A new startup that launched in Chicago during the pandemic is working to help fitness instructors host classes independently of traditional gyms and studios.
IndiFit, founded by Cheryl Kemp, is a platform for the independent fitness instructor to schedule digital and in-person classes, and collect payments for them. Born during the Covid-19 pandemic as many gyms were temporarily or permanently closing down and laying off instructors, IndiFit is designed to allow instructors to still teach classes and make a living independently.
The solo model also allows instructors to earn larger incomes since they don’t have split class profits with a gym or studio, Kemp said.
“So many fitness instructors were seizing the moment, taking matters into their own hands and starting to teach classes independently, whether that be over Zoom, at a local park, Instagram Live—you name it,” Kemp said. “When I saw fitness instructors at the start of Covid teaching classes independently and making so much more money because 100% of that was going in their pocket—ultimately that was the inspiration behind IndiFit.”
IndiFit also takes care of all the administrative work for instructors, like sending confirmation emails, reminder notifications and Zoom class links.
IndfiFit, which launched in June, is currently operating a beta test with more than 100 instructors who have so far collectively earned more than $30,000, Kemp said. IndiFit has raised $400,000 in funding from investors like Rankin Family Ventures, Lofty Ventures, Prota Ventures and several other angels.
IndiFit has a growing team of five. The startup is currently hiring for a software developer.
Before launching IndiFit, Kemp had a near-decade-long career in the startup and tech scene, previously working at OrderUp, which was acquired by Groupon in 2015.
After working at Groupon for about two years, Kemp moved on to Ritual, the online food ordering app. But because of the company’s focus on office food delivery, Ritual’s business was severely impacted by the Covid-19 and Kemp was ultimately laid off, she said. But it gave her the push to start IndiFit.
“Entrepreneurship has always been a goal for me,” Kemp said. “But it definitely was quite a journey to get to this point.”
Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect that Cheryl Kemp worked at Groupon, not Grubhub.
