WHOOP, Inc. (stylized as WHOOP) is an American wearable technology company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.[1] Its principal product is a health tracker that measures strain, recovery, and sleep.[2][3][4][5] The device is best known for its use by athletes and is often used to track overall health and detect illness.[6]
WHOOP 1.0 was released in 2015,[8] followed by versions in 2016 and 2019.[9][10] WHOOP 4.0 debuted in 2021 with improved battery technology that increased capacity.[11][12][13]
The device collects data on sleep, heart rate variability, resting heart rate, and respiratory rate to create a daily recovery score ranging from 0% to 100%,[14] helping users determine if their body is ready for exertion or needs rest.[15] It also provides suggested exertion goals based on recovery and sleep data.[16]
On March 29, 2023, WHOOP announced its Stress Monitor feature, tracking daily stress levels via HRV and resting heart rate, with breathwork interventions developed with Dr. Andrew Huberman.[17] In September 2023, WHOOP released “WHOOP Coach,” powered by OpenAI, offering conversational health and fitness coaching.[18]
In 2025, WHOOP shared that the FDA comments on its blood pressure feature, arguing the agency was “overstepping its authority.”[19][20][21][22][23] In May 2025, WHOOP adjusted its upgrade terms for the 5.0 and MG,[24] eventually providing complimentary upgrades[25][26] for members with 12+ months remaining[27][28] and refunds for those charged in error.[29][30][31][32]
In September 2025, WHOOP launched “Advanced Labs,” integrating clinical blood test data with wearable health metrics and expanding availability internationally.[33]
WHOOP differs from other wearables by having no screen or buttons;[34] all data is accessed through the WHOOP app on Android and iOS. It requires a monthly subscription, and without one, the device stops tracking.[35] According to Time, WHOOP collects significantly more data than competitors, with five sensors gathering 100 MB of data per user per day.[36]
History
WHOOP was founded in 2012 by Harvard student-athlete Will Ahmed, together with John Capodilupo and Aurelian Nicolae.[37][38][39] The company was incubated at the Harvard Innovation Labs.[40][41][42] The name “Whoop” originated as a motivational phrase Ahmed used before games.[37]
In August 2021, WHOOP raised $200 million from SoftBank at a valuation of $3.6 billion.[39][43] Additional investors include IVP, the NFL Players Association,[44] and athletes such as Kevin Durant,[45] Patrick Mahomes, Rory McIlroy, Eli Manning,[46] and Larry Fitzgerald.[47]
As of 2022, Ahmed serves as CEO, Nicolae is Director of Mechanical Engineering,[48] and Capodilupo served as CTO until April 2022.[49]
In January 2026, WHOOP became the official health and fitness wearable partner of the Ferrari Formula One team[68]. The partnership provides WHOOP wearable devices to drivers, pit crew, engineers, and team personnel to monitor physiological metrics, including sleep, recovery, stress, and heart rate variability. Ferrari’s medical team works with WHOOP’s Performance Science experts to integrate biometric data into training, recovery strategies, and workload management. WHOOP branding appears on Ferrari team apparel and the SF‑26 race car, reflecting the team’s focus on using advanced analytics to optimize both human performance and well-being.
In 2020, WHOOP played a key role in early COVID-19 detection. PGA Tour golfer Nick Watney noticed a respiratory rate spike on his WHOOP and tested positive for the virus despite no symptoms, prompting a PGA Tour partnership to supply WHOOP devices to players and caddies.[69][70] Another golfer, Scott Stallings, also identified early signs of infection using WHOOP.[70]
WHOOP later partnered with Central Queensland University researchers to validate its virus detection algorithm, which identified 80% of positive COVID-19 cases by day three of symptoms and 20% two days before onset.[71]
↑"WHOOP Launches Clinician-Reviewed Advanced Labs, Unlocking a Comprehensive View of Human Health". WHOOP. 2025-09-30. Retrieved 2025-10-29. WHOOP Advanced Labs is a groundbreaking new feature that combines blood testing with continuous wearable data. Members can upload past bloodwork results or schedule the company's curated Advanced Labs panel, which tests an extensive set of biomarkers.
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