WHOOP (company)

WHOOP 1.0 was released in 2015.{{cite web |last1=Comstock |first1=Jonah |title=Whoop, a wearable for athletes, raises $12 million | url=https://www.mobihealthnews.com/46964/whoop-a-wearable-for-athletes-raises-12-million |date=August 31, 2021 |access-date=September 22, 2015 |website=MobiHealthNews}} A second version arrived in 2016,{{cite web |last1=Gintzler |first1=Ariella |title=Whoop Offers Subscription to Its Fitness Watch | url=https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/gear-news/whoop-launches-subscription-wearables/ |date=May 16, 2018 |access-date=October 25, 2021 |website=Outside}} and a third in 2019.{{cite magazine |last1=So |first1=Adrienne |title=Review: Whoop Strap 3.0 | url=https://www.wired.com/review/whoop-strap-3/ |date=May 16, 2021 |access-date=October 25, 2021 |magazine=Wired}} WHOOP 4.0 debuted in 2021,{{cite web |last1=O'Kane |first1=Sean |title= Whoop's new fitness tracker is better thanks to a battery breakthrough | url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/8/22662979/whoop-fitness-tracker-sila-silicon-anode-battery-electric-cars |date=September 8, 2021 |access-date=October 25, 2021 |website=The Verge}} with battery technology developed by Sila Nanotechnologies that replaces graphite anodes with silicon, thus increasing battery capacity.{{Cite news|last=Metz|first=Cade|date=2021-09-08|title=Your Batteries Are Due for Disruption|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/08/technology/batteries-new-technology.html|access-date=2021-10-18|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|last=Moreno|first=Johan|title=WHOOP CEO On Digital Fitness Competition: 'Just Because A Big Company Enters The Space Doesn't Mean They'll Be Successful'|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/johanmoreno/2021/09/27/whoop-ceo-on-digital-fitness-competition-just-because-a-big-company-enters-the-space-doesnt-mean-theyll-be-successful/|access-date=2021-10-18|website=Forbes|language=en}} WHOOP 4.0 consists of a removable knit strap that is attached to the monitor. The battery is water-proof and can charge the device while in use on the body.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-05 |title=Whoop is on sale at Amazon: What you need to know about this popular fitness tracker |url=https://www.cbssports.com/essentials/news/whoop-is-on-sale-at-amazon-what-you-need-to-know-about-this-popular-fitness-tracker/ |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}

The wearable device collects data on sleep, heart rate variability, resting heart rate, and respiratory rate to create a daily recovery score for users.{{Cite magazine|last=Goode|first=Lauren|date=September 8, 2021|title=Whoop's New Wearable Can Go on Your Wrist—or in Your Clothes|magazine=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/story/whoop-4-fitness-tracker-wearable-apparel/}} The recovery score ranges from 0% to 100% to let users know if their body is recovered or if it needs rest.{{Cite news|last=Gaskin|first=Corey|date=September 8, 2021|access-date=November 9, 2021|title=The Whoop Strap 4.0 launches today, 2 years after its predecessor|work=Ars Technica|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/09/whoops-latest-subscription-wearable-for-serious-athletes-launches-today/}} It provides a suggested exertion goal based on day-to-day recovery and sleep.

On March 29, 2023, WHOOP announced its Stress Monitor feature, which tracks daily stress levels through heart rate variability (HRV) and measurements of resting heart rate to provide a personalized Stress Score. In partnership with Dr. Andrew Huberman, they introduced breathwork interventions designed to decrease stress or increase alertness.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-29 |title=WHOOP Launches New Stress Monitor Feature: First Wearable to Measure Daily Stress Levels and Implement Stress Reduction Interventions in Real-Time |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230329005595/en/WHOOP-Launches-New-Stress-Monitor-Feature-First-Wearable-to-Measure-Daily-Stress-Levels-and-Implement-Stress-Reduction-Interventions-in-Real-Time |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=www.businesswire.com |language=en}}

In September 2023, WHOOP released its new "WHOOP Coach" feature powered by OpenAI, which was designed to provide personalized health and fitness coaching. The feature allows members to converse with the program to ask personalized questions and have conversations about their training and health.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-26 |title=WHOOP Unveils the New WHOOP Coach Powered by OpenAI: the First Wearable to Deliver Highly Individualized Performance Coaching on Demand |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230926899032/en/WHOOP-Unveils-the-New-WHOOP-Coach-Powered-by-OpenAI-the-First-Wearable-to-Deliver-Highly-Individualized-Performance-Coaching-on-Demand |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=www.businesswire.com |language=en}}

The most notable difference between WHOOP and other wearables is physical: WHOOP has no screen or buttons; all information must be viewed on a user's smartphone.{{cite web |last1=Gaskin |first1=Corey |title=The Whoop Strap 4.0 launches today, 2 years after its predecessor |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/09/whoops-latest-subscription-wearable-for-serious-athletes-launches-today |date=September 8, 2021 |access-date=October 14, 2021 |work=Ars Technica}} The WHOOP app is available on Android and Apple devices.

