Fitness industry insiders are buzzing after boutique gym mastermind Anthony Geisler was announced as the headliner for next summer’s Athletech Innovation Summit in Manhattan.
Geisler — the entrepreneur who turned boxing gyms and Pilates studios into billion-dollar empires — will take center stage at the June 17-18, 2025 event, marking his first major public appearance since walking away from fitness giant Xponential Fitness last year.
Anthony Geisler Went From Boxing Rings To Big Bucks
The fitness tycoon has a knack for turning sweat into gold. After transforming a local boxing gym into the nationwide LA Boxing franchise, Geisler then worked his magic on Club Pilates, expanding it across 48 states and more than 20 countries.
His golden touch in the fitness world has industry watchers speculating about what he’ll reveal at the summit, especially after his recent hints at a tech-focused venture.
“There’s a tremendous amount of opportunity in the fitness and wellness space, particularly in the area of technology,” Geisler told Athletech News. “I’m excited about my next moves.”
Muscle Maven Predicts Weight Training Comeback
While many fitness chains chase cardio crazes, Geisler is betting big on Americans getting back to the basics: building muscle.
“We’ll see a growth in weight training, both as a modality on its own and as a feature added to other fitness concepts,” Geisler predicted in a recent interview.
This weight-training renaissance comes just as weight-loss wonder drugs like Ozempic are exploding in popularity — a connection Geisler hasn’t missed.
“GLP-1s cause patients to burn 50 percent muscle mass,” he pointed out. “That is a huge issue that fitness brands need to address — and can help offset — with weight training.”
Pandemic Pivot: Why Home Workouts Flopped
Remember those pandemic Peloton purchases gathering dust in spare bedrooms? Geisler says the at-home workout trend was destined to fizzle.
“It is very hard to build a community digitally,” he explained. “People are social animals. They get better results and more satisfying workouts when they’re in the same room together.”
His bullish stance on boutique fitness has proven prophetic, with specialized studios bouncing back while digital fitness platforms struggle to maintain momentum.
Tech Takeover Coming For Fitness Industry
The entrepreneur believes fitness businesses are finally ready to catch up with the rest of the digital economy.
“The fitness and wellness spaces have been decades behind other sectors when it comes to technology and I think the gap is finally going to close,” Geisler said. “The success of businesses in this space will depend on it.”
His keynote is expected to outline how AI and improved customer management systems will reshape how Americans work.
When He’s Not Making Millions, He’s Giving Back
Off the business battlefield, Geisler has been busy building his philanthropic portfolio. Last year, his family opened the Geisler Family WINGS building, a state-of-the-art learning center at The Pegasus School in Huntington Beach, California.
He also snagged the 2024 Miracle Maker Award from Miracles for Kids for his support of families with critically ill children, and backed organizations from the Navy SEAL Foundation to VictimsFirst.
Tickets for the Athletech Innovation Summit are available now, with organizers reporting strong early registration numbers after Geisler was announced as the keynote speaker.