What Ph.D Sports does

Ph.D Sports (legal entity: PhD Business e Fitness LTDA, CNPJ 22.674.438/0001-98) is a Brazilian gym franchise network founded in 2015 and headquartered in Curitiba, Paraná. It operates 145+ franchised physical units across nine Brazilian states, with the heaviest concentration in Paraná (76 units in Curitiba and its metropolitan region, plus 28 in Interior Paraná) and additional presence in Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Paraíba, and Mato Grosso do Sul. The network serves 100K+ active members and operates alongside two companion brands under the parent group: Studio Lynx (boutique personal training studios) and VS Gold (premium Class A/B gyms), collectively generating R$300M+ in network revenue.

The core product is a multi-tiered monthly gym membership (Plano Básico at R$119.99, Plano Ilimitado at R$139.90, Plano Infinite at R$149.99) bundled with one of four branded training programs — CLASS (group classes), HEALTH (wellness focus), SLIM (weight loss), and STRONG (muscle gain). Underlying operations run on the Tecnofit third-party gym management platform, which handles member checkouts, billing, and access control across all franchise locations. Digital add-ons include the Ph.D Sports mobile app (iOS and Android) for guided workouts and progress tracking, a library of 12 fitness ebooks, and corporate wellness distribution through the Wellhub platform.

Ph.D Sports monetizes through three revenue streams: (1) recurring subscription fees from individual members, (2) franchise fees, royalties, and onboarding revenue from new unit operators (R$300K-500K per unit investment, with claimed unit economics of R$2M annual revenue and 25-35% profit margins), and (3) one-time ebook sales and promotional plans (e.g., the Copa 2026 six-month plan at R$600). The go-to-market combines a DTC acquisition funnel — website with a free day-pass trial, regional landing pages, local SEO, and social media — with a parallel franchise-investor funnel via the hub-franquias portal. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional funding rounds; growth is financed internally through franchise fees and operational cash flow.

Name

Ph.D Sports

Legal name

PhD Business e Fitness LTDA

Website

https://academiaphdsports.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Ph.D Sports is a Brazilian gym franchise network operating 145+ units across nine states, serving 100K+ individual members with tiered monthly memberships and four branded training programs under a multi-brand parent group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Curitiba

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Gym Membership Subscriptions: Monthly recurring subscription revenue from three membership tiers: Plano Básico (R$119.99/month) for single-location access, Plano Ilimitado (R$139.90/month) for unlimited network access, and Plano Infinite (R$149.99/month) for unlimited access without contract commitment. Revenue is generated from individual consumers across 145+ franchise locations.
2. Franchise Fees and Royalties: Revenue generated from franchisees who pay for the right to operate Ph.D Sports locations. Investment ranges from R$300K-500K per unit with potential annual revenue of R$2M and profit margins of 25-35%. The company operates under a parent group with 3 brands (Ph.D Sports, Studio Lynx, VS Gold) totaling R$300M+ in network revenue.
3. Digital Products (Ebooks): Sale of fitness ebooks and digital guides created by Ph.D Sports specialists, covering topics from home workouts to specialized training methods. Priced individually through the website.
4. Promotional Plans: Time-limited promotional membership plans such as 'Plano Copa 2026' offering 6 months for R$600 (R$100/month) at specific locations, creating additional revenue streams during promotional periods.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ph.D Sports operates a franchise network of 145+ physical gym units across 9 Brazilian states, selling tiered monthly gym memberships (Plano Básico, Plano Ilimitado, Plano Infinite) that include equipment access, group classes, and one of four branded training programs (CLASS, HEALTH, SLIM, STRONG). The company also franchises its brand to entrepreneurs (R$300K–500K investment per unit), sells a digital library of 12 fitness ebooks, and offers a mobile app for member workout tracking.

Product overview

Ph.D Sports is a Brazilian gym chain operating 145+ physical units across 9 Brazilian states, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Paraná. The core offering is a multi-tiered physical gym membership model (Plano Básico, Plano Ilimitado, Plano Infinite) at three price points (R$119.99–R$149.99/month), providing bodybuilding, group classes, and four personalized training sub-programs (CLASS, HEALTH, SLIM, STRONG). The portfolio is organized as: a core gym chain (Ph.D Sports) plus three companion brands (Studio Lynx for boutique personal training, VS Gold for premium Class A/B gyms, and Ph.D Sports Hub de Franquias as the investor portal), spanning 154+ total units with R$300M+ network revenue. Digital add-ons include the Ph.D Sports mobile app (iOS/Android) for guided workouts and progress tracking, a library of 12 digital ebooks on fitness topics, a Copa 2026 promotional 6-month plan, pre-opening offers for new units, and corporate partnership programs (Convênios Empresariais). All plan purchases flow through Tecnofit's white-label checkout platform. The group employs 300+ staff and serves 100K+ active students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Studio Lynx: Boutique personal training studios offering exclusive one-on-one service with high ticket average. Investment range R$ 80K - 120K, targeting investors seeking lean operations with high margins of 35-45%.
• VS Gold

