Key Takeaways
- • Yoga Joint raised $5.5 million in growth capital led by Port Street Ventures (principals Brent Leffel and Nick Orzano) with participation from fitness industry veterans and institutional investors, positioning the infrared fitness brand for aggressive New York City expansion.
- • The company plans to launch its first New York locations in Fall 2026 and scale to 15+ studios across New York City and surrounding markets by 2030, marking the brand's entry into a major metropolitan fitness market.
- • Adam Shane, former Chief Development Officer and EVP of Operations at Barry's, joined as Franchise Owner and Managing Director of Yoga Joint, bringing deep operational expertise in fitness chain scaling to the leadership structure.
- • The investor syndicate includes Jon Canarick (Managing Partner, North Castle Partners; board member at Crunch Fitness, SLT, and Therabody), Alex Alimanestianu (former CEO, Town Sports International), Anthony DiMaggio (VP Retail Development, Vuori; prior roles at SoulCycle and Equinox), Isaac Chera (Crown Acquisitions), and Jared Solomon (CEO, Five Iron Golf; EY Entrepreneur of the Year).
- • Port Street Ventures' leadership team brings proven multi-unit consumer experience, having previously played key roles in the growth of OneLife Fitness, Crunch Fitness, Barry's Bootcamp, and UFC GYM—establishing infrastructure for disciplined expansion in a competitive fitness sector.
Summary
Yoga Joint, the infrared fitness brand founded in 2010 by Paige Held, has secured $5.5 million in growth capital to fund its strategic entry into New York City, one of the most competitive and high-value fitness markets in the United States. The capital raise, announced in April 2026, brings together a syndicate of fitness industry operators, institutional investors, and real estate specialists with demonstrated track records in scaling premium fitness concepts.
Port Street Ventures, a Newport Beach–based private investment and strategic management firm, led the funding round. The firm's principals, Brent Leffel and Nick Orzano, have extensive experience in multi-unit consumer businesses and have previously directed growth initiatives at OneLife Fitness, Crunch Fitness, Barry's Bootcamp, and UFC GYM. Their involvement signals institutional-grade operational discipline backing the expansion strategy.
The investor group reflects a strategic coalition spanning fitness operations, real estate development, and consumer branding expertise. Jon Canarick, Managing Partner at North Castle Partners and board member at Crunch Fitness, SLT, and Therabody, serves as an investor in both Yoga Joint's corporate entity and the New York portfolio. Additional investors include Alex Alimanestianu (former CEO, Town Sports International), Anthony DiMaggio (VP of Retail Development at Vuori with prior experience at SoulCycle and Equinox), Isaac Chera (Co-Founder and Partner, Crown Acquisitions), and Jared Solomon (Co-Founder and CEO, Five Iron Golf; EY Entrepreneur of the Year).
Adam Shane, a fitness industry executive who previously served as Chief Development Officer and EVP of Operations at Barry's, now assumes the role of Franchise Owner and Managing Director of Yoga Joint. His appointment underscores the capital structure's emphasis on operational excellence and disciplined scaling. Shane stated that the funding round represents "far more than capital"—emphasizing the assembly of partners with demonstrated expertise in scaling premium fitness concepts in competitive markets. The company targets its first New York locations for Fall 2026, with a roadmap to establish 15+ studios across New York City and surrounding markets by 2030.
The raise positions Yoga Joint within a broader consolidation trend in the premium fitness sector, where institutional capital increasingly backs regional brands pursuing geographic expansion into major metropolitan markets. The composition of the investor syndicate—combining operational fitness veterans with institutional investors and real estate specialists—reflects a professionalized approach to boutique fitness scaling, distinct from founder-led growth models that characterized earlier fitness industry consolidation.
Port Street Ventures, a Newport Beach–based private investment and strategic management firm, led the funding round. The firm's principals, Brent Leffel and Nick Orzano, have extensive experience in multi-unit consumer businesses and have previously directed growth initiatives at OneLife Fitness, Crunch Fitness, Barry's Bootcamp, and UFC GYM. Their involvement signals institutional-grade operational discipline backing the expansion strategy.
The investor group reflects a strategic coalition spanning fitness operations, real estate development, and consumer branding expertise. Jon Canarick, Managing Partner at North Castle Partners and board member at Crunch Fitness, SLT, and Therabody, serves as an investor in both Yoga Joint's corporate entity and the New York portfolio. Additional investors include Alex Alimanestianu (former CEO, Town Sports International), Anthony DiMaggio (VP of Retail Development at Vuori with prior experience at SoulCycle and Equinox), Isaac Chera (Co-Founder and Partner, Crown Acquisitions), and Jared Solomon (Co-Founder and CEO, Five Iron Golf; EY Entrepreneur of the Year).
Adam Shane, a fitness industry executive who previously served as Chief Development Officer and EVP of Operations at Barry's, now assumes the role of Franchise Owner and Managing Director of Yoga Joint. His appointment underscores the capital structure's emphasis on operational excellence and disciplined scaling. Shane stated that the funding round represents "far more than capital"—emphasizing the assembly of partners with demonstrated expertise in scaling premium fitness concepts in competitive markets. The company targets its first New York locations for Fall 2026, with a roadmap to establish 15+ studios across New York City and surrounding markets by 2030.
The raise positions Yoga Joint within a broader consolidation trend in the premium fitness sector, where institutional capital increasingly backs regional brands pursuing geographic expansion into major metropolitan markets. The composition of the investor syndicate—combining operational fitness veterans with institutional investors and real estate specialists—reflects a professionalized approach to boutique fitness scaling, distinct from founder-led growth models that characterized earlier fitness industry consolidation.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.