Will Ahmed: The Visionary CEO Behind WHOOP’s $3.6B Fitness Empire

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Published June 13, 2025 1:30 PM PDT

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Will Ahmed: The Visionary CEO Behind WHOOP’s $3.6B Fitness Empire

When Will Ahmed founded WHOOP in 2012, he wasn’t just building another fitness tracker—he was building a new way to understand the human body. Fast-forward to today, and WHOOP is a $3.6 billion performance tech giant, trusted by professional athletes, Fortune 500 execs, and everyday high performers alike. At the center of it all is Ahmed: a Harvard graduate, first-time founder, and now one of the most influential voices in the wearable health-tech revolution.

Who Is Will Ahmed?

Born to Egyptian parents and raised in the U.S., Will Ahmed’s obsession with human performance began as a student-athlete at Harvard, where he captained the men’s squash team. Frustrated by the lack of data around strain and recovery, he teamed up with fellow students and professors to develop what would eventually become WHOOP.

In a space saturated by step counters and smartwatches, Ahmed’s vision was clear: optimize recovery, not just activity. His mission struck a chord—and attracted serious investment.

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@Whoop

The Business of WHOOP

As of 2025, WHOOP’s estimated valuation stands at $3.6 billion, following multiple funding rounds backed by top-tier investors like SoftBank Vision Fund, IVP, and Accomplice. The company has more than 200,000 paying subscribers, from professional athletes to biohacking executives.

Unlike most fitness wearables, WHOOP uses a subscription-based model, giving users access to detailed biometric insights, including sleep quality, recovery metrics, strain, heart rate variability, and skin temperature. The latest device, WHOOP 4.0, is screenless, sleek, and designed to be worn 24/7.

WHOOP has carved out a unique niche at the intersection of sports science, lifestyle optimization, and elite health tracking.

Related: Is Tech Changing Sports Forever? Inside the Innovation Revolution

Related: Sports: One of the World’s Biggest and Most Lucrative Industries

Did Cristiano Ronaldo Invest in WHOOP?

Yes—Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the world’s most recognizable athletes, invested in WHOOP during one of its funding rounds. Ronaldo is part of a growing list of celebrity backers, including Patrick Mahomes, Kevin Durant, and even LeBron James, signaling the brand’s dominance among elite athletic circles.

This high-profile support has helped WHOOP grow not just as a product, but as a cultural icon in data-driven fitness.

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Will Ahmed and Christiano Ronaldo

The Man Behind the Metrics

Ahmed’s approach is unshakably scientific, data-first, and user-obsessed. He’s outspoken about sleep, recovery, and the myths of hustle culture. He even posts his own WHOOP data regularly—transparency that reflects the company’s ethos.

As wearable health tech edges closer to mainstream medical adoption, WHOOP—under Will Ahmed’s leadership—isn’t just keeping pace. It’s setting the standard.

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    By CEO TodayJune 13, 2025

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