Sproing Fitness Machine & Gyms Update | Shark Tank Season 10

While running gyms, Paul Toback kept seeing the same problem: people left the treadmill with sore knees and back pain. The machines forced them to run upright, which didn’t feel natural or safe. So he and Steve Lenz built Sproing, a new kind of workout machine with a soft surface and a harness that lets people lean forward and move the way their body is meant to. Let’s see if their company can secure a deal in our Sproing Fitness update and pitch recap.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of what happened to Sproing Fitness after Shark Tank.

Paul and Steve entered Shark Tank Season 10, seeking $500,000 for 8% equity in their fitness gym. In the end, they failed to get a deal on the show.

In terms of a Sproing Fitness update, the company expanded its footprint by opening five studios across cities like Chicago, Houston, and Maryland. Further, since airing they’ve grown to over $12 million in annual revenue!

Shark:	Result:
Daymond John	No offer
Mark Cuban	No offer
Lori Greiner	No offer
Robert Herjavec	No offer
Kevin O’Leary	No offer

Shark Tank Sproing Fitness Pitch

• Entrepreneurs: Paul Toback and Steve Lenz
• Business: Fitness gym offering HITT workouts
• Ask: $500,000 for 8% equity
• Result: No deal
• Sharks: None

According to Sproing Fitness founders, Paul and Steve, 85% of runners are injured each year.

Most of these injuries occur on treadmills because they don’t allow for a natural running simulation.

Next, they introduced a new kind of fitness machine designed to reduce the risk of injury while delivering a high-intensity workout.

With a bungee-like harness belt, the runner attaches it to their waist and basically just runs.

The difference is that the exercise unit does not have a moving running board.

Instead, their product has a trampoline-like floor, which offers some resistance and more closely simulates the real running experience.

They started their pitch by showing how the equipment works and invited Daymond John and Robert Herjavec to try it out.

Both sharks gave positive feedback. Robert called it “very effective,” while Daymond described it as “intense.”

Paul explained that their business wasn’t just about selling machines; it also offered full-body workout classes.

Each class lasts 40 to 45 minutes and can help users burn up to 1,000 calories.

The classes use Sproing machines, which are soft-surface trainers designed for lower-impact exercise.

Kevin O’Leary asked why someone couldn’t just buy the mat alone. Paul said the experience starts with the base but requires additional components for full benefit.

Kevin then asked about pricing, and Paul revealed the retail price was $6,499.

The sharks reacted to the high cost, but Paul defended it, citing his background as a former CEO of Bally Total Fitness and the product’s uniqueness.

Mark Cuban asked who the buyers were. Paul said rehab centers and private studios had bought units, but sales slowed, so they opened four branded studios in Chicago.

Kevin asked about revenue from the studios, and Paul said they had brought in $400,000. He also added they’d invested $2 million in the company.

When asked if the workouts were fun, Paul insisted they were, with 25 machines per class. But the sharks had doubts.

Mark bowed out, citing concerns that trends in fitness fade and that Sproing’s model relied too heavily on fixed equipment.

Lori Greiner exited because she felt the product had limited appeal.

Daymond went out as well because he believed the concept required too much consumer education.

Robert agreed that the machine gave a good workout, but he wasn’t convinced by the business model.

Kevin told the entrepreneurs to take their business behind the barn and shoot it. With that, he went out.

With no offers, Paul and Steve left without a deal.

Did they succeed without the help of the sharks? Keep reading our Sproing Fitness update to find out

Shark Tank Sproing Fitness Update

Our Sproing Fitness update found that despite not landing a deal, the company stayed active and grew.

In 2020, they hit $12 million in annual revenue, even with a flat year due to COVID-19 closures.

Further, our Sproing Fitness update found that since airing, they’ve opened five new studio locations across the U.S., including in Chicago, Houston, and Maryland.

They also began offering franchise opportunities through their website.

If you’d like to learn more, head over to the Sproing Fitness website for info on classes and machines.

If we hear anything else, we will certainly let you know in our next Sproing Fitness update.

In the meantime, you can check out our other company updates from Season 10 Episode 9 by following the links below!

• Moki Doorstep Update
• Bruw Update
• Tush Baby Update

Before you go, be sure to check out our list of all the Shark Tank Season 10 products.