Strava, an exercise-tracking app last valued at $2.2 billion, is benefiting from Gen Z\u2019s obsession with run clubs and marathons and is looking toward a future IPO, according to its CEO.<\/p>\n
Michael Martin, who took the helm in 2024 from cofounder Michael Horvath, told the Financial Times<\/a> the company has the \u201cintention to go public at some point,\u201d and noted a public listing \u201cprovides easy access to capital in case we wanted to do more and bigger acquisitions.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Martin declined to provide more details to the FT on when the company would go public.<\/p>\n The company already acquired U.K.-based coaching app Runna<\/a> and cycling training app the Breakaway<\/a> for undisclosed sums in 2025. Those personalized coaching offerings\u2014when combined with the app\u2019s social features that allow users to track their friends\u2019 workouts and give digital \u201ckudos\u201d\u2014have likely increased Strava\u2019s following among tech-savvy youth.<\/p>\n Strava has also benefited from Gen Z\u2019s preference for healthier lifestyles, as evidenced by the explosion of protein lattes<\/a> and the slow death<\/a> of boozy nightclubs.\u00a0The app fits conveniently into young people\u2019s increasing desire to disconnect, prioritizing \u201canalog\u201d experiences and creating separation from social media with the help of $40 physical app blockers<\/a>.<\/p>\n Running, though, has become Gen Z\u2019s latest fixation, as many see the activity as a way to connect with others while also staying fit. While young people reportedly feel burned-out<\/a> from dating apps, Strava\u2019s Year in Sport: Trend Report for 2025 found<\/a> that Gen Z was 39% more likely than Gen X to use fitness to \u201cmeet people who share their interests.\u201d New running clubs on the platform also increased by 3.5-fold, according to the report.<\/p>\n But running isn\u2019t just for socializing. The New York City Marathon also attracted a record 200,000 lottery applicants<\/a> for its race in November, up 22% from 2024.<\/p>\n Strava\u2019s user data show just how much the company has benefited from the recent cardio craze. The company said it had 180 million users as of December<\/a>, up from the more than 150 million users it claimed as of August last year.<\/p>\n While it\u2019s unclear when Strava may go public, it has already invited banks such as Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan to pitch it for participation in a potential IPO, Reuters reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n Horvath teased the possibility of an IPO before he stepped down as the company\u2019s leader in 2023. He claimed<\/a> the person who would replace him as CEO would need a different skill set for navigating the company\u2019s \u201cnext chapter.\u201d<\/p>\n On going public, Horvath also said in 2022: \u201cIt\u2019s a means to an end, and it\u2019s something we would consider at the right time.\u201d<\/p>\n A version of this story originally published on\u00a0Fortune.com<\/a>\u00a0on Oct. 13, 2025.<\/p>\n More on Gen Z:<\/p>\n\n