Wednesday, May 20, 2026

The Startup that Makes Fitness a Video Game

  • Ergatta, a connected rowing machine maker, gamifies the workout experience instead of streaming live instructor classes.
  • The startup brought in $30 million in a Series A round.
person_on_rowing_machine
Ergatta/Design: Alex Brooks

The gaming craze and at-home fitness come together in Ergatta’s rowing machine.

The connected rowing company gamifies workouts, with its machine effectively acting as a controller, allowing people to race and compete on a screen as they work out.

Just a month after its first birthday, the startup raised $30 million at a $200 million valuation in a Series A round led by Advance Venture Partners. The company will use the funds to create new games, develop live competitions, and grow its membership base and supply chain.

Other connected rowing machines have attracted investor attention as well, though Ergatta’s competitors generally follow Peloton in offering live classes with instructors.

  • LIT Method, whose machines cost $1,750 plus a $25/month subscription fee, announced an investment this week from Jay-Z’s Marcy Venture Partners.
  • Last June, connected rowing startup Hydrow raised $25 million in a round led by L Catteron, a private equity firm backed by LVMH. Hydrow’s machines cost $2,199. 

An Ergatta machine also costs $2,199, and subscriptions run $29 per month.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NFL Pushes Back on Criticism Over TV and Streaming Deals

The league remains steadfast in its overall media approach.

Trail Blazers Lay Off Dozens As Tom Dundon’s Cuts Continue

The team confirmed the departures in a statement Tuesday.
Valkyries President Jess Smith

Valkyries President: Team’s Projected $1B Valuation is ‘Accurate’

The Valkyries were projected to be the first 10-figure WNBA team.

NFL Moves Closer to 10 International Games—and Could Hit 11

The league builds out further its international scheduling plans.

Featured Today

NFL Rivalries Are Made on the Field, Mocked in Schedule Release Videos

Every year, teams find new ways to one-up themselves (and their rivals).
Bart Swings/Falyn Fonoimoana/Avery Poppinga
May 14, 2026

OnlyFans Is Paying Pro Athletes What Their Sports Won’t

The adult-content platform is a reliable income source for niche athletes.
May 13, 2026

How Sports Graphic Designers Are Grappling With the Rise of AI Art

The release of ChatGPT 2.0 Images sparked a conversation among sports designers.
May 12, 2026

Collectible Cups Are Sending Sports Fans Into a Frenzy

The drink is secondary to the wild vessel it comes in.
Sponsored

Trailblazer Cal Calamia Is Racing for ‘Advocacy, Storytelling, and Performance’

The marathoner wants excellence—not just inclusion—to be the goal for non-binary athletes.
Sponsored

‘Run With the Competition’: Ultra Trail Runner Lotti Brinks Is Back With Big Goals

Ultrarunner Lotti Brinks is ready to make her first Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix podium in her HOKA Mafate 5s.
Sponsored

Top Esports Athletes Will Compete for National Glory in the Esports Nations Cup

The new biennial event, starting in 2026, kicks off a monumental next era for esports.
Sponsored

Mark Cuban Peels Back the Curtain

Mark Cuban discusses sports ownership, the rise of NIL, and the evolving media landscape.
Sponsored

Win. Advance. Repeat: The Professional Fighters League’s Rise to Prominence

As of 2025, PFL has introduced a World Tournament format, where every fighter must battle through a high-stakes bracket to reach a championship.
The 2018 Ragin' Crossfit Games are held at Blackham Coliseum in Lafayette.
March 14, 2025

CrossFit for Sale After Years of Drama and Attrition

The intense fitness workout got popular in the early 2000s.
Sponsored

How On Location is Redefining the Olympic Winter Games Hospitality Experience

As the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 approaches, On Location—the Official Hospitality Provider—is redefining luxury hospitality.
Sponsored

How On Location is Redefining the Olympic Winter Games Hospitality Experience

As the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 approaches, On Location—the Official Hospitality Provider—is redefining luxury hospitality.