The first day of the Athletech News Innovation Summit 2026 was held in New York, covering 16 topics including investment, recovery science, strength-training innovation, and the commercialization of longevity. Key signals:

① Investment trends — Pilates and HVLP gyms are the most favored by capital; 2025 is a catalyst year for major brand deals (multi-billion-dollar Crunch/EoS transactions), 2026 is expected to be a period of “slight reset,” and deal flow is projected to recover in 2027;

② The Recovery 2.0 era — the field is moving from single-method approaches (such as cold-water baths) to a personalized, data-driven stage;

③ Peloton expansion — the company is transforming from a bike brand into a full-category connected health company, reaching 290 million users through its partnership with Spotify;

④ Strength-training space design — reducing beginners’ intimidation (placing squat racks in the back) and designing the member experience starting from the “pre-journey”;

⑤ HVLP chains must prove profitability in non-metropolitan markets in order to continue attracting capital.