Ed’s journey to working in health technology started as a child, growing up in an active family that valued health and wellness. As he pursued his degree, he kept coming back to the intersection of behavioral health and individual wellness. He wanted to explore what motivates people to stay fit and how they keep this motivation over time. He’s able to put these interests into action as the CEO of Peerfit, a digital health technology company that uses behavioral science and tech to deliver a wellness benefit that inspires people to work out.

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Through this partnership, Peerfit and Peerfit Move members can visit and activate memberships at participating YMCA locations.

“The Y’s network of community facilities has been one of the most nominated organizations directly from our user and partner requests,” says Chris Patton, CRO of Peerfit. “Adding the Y to our network allows our users to personalize their wellness journey at facilities of their choosing.”

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“We have always been a company that stays heads down and focused on the goals at hand. We will continue to provide our products to health plans and employers so users ages 18-80 can use Peerfit to easily lead more healthy and active lifestyles,” he shared.

“COVID-19 did not create new trends; it rapidly accelerated existing ones. How were we not being this conscientious about cleanliness and shared space (which ultimately spreads germs) before this?!” he says. “The experiences people have felt while sheltering in place brought about new behaviors, as well. Gratitude for communities and families and just the sense of companionship have amplified and we will see a shift in how people act moving forward.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to offer BurnAlong’s content to Peerfit benefit recipients,” said Peerfit VP of Wellness Solutions, Chris Patton. “The ability for our members to build positive, lasting healthy habits with the community that BurnAlong has created, no matter the age of the individual, makes our work together that much more impactful.”

Vinik and Virgo, who had each led previously funding rounds for Peerfit, were joined by other existing shareholders in the latest round, said Ed Buckley III, Peerfit chairman and CEO.

The most recent capital was in the form of debt and options, according to a regulatory filing.

“We consider it a bridge round to ultimately convert into a Series D later this year, much like we’ve been approaching capital raising in the past. Every priced round with a letter has had a bridge convertible note round leading into it,” Buckley said.

Peerfit promotes corporate wellness by giving the workforce access to exercise classes and programs through an interactive tech platform. The company grew from just four employees to more than 100 in just a couple of years.

Peerfit has been working with companies and insurance carriers to bring a different kind of wellness benefit to corporate benefits programs. “Peerfit set out to redefine wellness back in 2017,” said chairman and CEO Ed Buckley, III, Ph.D. “We realized there were major gaps in the wellness benefits being offered to seniors. A partnership with Alignment Healthcare will help us provide more personalized fitness and wellness experiences for Medicare Advantage members.”