Who owns Mindbody?

Mindbody is owned by Vista Equity Partners, a private equity firm that specializes in software, data, and technology-enabled businesses.

Vista Equity Partners acquired Mindbody in 2019 for approximately $1.9 billion, taking the company private (amidst some controversy) after it had been publicly traded on the NASDAQ since 2015. Vista Equity Partners continues to invest in Mindbody’s growth and development, focusing on expanding its software solutions for the fitness, wellness, and health industries.

Key Information	Details	Notes
Current Owner	Vista Equity Partners	Acquired Mindbody in 2019
Acquisition Price	$1.9 billion	Took the company private
Focus Areas	Fitness, wellness, and health businesses	Expanding software solutions
Headquarters	San Luis Obispo, California	Mindbody’s main office location

Understanding who owns Mindbody can help you evaluate its direction and whether it’s the right fit for your business. If you’re looking for a Mindbody alternative that prioritizes customization, affordability, and ease of use, the best Mindbody alternative for fitness is Exercise.com.

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Exercise.com is simply the best. We were using three or four different apps or softwares to do what we can now do all in one with the Exercise.com platform.

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Founder and President, APEC Sports Performance

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A Brief History of Mindbody Ownership

Mindbody, a leading wellness experience platform, has undergone several ownership changes since its founding. Here’s a comprehensive table detailing Mindbody ownership history:

Year	Ownership Status	Details
2001	Founded	Rick Stollmeyer and Blake Beltram founded Mindbody in San Luis Obispo, California
2015	Public Company	Mindbody went public, marking a significant milestone in its growth
2019	Private Equity Acquisition	Vista Equity Partners acquired Mindbody for approximately $1.9 billion
2021	Strategic Investment	Mindbody received a $500 million strategic investment from a group led by Sixth Street
2021	Acquisition	Mindbody acquired ClassPass, expanding its market presence
2025	Private Equity Owned	Vista Equity Partners remains the primary owner of Mindbody, but the CEO Fritz Lanman hints at Mindbody ClassPass going public again

While Mindbody has grown significantly under various ownership structures, Exercise.com offers several advantages that make it a superior choice for fitness businesses:

Customization: Exercise.com provides fully customizable solutions tailored to specific fitness business needs, unlike Mindbody’s more generic approach.
Fitness-Specific Focus: Exercise.com is designed exclusively for fitness businesses, offering more relevant features than Mindbody’s broader wellness platform.
User-Friendly Interface: Exercise.com’s intuitive design reduces the learning curve, improving efficiency for both staff and clients.
Comprehensive Features: Exercise.com offers advanced workout creation, performance tracking, and online training capabilities that Mindbody lacks.
Scalability: The platform grows with your business, providing unmatched flexibility to support various fitness business models.
Transparent Pricing: Exercise.com offers clear pricing without the complex structure often associated with larger platforms like Mindbody.
Independent Innovation: As an independent company, Exercise.com can focus on rapid innovation and customer needs without the constraints of private equity ownership or public market pressures.

By choosing Exercise.com, fitness businesses can benefit from a more specialized, flexible, and user-friendly platform that’s designed to enhance both client satisfaction and business efficiency in the fitness industry.

Early Beginnings and Public Listing

Mindbody was founded in 2001 by Rick Stollmeyer and Blake Beltram with the goal of creating software to help wellness businesses streamline operations. Over the years, Mindbody became a leading platform for fitness studios, spas, and wellness centers. The company went public on the NASDAQ in 2015, raising significant capital to fuel its growth.

Acquisition by Vista Equity Partners

In 2019, Vista Equity Partners acquired Mindbody for $1.9 billion. The acquisition allowed Vista to take Mindbody private, focusing on long-term investments to expand its capabilities and market presence.

Vista is known for its expertise in growing software companies, making the acquisition a strategic move for Mindbody’s future.
Since the acquisition, Mindbody has continued to develop new features and integrations to serve its fitness and wellness clients.

Why Mindbody’s Ownership Matters to Fitness Businesses

Private Equity Influence

Being owned by a private equity firm means Mindbody has access to significant resources for growth and innovation. However, some business owners have expressed concerns about potential price increases or changes to the platform’s focus under private equity ownership.

Pricing adjustments after acquisitions are common and may affect smaller businesses.
New feature rollouts may prioritize larger or boutique studios over other industries.

Alternatives for Customization and Affordability

If you’re looking for a platform that offers greater flexibility, affordability, and tailored solutions, the best Mindbody alternative for fitness might be a better fit. Unlike Mindbody, platforms like Exercise.com focus on customizable tools and transparent pricing for businesses of all sizes.

For fitness professionals seeking an all-in-one platform that offers flexibility and customization, Exercise.com is the best gym management software. Here’s why:

Customizable Solutions: Tailor the platform to fit your business’s unique needs.
Transparent Pricing: No hidden fees or sudden price increases.
Comprehensive Tools: Manage scheduling, payments, client engagement, and more.
Industry-Specific Features: Whether you’re running a gym, yoga studio, or martial arts school, Exercise.com provides the tools you need.

Our overall experience with Exercise.com is a breeze. We love how easy it is to integrate this app with our current workflow while providing great fitness programs for our customers and save us time in the process.

Julie Ledbetter

Owner, Ledbetter Fitness