Other notable differences include price (WHOOP charges a monthly subscription fee; the device stops tracking without a subscription{{Cite web|last=Livingston|first=Mercey|title=Whoop 3.0 review: The fitness tracker that requires a $30 monthly subscription|url=https://www.cnet.com/health/fitness/whoop-3-0-review-a-great-fitness-tracker-for-high-performers-and-serious-exercise-fans/|access-date=2021-10-18|website=CNET|language=en}}) and data (according to Time, the device accumulates more data than its peers; its five sensors collect 100 megabytes of data per user, per day{{Cite magazine|last=Pullen|first=John|title=Why Professional Athletes Love This Fitness Band|url=https://time.com/4744459/whoop-strap-fitness-tracker-band/|date=April 18, 2017|access-date=November 4, 2021|magazine=Time|language=en}}).

In 2012,{{cite web |last1=Krueger |first1=Alyson |title=A Fitness App Moonlights as a Men's Support Group |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/09/style/self-care/whoop-fitness-tracker-men.html |date=July 9, 2021 |access-date=October 14, 2021 |newspaper=The New York Times}} Will Ahmed, a Harvard University student athlete, founded WHOOP to help athletes gain greater visibility into their own fitness and rest.{{cite web |last1=Verma |first1=Pranshu |title=Inside the rise of Whoop, Boston's fitness-wearable tech giant |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/09/08/business/inside-rise-whoop-bostons-fitness-wearable-tech-giant/ |date=September 8, 2021 |access-date=October 14, 2021 |newspaper=The Boston Globe}}{{Cite news|last=Kruppa|first=Miles|date=2021-08-30|title=Wearables company Whoop valued at $3.6bn after SoftBank investment|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/f3dde553-0aa1-4137-bc50-093b1003fa71|access-date=2021-10-18}} Along with two fellow students at Harvard, John Capodilupo and Aurelian Nicolae,{{cite web |last1=Lunden |first1=Ingrid |title=Whoop, the sports tech and analytics company that makes discreet wearables, raises $55M |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/11/12/whoop-sports-tech-company-that-makes-discreet-wearables-raises-55m/ |date=November 12, 2019 |access-date=October 14, 2021 |website=TechCrunch}} Ahmed incubated a prototype at Harvard Innovation Labs.{{cite web |title=WHOOP - Harvard Innovation Labs |url=https://innovationlabs.harvard.edu/meet/student-story/whoop/ |access-date=October 14, 2021 |website=Harvard Innovation Labs}}{{cite web |last1=Shultz |first1=Alex |title=Why Is This Wearable-Tech Company Helping College Teams Track How Often Athletes Sleep, Drink, And Have Sex? |url=https://deadspin.com/why-is-this-wearable-tech-company-helping-college-teams-1794218363 |date=April 12, 2017 |access-date=October 14, 2021 |website=Deadspin}} The company raised $200 million from venture capital fund SoftBank in August 2021, at a valuation of $3.6 billion.

As of November 2022, Ahmed is the company's chief executive officer,{{cite news |last1=Verma |first1=Pranshu |title=Inside the rise of Whoop, Boston's fitness-wearable tech giant |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/09/08/business/inside-rise-whoop-bostons-fitness-wearable-tech-giant/ |date=September 8, 2021 |access-date=October 25, 2021 |newspaper=The Boston Globe}} and Nicolae is the director of mechanical engineering.{{cite web |title=How Whoop is working toward an invisible fitness tracker |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/video/how-whoop-is-working-toward-an-invisible-fitness-tracker/DggzAKXR |date=September 22, 2021 |access-date=October 25, 2021 |work=Fast Company}} Capodilupo was chief technology officer until he stepped down in April 2022. He was replaced as CTO by Jaime Waydo in November 2022.{{Cite web |title=Whoop Names Jaime Waydo New Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Patrick Carroll Becomes Company's First Chief Medical Officer |url=https://www.sporttechie.com/whoop-jaime-waydo-chief-technology-officer-dr-patrick-carroll-chief-medical-officer/ |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=www.sporttechie.com |language=en}} Antonio Bertone former Chief Marketing Officer of PUMA USA was hired in 2018 to serve as chief marketing officer of WHOOP.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

