that deeply values performance, health, and innovation. What's unique here is the demand for premium, personalised solutions — and WHOOP is uniquely equipped to meet that. Looking ahead, as wearables evolve beyond fitness to support long-term wellbeing and healthspan, where is WHOOP heading next ? In the coming months and year, we will be focused on additional new features that help support our goal of becoming a central operating system for our members' health. One of those initiatives is WHOOP Advanced Labs — our soon-to-be-released feature that integrates blood testing right into your WHOOP experience to provide an enhanced layer of coaching. Any recovery tips you can share with users based on your experience? There are many tools and strategies I use to optimise my recovery, including wearing blue light glasses before bed and cold plunging after working out. I also find meditation personally has been one of the biggest unlocks for me. I do it every morning for 20 minutes and it's become nonnegotiable for me. When I was 24 years old I was really stressed about building WHOOP. I was run down, strung out, and I hadn't really learned how to cope with stress. I found meditation as a tool to really find balance and reflection. It allowed me to develop this ability to look at my thoughts in the third person. It made me feel much more in control and aware.
Digital Trends
10-05-2025
- Digital Trends
Whoop finally has a fix for its broken free upgrade promise, sort of
Table of Contents Table of Contents What is happening? What relief is available? Whoop introduced two new fitness wearables earlier this week, and to go with it, a trio of subscription plans under the One, Peak, and Life labels. The launch, however, left many long-term fans of the screen-less wearable with a bitter taste as the company reneged on a remarkable promise of free upgrades. Whoop made the commitment in a blog post published late last year, but has since deleted it. 'Instead of purchasing new hardware every time an updated model is produced, WHOOP members receive the next-generation device for free after having been a member for six months or more,' the company said back then. Recommended Videos What is happening? @willahmed, It seems that your company believes in deceit. I've been supporting your company since 2022. In 2025, I ask myself if this is the correct decision. What happened to this 'Membership Model'? 'WHOOP members receive the next-generation device for free' Are we puppets? — status (@statusIRL) May 10, 2025 Following the launch of its latest wearable devices, the Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG, subscribers were asked to pay an 'upgrade fee.' The backlash has been pretty vocal across social media platforms and forums like Reddit. But it seems Whoop is not going to fully honor its original commitment. A Whoop spokesperson told Bloomberg that 'like any company, we from time to time update our commercial policies.' In the meantime, Whoop quietly updated its support page on May 9, clarifying the free upgrade situation and the requirements tied to it. In order to upgrade from Whoop 4.0 to Whoop 5.0 or the MG version, there are only two options on the table. Pay an upgrade fee ($49 for Whoop 5.0 and $79 for Whoop MG) or extend the current membership by 12 months, with plans starting at $199 per user annually. What relief is available? The only relief available to long-term subscribers is that if they have more than 12 months remaining on their subscription, they will get the free upgrade. The fresh offer only applies to the mid-tier Peak subscription, and not the One or Life package. The situation has been somewhat confusing so far. A few users are reporting that when they reached out to Whoop support with evidence of the brand's prior commitment, they were extended the free upgrade. Some are claiming that they are got an AI-generated response from Whoop support. The Whoop 5.0 launch feels like extortion! I've been subscribed for over 4 years and now I have to shell out more money for something that was meant to be a free upgrade? The price of the Whoop MG subscription would buy you a new Apple Watch Series 10, EVERY YEAR!! Not good! — Brandon (@BrandonVanB) May 8, 2025 A few users wrote that they have been denied the free upgrade and asked to pay the aforementioned fee. Some are even floating the idea of filing consumer reports citing misleading marketing claims by Whoop. It would be interesting to see if Whoop is taken to court, but so far, it seems the company could get in legal hot water if the situation escalates.
