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Franchise Times – From Biohacking to Food Tech, This Issue Has It All

Netflix. Wine. Chocolate. Or maybe it was HBO Max, margaritas and nachos. So many choices for all of us stuck at home during the pandemic, aaaaand maybe those choices weren’t as healthy as they should have been. Hopefully, we didn’t take any years off our lives binging “Ted Lasso.”

I don’t think Dave Asprey has any such fears. “I identify as 28 percent old,” he tells FT Senior Editor Beth Ewen. “I’m going to live to be 185. Chronologically I’m 49, but I’m 11 years younger biologically.” Asprey is the founder of Upgrade Labs, a franchise that seeks to provide wellness products and services designed to make us live longer, healthier and better lives.

Indeed, Upgrades Labs is just one of many featured in our cover story on new-age wellness franchises that are taking off. In fact, one brand received $140 million in Series C funding from a private equity firm and attracted an investment from former NFL football player Tim Tebow.

Imagine this: The Big Squeeze, a compressor that pushes cellular waste from the lower body, finally being flushed out by the kidneys. Or, The Cold HIIT, which applies cold compresses around your arms and thighs to “mimic the beneficial hormone-boosting effects of a long workout in 20 minutes,” Beth reports. My favorite: The Cheat Machine. “It can add up to a week’s worth of lifting in 15 minutes,” Bryan Torrellas, assistant manager at the Santa Monica location of Upgrade Labs, tells Beth. For someone who has lifted weights for years, I am raising my hand for this one.

These services and others, like IV drips, red light therapy, cryotherapy and more, are the offerings to consumers, who are lining up. You’ll have to read our coverage to find out more about the concepts, what they can promise, and finally, what they deliver.

Continuing with our overall health, beauty and wellness package, we have coverage of Ellie Mental Health, an outpatient counseling and therapy clinic with 16 corporate locations in Minnesota and 125 franchises signed to be developed in other major cities.

As with many franchise founders, the duo who launched the brand were trying to solve a problem: In this case, too much red tape with accessing mental health services. And, as we all know, COVID wasn’t easy on our collective mental health, either, so there is more demand than ever.

WellBiz Brands, which owns concepts Amazing Lash, Drybar, Elements Massage, Fitness Together and Radiant Waxing, was dealt a blow when COVID shutdown locations temporarily. No matter, because the company, which acquired two brands in 2021, made a rebound almost to full recovery by the first quarter of 2021, reports FT Senior Writer Matthew Liedke.

“For sure, COVID was a challenge for personal services,” WellBiz CEO Jeremy Morgan tells Matthew. “One-on-one with another person services certainly added a challenge. However, I think the resilience of our brands and categories really showed up. These clearly are brands that matter and that our members flocked back to as soon as they felt comfortable.” It’s a statement we all like to hear—a business being back.

We have more in this issue, including contributing writer Nancy Weingartner Monroe’s conversation with Phil Zeidman, a longtime franchise super lawyer retiring after 60 years, about what he learned and experienced during a storied career.

And our own Nick Upton, technology editor of sister publication Food On Demand, launched his Tech Stack column this month, covering technology in the franchise sector. It’s changing quickly, so we’ll rely on Nick to keep us current.

Pick your poison: wine, margarita, kombucha or coffee, we give you permission to sit down and read. It may not add years to your life, but we can guarantee you’ll be informed and entertained for a couple of hours.

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Franchising.com – Upgrade Labs Sets Its Sights on Salt Lake City

May 18, 2022 // Franchising.com // SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Upgrade Labs partners with JD Hamilton, Niki Hamilton, Deb Hamilton, Thomas Jaeckel and Rachael Jaeckel to bring the concept to Salt Lake City, Utah.

“JD, Niki, Deb, Thomas and Racheal will show the Salt Lake City community that we can actually upgrade ourselves,” said Founder and CEO, Dave Asprey. “It’s not enough to just try to be healthy, we give you the exact steps to be faster, stronger, and resilient without even breaking a sweat.” The Hamiltons provide expertise in the business, healthcare, and operations categories, with backgrounds in corporate and healthcare management. As JD and Niki approach a new career challenge, their experience and passion for fitness provide the perfect fit for Upgrade Lab’s entry into Salt Lake City. Rachael carries an extensive background in accounting in finance, while Thomas brings to the table his sales and marketing expertise.

The Jaeckels were introduced to biohacking and its benefits in 2009 after three members of their family were diagnosed with Celiac disease. The Jaeckels experienced an improved quality of life following the innovative methods and techniques of biohacking. Passionate about fitness and integrating it into their everyday life, the group is eager to introduce their fellow Utahns to the future of health and wellness. Deb Hamilton brings to the table over two decades of franchise ownership experience after successfully operating a restoration service franchise. After finding retirement unfulfilling, Deb decided to join her family and provide her business ownership expertise.

“Since the 2002 Winter Olympics, Salt Lake City has been at the forefront of fitness innovation,” said JD Hamilton. “So, introducing the Salt Lake City area to a brand that is challenging the way we see health and wellness is a unique and special opportunity for us.”

