The 16-year-old fitness tracking app Strava is preparing for an initial public offering.

CEO Michael Martin indicated that the San Francisco-based company plans to go public at the "right time" to raise capital for more acquisition activities. Strava's investors include Sequoia Capital, TCV, and Jackson Square Ventures. The company achieved a valuation of $2.2 billion in May this year.

Strava is clearly riding a wave of success. According to app analytics firm Sensor Tower, the platform's monthly active users surged to 50 million in 2025, nearly double that of its closest competitor, with downloads growing 80% year-over-year.

Strava's growth coincides with the rise of running culture, particularly among teenagers and twenty-somethings who are seeking more social activities that don't involve alcohol. Running enthusiasts emphasize that joining running communities provides not only support (and sometimes romance) but also significant mental health benefits. The impact of this trend is already visible: registrations for the 2026 London Marathon increased 31% year-over-year to 1.1 million people.

What's Strava's secret to success? The answer lies in transforming exercise into social currency through features like "kudos" and segment performance comparisons that enable social interaction during workouts. Sensor Tower estimates that user spending on Strava's subscription services exceeded $180 million through September this year, though Strava states this figure is well below their actual revenue. Beyond subscription income, the company also generates revenue through sponsored challenges and brand partnerships.