Before ClassPass settled on the business model it employs today, the service went through many different phases.
Founder Payal Kadakia revealed to Cheddar how she had to change up her strategy a handful of times before finally finding success.
“The third iteration was the subscription, and that’s really when it took off...and became ClassPass,” Kadakia told Cheddar.
The self-proclaimed “mission-obsessed” founder reflected on how the service started as a search engine for fitness classes, but one that didn’t offer a value proposition for users. From there, she tested out a discovery model where users could try different classes around New York City. But she says learned a lot from each of these versions.
“Always question what you’re doing and keep iterating and pivoting until you get to that North Star,” Kadakia said.
ClassPass launched in 2011. The service includes access to around 8,500 studios and is available to consumers in 49 cities.
For full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/the-inspiration-behind-classpass).
NYC's mayoral race heats up with a socialist candidate aiming to make the city affordable—and rattling the financial sector. Plus: Coinbase's prospects.
A stark disagreement over regulating AI in Republicans’ tax cut and spending bill is the latest tension among conservatives about whether to let states continue to put guardrails on emerging technologies or minimize such interference.
Mark Hamrick of Bankrate discusses the jobs market, AI's growing impact on employment, and how markets are reacting to today’s surprising payroll data.
Amanda Chu of POLITICO reveals how lawmakers are betting millions on pharma stocks even as Trump threatens tariffs and demands steep drug price cuts. Watch!
Hayley Berg, Hopper’s lead economist, previews soaring summer 2025 travel: record international flights, cheaper fares for Europe & Asia, plus booking hacks.