Investors in the startup include institutions such as the SoftBank Group{{cite web |last1=Sozzi |first1=Brian |title=Softbank Investment Lifts Whoop Valuation to over $3.6B |url=https://news.yahoo.com/softbank-investment-lifts-whoop-valuation-145303324.html|date=August 30, 2021 |access-date=November 4, 2021 |work=Yahoo! Finance}} and the National Football League Players Association,{{cite web |last1=Shieber |first1=Jonathan |title=WHOOP raises $25 million to tell everyone from athletes to execs about their health |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/03/06/whoop-raises-25-million-to-tell-everyone-from-athletes-to-execs-about-their-health/ |date=March 6, 2018 |access-date=November 4, 2021 |website=TechCrunch}} as well as individuals such as basketball player Kevin Durant{{cite web |last1=Badenhausen |first1=Kurt |title=Kevin Durant Scores Again on $3.6 Billion WHOOP Valuation in Series F |url=https://www.yahoo.com/now/kevin-durant-scores-again-3-204643876.html |date=August 30, 2021 |access-date=November 4, 2021 |website=Yahoo!}} and football players Patrick Mahomes and Eli Manning.{{cite web |last1=Tan |first1=Gillian |title=Whoop Valued at $1.2 Billion With IVP, SoftBank, Manning Backing |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-28/whoop-valued-at-1-2-billion-with-ivp-softbank-manning-backing |date=October 28, 2020 |access-date=November 4, 2021 |website=Bloomberg News}}

The name "WHOOP" is a phrase Ahmed used before big games in college.

WHOOP has been approved as a fitness wearable by various professional sports leagues and their labor unions. These include CrossFit,{{Cite news|last=Marquez|first=Tommy|date=March 4, 2021|title=Breaking: WHOOP, CrossFit Strike Multi-Year Partnership Deal|work=Morning Chalk Up|url=https://morningchalkup.com/2021/03/04/breaking-whoop-crossfit-strike-multi-year-partnership-deal/}} the Ladies Professional Golf Association,{{cite web |last1=Bleier |first1=Rachel |title=LPGA to partner with WHOOP, supply players, caddies and staff with straps |url=https://golf.com/news/lpga-partner-whoop-supply-players-caddies/ |date=July 16, 2020 |access-date=October 14, 2021 |magazine=Golf Magazine}} Major League Baseball,{{cite web |last1=Collins |first1=Terry |title=MLB adds wrist trackers to its starting lineup |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/mlb-whoop-biometric-monitors-in-games/ |date=March 6, 2017 |access-date=October 14, 2021 |website=CNET}} the National Football League Players Association,{{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=Tom |title=Football's Next Frontier: The Battle Over Big Data |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/06/27/nfl-football-next-frontier-battle-big-data-whoop-nflpa| date=June 27, 2017 |access-date=October 14, 2021 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}} the Women’s Tennis Association{{Cite web |title=WHOOP named official fitness wearable of the WTA |url=https://www.wtatennis.com/news/2327667/whoop-named-official-fitness-wearable-of-the-wta |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=Women's Tennis Association |language=en}} and the PGA Tour.{{cite web |last1=Dent |first1=S. |title=Golf fans can see PGA Tour players' heart rates thanks to new wearable partnership |url=https://www.engadget.com/pga-tour-whoop-wearable-player-biometrics-100048054.html |date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=October 14, 2021 |work=Engadget}}

The wearable is popular among celebrity athletes,{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Grant |date=September 1, 2022 |title=Whoop grows with celebrity endorsements — and a new landmark sign |pages=1 |work=The Boston Business Journal |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2022/09/01/whoop-growing-with-celebrity-endorsements-and-a.html |access-date=September 15, 2022}} including swimmer Michael Phelps,{{cite web |last1=Newcomb |first1=Tim |title=Tech Talk: A wearable for elite athletes like LeBron James and Michael Phelps |url=https://www.si.com/edge/2015/10/02/tech-talk-wearable-fitness-tracker-whoop-lebron-james-michael-phelps |date=October 2, 2015 |access-date=October 25, 2021 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}} basketball player LeBron James,{{cite web |last1=Brownlee |first1=John |title=How To Design A Wearable For LeBron James |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3059211/how-to-design-a-wearable-for-lebron-james |date=April 26, 2016 |access-date=October 25, 2021 |work=Fast Company}} and golfers Rory McIlroy,{{cite web |last1=Golden |first1=Jessica |title=PGA Tour procures 1,000 smart bands to help detect coronavirus symptoms in golfers |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/24/pga-tour-procures-smart-bands-to-detect-coronavirus-symptoms-in-golfers.html |date=June 24, 2020 |access-date=October 25, 2021 |work=CNBC}} Nelly Korda,{{cite web |last1=Levins |first1=Keely |title=The moment Nelly Korda's heart rate was highest en route to her Olympic gold medal wasn't the moment you'd expect |url=https://www.golfdigest.com/story/Nelly-korda-olympic-gold-whoop |date=August 10, 2021 |access-date=October 25, 2021 |magazine=Golf Digest}} Tiger Woods,{{cite web |last1=Sens |first1=Josh |title=That strap on Tiger Woods' wrist? It tracks his every move |url=https://golf.com/gear/golf-accessories/tiger-woods-wristband-whoop-3-0/ |date=September 20, 2019 |access-date=October 25, 2021 |magazine=Golf Magazine}} Justin Thomas, and MLB players Wade Miley and Brandon Woodruff.{{Cite web |title=How much sleep does an MLB team get? The Brewers answer |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/brewers-discuss-sleeping-schedules-and-routines |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}

