AI startup heyLibby has raised $4.5 million in Seed funding, backed by Aglaé Ventures and Vertical Venture Partners, to supercharge its mission of transforming how fitness, wellness, and recreation businesses connect with customers. The fresh capital will fuel product development, grow its go-to-market team, and enhance its white-label offering designed for CRM platforms, virtual assistants, and consultants.
Founded by Tony Small, Anna Rodriguez, and Spencer Rascoff—Zillow co-founder and current Match Group CEO—heyLibby is tackling a persistent problem in the fitness and wellness industry: inefficient customer communication that leads to lost leads and high churn rates.
heyLibby steps in as a 24/7 AI-powered virtual team member that instantly handles calls, texts, emails, chats, and even outbound campaigns. It helps businesses stay on top of every interaction, ensuring no lead goes cold and no customer query is left unanswered.
AI in Fitness and Wellness: A Growing Demand for Instant, Intelligent Support
Customer expectations in the wellness sector have shifted dramatically. People want fast, personalized responses—and heyLibby delivers just that. “The rapid adoption of heyLibby by top-tier fitness and wellness brands proves there’s a strong appetite for smarter, AI-driven engagement,” said CEO Tony Small. “Our platform is creating real operational efficiency and revenue gains for gyms, wellness centers, and recreation businesses.”
Spencer Rascoff, who backed heyLibby as a founding investor, added, “AI is changing the way businesses communicate, and heyLibby is leading the charge in fitness and wellness. Their personalized automation helps businesses grow without compromising the human touch.”
Backed by Industry Veterans and Trusted by Multi-Location Brands
Investors are bullish on heyLibby’s market impact. Brendan Rempel of Aglaé Ventures noted, “The platform brings real value by combining automation with customer-centricity. We believe heyLibby is poised to redefine how service-driven businesses manage communication.”
Over 1,000 businesses have already integrated heyLibby. Notable adopters include Arena Sports, Seattle Suntan, and Desert Sun—multi-location enterprises that use the platform to streamline bookings, handle customer inquiries, and empower their frontline staff to focus on in-store service.
“Since using heyLibby, our missed calls have dropped dramatically,” said Bryan Graff, Director of Operations at Arena Sports. “It allows us to respond instantly across every channel—text, email, chat, and phone.”
For owners of large regional chains like Seattle Suntan and Desert Sun, the automation has been nothing short of transformative. “Customer engagement is directly tied to our revenue,” said Scott Swerland, owner of both brands. “heyLibby automates appointments, sends follow-ups, and even launches outbound campaigns. That frees up our staff to deliver an outstanding in-person experience.”
Expanding Through White-Label Partnerships Across Industries
Beyond gyms and salons, heyLibby is scaling fast through white-label partnerships. CRM providers, VA companies, and consultants are integrating heyLibby’s AI into their own service stacks, giving them a turnkey solution to offer intelligent communication to their clients.
“We’re building a platform that others can plug into effortlessly,” said Anna Rodriguez, CTO of heyLibby. “The demand for seamless, AI-driven interaction is growing fast—and not just in fitness.”
What’s Next: Smarter AI, Wider Reach, and Deeper Integration
Looking ahead, the company plans to invest in:
- Expanding AI capabilities for smarter customer engagement and lower operational costs
- Enhancing the white-label product to serve more CRM and VA partners
- Growing the sales and support teams to bring heyLibby to more businesses across the U.S.
heyLibby’s AI integrates directly with CRM systems, booking software, and customer databases—offering a plug-and-play solution that delivers immediate value. Businesses can be up and running in minutes, seeing results without the tech hassle.
With this latest funding, heyLibby is well-positioned to become the go-to AI communication layer for service businesses—boosting revenue, slashing missed opportunities, and making customer experience seamless.
