One of the most popular Strava mobile app features – before unceremoniously disappearing one year ago – Strava brings back direct Bluetooth sensor compatibility. You can again track rides & runs from your phone, without needing a separate cycling computer. Probably most useful for cyclists cross-training with runs, now you can leave all the non-essentials at home. Just pair your BLE heartrate strap directly to your phone, open up Strava, and head out for a jog…
Strava mobile app Bluetooth heart rate tracking returns
Strava killed off mobile app support for external Bluetooth sensors in October of last year, citing persistent crashes that they couldn’t figure out. That meant many athletes that used their smartphone as a cycling computer or activity tracker, no longer could pair heartrate straps, and had to either use a separate GPS head unit or another competitor’s fitness tracking app to record their activities. But no surprise, Strava users weren’t happy.
And as a result of intense user feedback, Strava got to work on fixing the crash issues right away. And now 13 months later, after beta testing that involved Strava community athletes, Bluetooth functionality in the app has been restored for heart rate monitors. And the prior crashing issues are said to be resolved!
Now, just pair your compatible heartrate strap in the Strava app, and record away on your phone.
In other news: Strava raises $110 million in Series F financing round
We already know that Strava is huge for cyclists. They say they’re “the largest sports community in the world with more than 70 million members in 195 countries”. But they are still trying to grow and boost the features they offer.
And that’s why even though they are well-established company that’s raised capital several times before, the once again opened up for another round of outside investment via several venture capital firms led by TCV & Sequoia Capital to fuel further activity tracking development going forward…
Read the full Press Release below:
Strava Announces $110 Million Financing in Partnership with TCV and Sequoia
Strava will use funds to enhance the athlete experience and ongoing support of its global community
NOVEMBER 16, 2020 — SAN FRANCISCO — Strava, the leading social platform for athletes, today announced that it has raised $110 million in a Series F financing round led by TCV and Sequoia Capital, with participation by Dragoneer Investment Group and existing investors including Madrone Capital Partners, Jackson Square Ventures and Go4it Capital.
Strava is the largest sports community in the world with more than 70 million members in 195 countries. This financing will help the company build more features that athletes love, support its global community and expand to better serve more athletes.
“We’re excited to partner with TCV and Sequoia. Together we’re building for athletes,” said Strava co-founder and CEO, Michael Horvath. “Today that means making Strava indispensable to athletes everywhere. When we do that well, we connect athletes to what motivates them, fuel the growth of our community, and strengthen our business. The experiences of Michael Moritz at Sequoia and Neil Tolaney at TCV with companies at Strava’s stage and beyond will be invaluable as we strive to enable athletes worldwide to get the most out of their active lives.”
In 2020, Strava has seen rapid growth, adding more than 2 million athletes per month to its community. Additionally, the company rolled out over 60 new features for athletes as part of a renewed commitment to subscribers and made Strava Metro free for urban planners and city governments. Strava Metro’s aggregate data helps over 300 city governments and urban planners create safer cities for pedestrians and cyclists.
“Strava has spent a decade accumulating the mojo required to help people become healthier and fitter,” said Michael Moritz, Partner at Sequoia. “In the future, being on Strava will be essential for anyone aspiring to live a healthy life.”
Strava gives anyone, anywhere access to an athletic community. Staying motivated is the oldest and biggest problem in health and fitness, but Strava has tapped into the magic ingredient to keep people moving: human connection. Strava enables motivation through competition, camaraderie and accountability. It’s a formula that works – 94% of Strava subscribers who set a goal remain active nine months later.
“TCV has been bullish on and an active investor in the connected fitness and health ecosystems over an extended duration. As the largest and most engaged community of athletes in the world, Strava is uniquely positioned and boasts a strong value proposition for athletes and partners alike,” said Neil Tolaney, General Partner at TCV. “Strava’s community and unique product offerings motivate athletes to lead healthier, more active lifestyles. In addition, Strava’s outsized growth in community membership, activities and subscribers demonstrates its importance for athletes to best fulfill their objectives.”
For more information about Strava, or to join its global community of 70 million athletes, please visit Strava.com.
J.P. Morgan served as sole placement agent for Strava in connection with the transaction and O’Melveny & Myers LLP provided legal counsel to Strava.