Irish Times
09-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Rory McIlroy-backed Whoop unveils updated sensors
Wearable technology company Whoop has unveiled two wearables with advanced capabilities that include blood pressure monitoring and medical ECG. The two new sensors, Whoop 5.0 and Whoop Medical Grade (MG) are smaller but include more technology and are more power efficient, with enhanced sensors that capture information 26 times per second. The medical grade Whoop has built in a new ECG feature that can detect signs of atrial fibrillation and notify wearers of irregular heart rhythms. It also includes a blood pressure monitoring technology, with estimated systolic and diastolic readings that are calibrated with initial readings from a blood pressure cuff. 'We've taken everything we've learned over the past decade and built a platform to help our members perform and live at their peak for longer,' said Will Ahmed, Whoop founder and chief executive. 'We've held nothing back.' READ MORE Both sensors have also improved battery life, with Whoop promising around 14 days per charge, and a new wireless power pack that will extend that to a month. Whoop has also updated its app, introducing the company has introduced new features such as healthspan, which quantifies physical age and gives you an indication of your pace of ageing. The measurement, which was developed in partnership with Dr Eric Verdin, chief executive of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, calculates the wearer's Whoop Age and pace of ageing through nine different metrics. 'We have more advanced capabilities,' explained Whoop vice-president of performance Dr Kristen Holmes. 'we'll still monitor your cardiovascular strain and your musculoskeletal load, we introduced VO2 Max recently, and now we have hormonal insights, more robust cycle tracking, tracking as well as pregnancy. Overall, it is a more robust offering.' Whoop is backed by golfer Rory McIlroy, who also acts as an ambassador for the company, and footballer Cristiano Ronaldo. 'I've been wearing Whoop for six years now, you know when you're doing the right things and you know when you're not,' Mr McIlroy said. 'I think that's getting into healthspan and being your own health advocate and having tools like Whoop to help you on that journey.' The company has also introduced three new membership tiers to accompany the sensors, including Whoop One, which brings fitness insights for €199 per year; Whoop Peak which adds advanced health, fitness and longevity insights for €264 per year; and Whoop Life, which comes with medical-grade health and performance insights for €399 per year.
Miami Herald
09-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Whoop sparks outrage following product launch
The fitness tracker world is usually pretty chill. Updates drop, new features roll out, and users either upgrade or don't. But not this time. A new launch from a beloved brand has left some of its most loyal fans feeling blindsided - and they're not being quiet about it. Related: Gymshark consumers furious, call for boycott Reddit is flooded with accusations, screenshots, and a growing thread of frustration that's been dubbed #Whoopgate by the community. Some are even calling for legal action. One user put it bluntly: "They've lied before, they're lying again, and they will lie again. Can we get a class action suit?" - u/cwamoon Image source: Whoop On paper, the new Whoop launch should've been a slam dunk. The company introduced two next-generation wearables - Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG - with a 14-day battery life, sleeker design, an FDA-cleared ECG, Blood Pressure Insights, more flexible wear options beyond the wrist, and a new global ambassador: soccer icon Cristiano Ronaldo. Founder & CEO Will Ahmed called it "a new chapter" and said Whoop had "held nothing back." That might be true - at least for new customers. But existing members say they've been left behind. Despite years of loyalty (and hundreds of dollars spent), many aren't eligible for free upgrades and must pay again - in some cases at a higher tier - to access new features. Related: Oura launches genius features to take on Apple, Fitbit, and Whoop The reaction has been swift. Users have accused the company of deceptive business practices, going back on their word, and misleading upgrade promises. Reddit threads titled "Whoopgate: The Receipts" by u/fffraterrr and "Upvote this if you cancelled your Whoop subscription!" by u/danfar93 have gone viral. Many users say they've already cancelled their subscriptions. Others are comparing Whoop's tactics to something out of a Black Mirror episode. Screenshots are being posted as evidence - comparing emails, pricing tiers, and upgrade eligibility - with many users saying they feel scammed and betrayed by a company they trusted. They argue Whoop has gone back on its word, promising one thing and delivering another. Many longtime members are outright pissed, saying the company's tactics feel manipulative and shady. Whoop made its name as the premium wearable for performance-obsessed athletes, biohackers, and data nerds. But now, it's facing a customer trust crisis - just as competition in the space is heating up. The global fitness tracker market was valued at $60.9 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach approximately $164.4 billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research. Earlier this week, Oura, one of Whoop's biggest rivals, introduced two game-changing new features focused on heart health and women's wellness. The update was seen as a major step forward for a brand that's already become a favorite among wellness influencers and longevity-focused consumers. Whoop, meanwhile, is dealing with accusations of bait-and-switch tactics and broken promises. That's risky for a company that relies heavily on recurring revenue - charging up to $359/year for its top-tier membership. This isn't just about hardware. It's about trust, and that's much harder to rebuild. For now, Whoop hasn't issued a public response to the backlash. But the longer they stay silent, the louder the anger gets. And that call for a class action lawsuit? It's starting to sound a lot more serious than just Reddit noise. In a fast-moving wearables market, brand loyalty can disappear overnight - and for Whoop, it already is. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