The brand helps members reach their highest level of physical performance & restorative abilities through unique technologies, giving dramatically better results in less time than they would spend exercising the old way. Each Upgrade location offers many innovative performance services such as The Cheat Machine, a patented, motorized resistance and computer software adaptive technology that gives you a week’s worth of resistance training in just 15 minutes. Additionally, Upgrade Labs pairs its performance services with a unique range of recovery services including The Big Squeeze, an FDA-approved full body detox massage and lymphatic drainage technology that gently removes excess water, slims the body, and expels toxins to improve the immune system. Members report having stronger immunity, reduced inflammation, increased energy, enhanced longevity, improved sleep quality, and much more.

“It’s not fair that only billionaires, celebrities and professional athletes can use technologies to become superhuman,” said Asprey. “Upgrade Labs is here to bring these possibilities to everyone. Like Bulletproof®, Upgrade Labs is one more step in my plan to Upgrade Humanity.”

  SOURCE Upgrade Labs

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Utah Business – Upgrade Labs Salt Lake City Expansion Announced

Salt Lake City — Upgrade Labs, the world’s first Human Upgrade™ Center and brainchild of Bulletproof® Coffee founder Dave Asprey, continues its expansion by partnering with JD Hamilton, Niki Hamilton, Deb Hamilton, Thomas Jaeckel, and Rachael Jaeckel to bring the concept to Salt Lake City, Utah. This news comes as the brand is witnessing exponential growth and disrupting the fitness and wellness space.

“JD, Niki, Deb, Thomas, and Racheal will show the Salt Lake City community that we can actually upgrade ourselves,” says founder and CEO, Dave Asprey. “It’s not enough to just try to be healthy, we give you the exact steps to be faster, stronger, and resilient without even breaking a sweat.”

The Hamiltons provide expertise in the business, healthcare, and operations categories, with backgrounds in corporate and healthcare management. As JD and Niki approach a new career challenge, their experience and passion for fitness provide the perfect fit for Upgrade Lab’s entry into Salt Lake City. Rachael carries an extensive background in accounting in finance, while Thomas brings to the table his sales and marketing expertise. The Jaeckels were introduced to biohacking and its benefits in 2009 after three members of their family were diagnosed with Celiac disease. The Jaeckels experienced an improved quality of life following the innovative methods and techniques of biohacking. Passionate about fitness and integrating it into their everyday life, the group is eager to introduce their fellow Utahns to the future of health and wellness. Deb Hamilton brings to the table over two decades of franchise ownership experience after successfully operating a restoration service franchise. After finding retirement unfulfilling, Deb decided to join her family and provide her business ownership expertise.

“Since the 2002 Winter Olympics, Salt Lake City has been at the forefront of fitness innovation,” says JD Hamilton. “So, introducing the Salt Lake City area to the leading brand that is challenging the way we see health and wellness is a unique and special opportunity for us.”

The brand helps members reach their highest level of physical performance & restorative abilities through unique technologies, giving dramatically better results in less time than they would spend exercising the old way. Each Upgrade location offers many innovative performance services such as The Cheat Machine, a patented, motorized resistance and computer software adaptive technology that gives you a week’s worth of resistance training in just 15 minutes. Additionally, Upgrade Labs pairs its performance services with a unique range of recovery services including The Big Squeeze, an FDA-approved full body detox massage and lymphatic drainage technology that gently removes excess water, slims the body, and expels toxins to improve the immune system. Members report having stronger immunity, reduced inflammation, increased energy, enhanced longevity, improved sleep quality, and much more.

“It’s not fair that only billionaires, celebrities, and professional athletes can use technologies to become superhuman,” says Asprey. “Upgrade Labs is here to bring these possibilities to everyone. Like Bulletproof®, Upgrade Labs is one more step in my plan to Upgrade Humanity.”

Upgrade Labs is actively seeking franchise partners across the United States and Canada with a goal of awarding 100 licenses by the end of 2022. As the brand begins its franchise expansion, it is looking for single and multi-unit franchise partners that are passionate about upgrading humanity and want to introduce biohacking into new communities. Including the franchise fee, the initial investment for an Upgrade Labs location ranges from $663,000 to $1,070,000.

 

For more information about Upgrade Labs franchise opportunity, please visit https://ownanupgradelabs.com/.

About Upgrade Labs

Founded in 2017 and franchised since 2021, Upgrade Labs is the world’s first Human Upgrade™ Center and brainchild of Dave Asprey, founder of Bulletproof® Coffee and Father of Biohacking. Biohacking \ ˈbī- ō- ˌha- kiNG \ noun, the art, and science of using technology and the environment around you in order to have full control of your biology. Upgrade Labs, the premier biohacking center, helps members reach their highest level of physical, cognitive, and cellular performance through proprietary technologies. Each location offers services that help members become smarter, faster & stronger, resulting in a more rejuvenated & resilient version of themselves. The services offered help members spend less time exercising, decrease recovery times, and retain higher levels of concentration and tranquility. Equipped with cutting-edge technology and expert Biohacker Technicians, Upgrade Labs helps its members live their lives to the fullest potential. Membership packages are available and include a tailored selection of services. For more information, please visit https://www.upgradelabs.com/.