Weilos, an online social platform for people to share their fitness updates to inspire others and receive support has been acquired by Weight Watchers, TechCrunch first reports has learned. The purchase price is reportedly is in the single-digit millions, according to a source.
Launched out of startup accelerator Y Combinator back in August 2013, the startup initially focused on fitness coaching pairing its users with amateur coaches with a previous weight loss history of their own. The following year, Techcrunch reported that the startup pivoted to become a mobile social network platform for iOS that allows users to view real body transformations and healthy photo updates from other dieters on a streaming newsfeed.
They can then post selfies themselves to receive support and tips from other like minded people. The app also has a special camera tool so users can take perfectly lined up progress photos to visualize their smallest improvements.
According to research from Weilos’ founder and CEO Ray Wu, the average person who posted progress selfie photos lost 1.2 lbs per week compared to 0.27 lbs for people who use Weight Watchers and 1.1 lbs for those who use the FDA-approved weight loss drug Belviq (Lardinois/Techcrunch/01/28/14).
“Weilos is one of the highest rated apps in the Apple app store with an average rating of five stars and users praising the motivation, encouragement and support they find in the Weilos community. This strategically important acquisition will accelerate the product and technology development of the social networking and community capabilities that Weight Watchers members are looking for,” said Weight Watchers CTO Dan Crowe in a official statement to Techcrunch via email.
