Who Owns ClassPass?

Payal Kadakia founded the company in 2013 in New York under the name Classtivity, inspired by her own frustration finding a dance class to attend. Early versions of the product were a class directory and reservation system, but after a 2014 pivot the company renamed itself ClassPass and launched its signature model: a monthly membership giving users credits to book classes across a network of studios.

The credit model was transformative. Instead of committing to one studio, members could sample yoga, cycling, boxing, barre, and other classes across a city for a single subscription. The company raised more than $500 million in venture capital, reached unicorn status, and expanded to dozens of countries through both organic growth and acquisitions.

The model also produced friction: studio partners complained about price pressure as ClassPass negotiated discounted rates, and the company adjusted its credit and pricing systems repeatedly to balance member value against partner economics. Fritz Lanman, an early investor, became CEO in 2017, with Kadakia remaining as chairwoman.

The COVID-19 pandemic devastated the business in 2020 as studios closed, forcing layoffs and a pivot to digital classes. In October 2021, ClassPass announced its acquisition by Mindbody, the fitness business software company owned by Vista Equity Partners, in an all-stock deal. Lanman joined Mindbody's executive team, and ClassPass continued operating as the consumer-facing brand.

Under Playlist and then the combined EGYM merger, ClassPass expanded beyond fitness into wellness services including spa and salon bookings, and into corporate wellness benefits competing with Wellhub. By 2026 it operated across more than 30 countries with tens of thousands of partner venues.