Products and services

• Ph.D Sports Gym Membership National gym chain (rede de academias) offering fitness services through 145+ physical units across 9 Brazilian states. Services include bodybuilding, group classes, and four personalized training programs (CLASS, HEALTH, SLIM, STRONG) supported by qualified instructors and modern equipment, available via monthly subscription memberships.
• CLASS Training Program Group classes program with specialized instructors focused on maximum motivation, delivering dynamic and energizing sessions with a variety of modalities for members seeking communal workout experiences.
• HEALTH Training Program Program focused on overall health and well-being with balanced exercises, targeting cardiovascular health improvement, stress reduction, increased energy, and general wellness.
• SLIM Training Program Specialized training program for weight loss and body definition featuring efficient fat burning, muscle definition, improved body composition, and visible results.
• STRONG Training Program Bodybuilding and muscle mass gain program with specialized follow-up, targeting muscular strength increase, lean mass development, bone strengthening, and posture improvement.
• Ph.D Sports Mobile App Mobile application available on Google Play and Apple App Store providing guided daily workouts, workout evolution/progress tracking, class schedules, and self-service gym information for Ph.D Sports members without requiring front desk staff.
• Ph.D Sports Fitness Ebooks Library Digital library of 12 exclusive fitness ebooks created by Ph.D Sports specialists, covering topics including home workouts, bodybuilding basics, 7-day weight loss programs, HIIT, functional training, sleep and training, smartwatch usage, insomnia solutions, and fasted cardio (AEJ). Priced individually; endorsed by brand ambassador Jojo and investor Léo Pereira.
• Ph.D Sports Franchise Opportunity Franchise opportunity offering a validated business model with 140+ units, potential annual revenue of R$2M, profit margins of 25–35%, requiring R$300K–R$500K investment and 800–1,200 m² of space. Includes training, marketing, and operational support from the parent group.
• Studio Lynx (Boutique Personal Training Franchise) Boutique personal training studio brand under the parent fitness group, featuring exclusive one-on-one service and premium pricing. Targets investors seeking lean operations with high margins (35–45%); requires R$80K–R$120K investment and 100–200 m² of space.
• VS Gold (Premium Gym Franchise) Premium gym brand targeting upper-class A/B demographic seeking high-standard facilities and excellence. Requires R$700K–R$1.5M investment and 1,000–2,000 m² of space, with potential annual revenue of R$4M and 30–40% profit margins.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100K+ active students across 145+ units
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WellhubcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWellhub is a corporate wellness platform providing employee fitness benefits. Ph.D Sports locations accept Wellhub passes allowing employees of partner companies to access gym services. This partnership enables B2B2C customer acquisition through corporate accounts.
• TecnofitcoreTechnology or IntegrationTecnofit provides gym management software integrated into Ph.D Sports operations. Used for member checkouts, access control, billing management, and online sales across all franchise locations. Powers the online purchase and checkout flows visible on unit pages.
• Ponto TVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing partner for promotional content and visibility initiatives.
• KikosminorOthersBusiness partner listed on the partnerships page without specific details on partnership nature.
• RhotasminorOthersBusiness partner listed on the partnerships page without specific details on partnership nature.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BlueFit Academias: BlueFit is a Brazilian gym chain with a national franchise-style footprint and similar low-cost subscription model. It directly competes with Ph.D Sports for budget-conscious Brazilian gym members.
• Competition Academias: Competition is a Brazilian gym chain operating in the southern states with a model similar to Ph.D Sports, including franchise-style growth and multi-tier memberships in the same price band.
• Smart Fit: Smart Fit is the largest low-cost gym chain in Latin America, operating 2,000+ units across Brazil, Mexico, and other LATAM countries. It is the most direct competitor to Ph.D Sports in the affordable gym membership segment with comparable R$99-R$149 pricing tiers.
• Bodytech: Bodytech operates premium and mid-tier fitness centers in Brazil and Colombia, with multiple service tiers comparable to Ph.D Sports' three-brand portfolio (Ph.D Sports, Studio Lynx, VS Gold).
• Just Fit Academias: Just Fit is a Brazilian gym chain offering low-cost memberships comparable to Ph.D Sports' entry-level plans. Both operate in the same price band and target mass-market fitness consumers in Brazilian cities.

Broad incumbents

• Gold's Gym: Gold's Gym is a global premium gym franchise operating in Brazil through master franchisees. It competes with Ph.D Sports' premium VS Gold sub-brand in the higher-end segment rather than mass-market.
• Planet Fitness: Planet Fitness is the global leader in low-cost gym franchising with thousands of units. While it does not operate in Brazil, it defines the global benchmark for the low-cost subscription gym model Ph.D Sports employs.
• Anytime Fitness: Anytime Fitness is a global 24-hour gym franchise with a comparable franchise-driven growth model and multi-tier subscription structure. It informs the franchise scalability benchmarks relevant to Ph.D Sports.

Others

• Wellhub (Gympass): Wellhub is a corporate wellness platform that distributes Ph.D Sports memberships to employees of partner companies. It is an existing channel partner rather than a competitor, enabling B2B2C distribution for the gym network.
• Tecnofit: Tecnofit is the gym management software platform integrated across all Ph.D Sports franchise units for member checkouts, billing, and access control. It is an enabling technology partner rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/academiaphdsportsmenonitas
• Instagraminstagram.com/phdsportsecoville
• Xx.com/PHDSPORTSACADEM
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/academia-ph.d-sports

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ph.D Sports