File:Maria Sakkari (52173584088) (cropped).jpg wearing the WHOOP band in 2022]]

In 2017, NBA players DeAndre Jordan, Matthew Dellavedova, and others were reported to be hiding WHOOP devices under their wristbands during games, despite the NBA prohibiting wearables for in-game use.{{Cite web|date=2017-03-02|title=DeAndre Jordan hides a device under his wristband|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18801090/deandre-jordan-plays-hidden-device|access-date=2021-10-18|website=ESPN.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Should players be allowed to use wearable health-monitoring devices in NBA games?|url=http://www.foxsports.com/nba/gallery/should-players-be-allowed-to-use-wearable-health-monitoring-devices-in-nba-games-042517|access-date=2021-10-18|website=FOX Sports|language=en-US}}

In 2023, Indian cricketer Virat Kohli wore WHOOP prominently during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-17 |title=From Virat Kohli to LeBron James, here's why elite athletes prefer WHOOP bands |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/technology/from-virat-kohli-to-lebron-james-heres-why-elite-athletes-prefer-whoop-bands-101700241794702.html |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}

In May 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the global ambassador of WHOOP.{{Cite web |title=Cristiano Ronaldo becomes investor and global ambassador for Whoop |url=https://sportsmintmedia.com/cristiano-ronaldo-becomes-investor-and-global-ambassador-for-whoop/ |access-date=15 May 2024 |website=Sports Mint|date=15 May 2024 }}{{Cite web |title=Whoop Signs Cristiano Ronaldo as Investor, Ambassador in Global Play |url=https://athletechnews.com/whoop-signs-cristiano-ronaldo-as-investor-ambassador-in-global-play/ |website=Athletech News|date=13 May 2024 }}

File:Aryna Sabalenka (2023 US Open) 01 (cropped2).jpg wearing the WHOOP band at the 2023 Us Open]]

In June 2020, PGA Tour golfer Nick Watney noticed his respiratory rate spiked on his WHOOP app. Although he had no other symptoms of COVID-19, he decided to get tested, and was positive for the virus. This led to the PGA Tour to sign a deal with WHOOP, making their products available to all golfers and caddies on Tour to reduce the spread of the virus.{{Cite web |last=Golden |first=Jessica |date=2020-10-28 |title=Whoop, maker of the fitness tracker that pro athletes love, is now valued at $1.2 billion |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/28/wearable-fitness-company-whoop-raises-100m-during-pandemic-.html |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=CNBC |language=en}}

In December 2020, PGA Tour winner Scott Stallings noticed that his HRV, resting heart rate, and respiratory rate were not in the normal range on his app and soon tested positive for COVID-19. Stallings had been one of the first PGA Tour pros to wear the WHOOP and claimed to initially use it for better sleep habits after his sinus surgery.

WHOOP has tested its product's ability to detect viruses such as COVID-19. In 2020, Whoop partnered with researchers from Central Queensland University to analyze changes in respiratory rate to predict the risk of COVID-19. The findings showed that the algorithm identified 80% of positive COVID-19 cases by day three of symptoms and 20% of positive COVID-19 cases were diagnosed two days prior to the onset of symptoms.{{Cite journal |last1=Miller |first1=Dean J. |last2=Capodilupo |first2=John V. |last3=Lastella |first3=Michele |last4=Sargent |first4=Charli |last5=Roach |first5=Gregory D. |last6=Lee |first6=Victoria H. |last7=Capodilupo |first7=Emily R. |date=2020-12-10 |title=Analyzing changes in respiratory rate to predict the risk of COVID-19 infection |journal=PLOS ONE |language=en |volume=15 |issue=12 |pages=e0243693 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0243693 |issn=1932-6203 |pmc=7728254 |pmid=33301493 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2020PLoSO..1543693M }}

Category:Companies based in Boston

Category:American companies established in 2012

Category:Exercise equipment companies

Category:Fitness apps