Student Backpack,Business Backpack,Travel Backpack,Sport Backpack,Foldable Backpack,Laptop Backpack Ningbo FonFON Industry&Trade Co.,Ltd , https://www.nbfonfon.com
The future will be the golden decade of sports fitness and entrepreneurship
The next decade is set to be the golden era for sports and fitness ventures. Date: 2015-06-15 10:41
Is this the right time to enter the sports and fitness industry?
Yes, it’s here.
This is a moment that athletes and enthusiasts have long anticipated.
Although Jaggie isn’t an entrepreneur in this sector, he has been tracking his daily physical activities on social media for over three years. Back then, such behavior was rare and considered unusual. But today, things have completely changed.
Since the release of the iPhone 5S, Apple introduced sensors capable of recording movement patterns directly. Meanwhile, affordable smartwatches like the Xiaomi Mi Band made pedometers mainstream. Alongside these, music-based fitness apps have broadened the concept of exercise, lowering the barriers for people to engage in physical activity. Now, more people are choosing stairs over elevators just to meet their daily step goals.
Additionally, social media feeds are now filled with terms like “mermaid line†and “vest line.†Fitness is no longer just a trend—it's becoming a lifestyle. The traditional perception that martial arts are superior to modern fitness is shifting. People are not only into poetry and calligraphy anymore; they're investing more in maintaining a fit and healthy body.
From a public participation perspective, events like the All Malaysia Marathon and Half Horse races have become accessible to everyone. Lighter, fun events like Color Run have also gained massive popularity. Moreover, the number of amateur sporting events continues to grow each year. On the policy front, the National Fitness Campaign has given a major boost to the mass sports industry.
One of the strongest indicators of this trend comes from the top three global sports brands. In 2008, New Balance struggled to compete globally, but today, it stands nearly on par with Nike and Adidas. This shift is driven by the growing interest in everyday people exercising, rather than just elite athletes.
How long will this momentum last?
At least another decade, according to Fan Yinliang, Vice President of Dynamic Domain Capital. It's not a sprint—it's a long-term trend of continuous development.
China’s consumer base is constantly evolving, and more people are embracing fitness as part of their daily lives. As Lianzhuo founder Nan Nan pointed out, even young adults in their early 20s are now commonly seen at gyms after work.
Urbanization is also playing a key role. A mature society typically features smaller families, longer lifespans, and higher income levels. With these changes, people’s expectations of themselves have increased, leading to greater demand for sports and fitness. The U.S.-style fitness environment is gradually taking root in China—gymnasiums in communities, schools, and hotels now offer well-equipped spaces with 18 square meters per person. These facilities are often affordable, open 24/7, and many are free for the public. Professional trainers are highly trained, well-paid, and respected.
Today, discussions about the fitness market tend to focus on first-tier cities, while second-tier cities are mentioned less frequently. Even less attention is given to third- and fourth-tier cities. However, the trend of consumption upgrades is pushing more people toward health and wellness. The road to urbanization is still ongoing, and entrepreneurs are looking beyond big cities to tap into new markets. The demand for sports and fitness is strong and growing, making it a promising opportunity for those who are ready to ride the wave.
The wind is coming. Who will be the one to catch it?
With the entry of the sports and fitness industry, more people are exploring opportunities in this field. From online platforms to offline facilities, from personal trainers to future wearable tech, there are countless possibilities. But which players will rise to the top?
Before answering that, let’s take a closer look.
First, consider the venues. Zhang Heng, founder of Zhang Li, who previously worked on Gaode Map, currently manages 1.8 million sports venues across China. However, 600,000 of them have limited value, with only 110,000 fully open and reserved. There are 60,000 gyms, and the rest are used for badminton or swimming. Out of the remaining 1.1 million venues, over 70% belong to educational institutions, sports departments, or government bodies and are not open to the public.
Even more striking is the fact that each person in China has access to only 1.8 square meters of sports space, and only 0.2 square meters of that is actually usable.
Take marathons, for example—the most popular event among the public. Globally, there are over 10,000 marathons, but in China, only 52 are held annually. Translating this into numbers: China, home to 1/5 of the world’s population, participates in just 1/200 of global mass events each year.
Then there’s the coaching industry, which is still in its infancy. Most coaches lack proper training. One investor shared that during research, they found many coaches had only a 3-month training period, often without any formal sports background. Many simply took up the job after being "certified" through informal means. This highlights a serious gap in the market: there is no professional coaching system to support the rising demand for fitness.
So, how can this issue be solved? At present, it seems there’s no clear answer. Most investors are still observing which models will succeed and adapting to changes in the broader market.
Who should we serve, and how?
Both users and the market are still in the process of education. Entrepreneurs are trying to identify the core audience and build user profiles, but it's challenging. Sports and fitness is a weak demand—those who truly practice rarely engage with online content, and those who want to start often give up quickly.
Despite this, weight loss appears to be the most common motivation. However, Anshu, the founder of a fitness company, believes that the real need goes beyond just losing weight. For 99% of women, it's not about being thin, but about feeling confident and healthy. Weight loss, therefore, is more complex than people realize.
If the need isn't even clear, how can entrepreneurs attract potential users?
Most choose to target those who already have a need, making them feel that fitness is something cool and worth pursuing. For Cai Yong, founder of A-Gump, running is the ultimate form of exercise. He believes that the endorphins released during running create a natural sense of well-being, which is one of the most basic and satisfying experiences the body can have. That’s why he developed A-Gump products—to make running more engaging and keep users motivated.