🚀 Upside Weekly Recap: Whoop & Oura Launch Blood Testing Services, Peloton Acquires Breathwrk; New SKUs Added to Database, Top Weekly Product Reviews: ThermoHuman, AVA Cooling, BrainLIT

As a reminder, in July 2025 we announced our new AI based product comparison tool (Interactive tables, Upside AI Assistant) which is part of our Upside Tech scouting platform which is being trusted by 100+ teams (NBA, NFL, MLS, MLB, NHL, WNBA, Premier League, NCAA, national rugby teams, Top 14, Calcio, laliga, pro tennis..).

At Upside, we’ve built one of the most comprehensive performance technology databases in sports and tech with the top 500 products and companies in performance tech. From GPS tracking and recovery systems to strength training solutions and biometric monitoring tools, our platform covers the products shaping athlete performance today.

But technology in sports moves fast—new SKUs, product launches, and price changes are happening constantly. That’s why our team updates the database every single week, so that teams, practitioners, and decision-makers always have access to the most accurate and up-to-date information.

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📘 New Products Added this Week to the Upside Product & Company Database

This week we added the following new specs/pricing changes, and new SKUs and products below to our database of the top 500 performance tech products and companies.

Source: Upside Product/company Database, Confidential, October 2025

⭐ Top Product Reviews by Practitioners This Week

One of the most valuable parts of the Upside platform is the perspective from those on the ground—the practitioners who test, implement, and refine these technologies with athletes every day. This week, we’re featuring a new set of practitioner-led reviews that offer a behind-the-scenes look at how products perform in real environments:

Picture: Upside Global, confidential, October 2025

Here is a summary of the three reviews shown in the image above:

ThermoHuman

Rating: 4.5/5
Quote: “I have been using ThermoHuman for some time for my players to help reduce the risk of injuries, fasten the return to play process and identify athletes’ fatigue. It really helped our program within my club. On top of that, the ThermoHuman customer support team is very responsive and their product is backed by a lot of studies and research papers. I highly recommend ThermoHuman to any teams looking to reduce injuries.” – Director of Performance and Sports Science, Soccer

Summary: The reviewer praises ThermoHuman as a highly effective tool for injury prevention, return to play and fatigue identification. They highlight the platform’s strong research backing, responsive support team, and measurable impact on reducing injury risk in athletes.

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Brainlit (Alven)

Rating: 4.7/5
Quote: “I have been using the Alven for a year now. I love it. It helps me better sleep at night and it gives me a boost of energy during the day. I highly recommend it to any teams looking to help their athletes’ sleep.” – CEO, American Football

Summary: The reviewer underscores Alven as a powerful recovery tool that improves sleep quality and daytime energy for athletes. With over a year of use, they emphasize its reliability and value for teams focused on optimizing player rest and recovery.

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AVA Cooling Technology (Anti-Fatigue Charge Bar)

Rating: 4.7/5
Quote: “I have been using AVA’s Anti-fatigue charge bar to help my players cool down, get less cramps, get less fatigued and stay longer in the game. It really works. It is a great palm cooling device and it is very affordable. I highly recommend it to any teams looking to set up a palm cooling program for their players.” – Director of Performance, Soccer

Summary: The reviewer highlights AVA’s Anti-Fatigue Charge Bar as a practical and affordable innovation for athlete cooling. They emphasize its effectiveness in reducing cramps and fatigue while extending player performance during games.

These reviews go beyond specs and marketing—they capture how technology is actually being used, what works best, and where there’s room for improvement. By bringing practitioner voices directly into the scouting process, Upside makes it easier for teams and organizations to make informed, evidence-based decisions.

Join Today

All these features—the product comparison tool, Upside AI assistant, are available through flexible membership options, including monthly and annual plans. The practitioner community and product review sections are free for all practitioners. So if you are a practitioner who wants to join our online community of practitioners please contact us at julien@upsideglobal.co and we will create your online exec profile.

Interested in learning more? Contact us today to see a live demo, get pricing information and subscribe to our new Tech scouting platform. You contact us at julien@upsideglobal.co or click on the button below.

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🔍 Recent M&A Deals Of The Week

1. Electronic Arts goes private in $55 billion buyout
   EA agreed to be acquired in a $55 billion leveraged buyout by a consortium led by Silver Lake, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), and Affinity Partners. Shareholders receive $210/share in the all-cash deal. (Source: Reuters)
   Upside Take: One of the largest private equity deals in history, this cements gaming/sports entertainment IP as “national strategic assets.” Expect deeper Saudi investment into esports, mobile, and live-service gaming. For EA, going private provides breathing room to restructure and innovate without quarterly earnings pressure.
   

2. Peloton acquires Breathwrk to deepen wellness offerings
   Peloton announced the acquisition of Breathwrk, a Los Angeles–based startup specializing in guided breathing exercises and mental wellness techniques. Financial terms were not disclosed. The deal will integrate Breathwrk’s content into Peloton’s platform, expanding beyond traditional fitness into breathwork, stress management, and recovery. (Source: Breathwrk)

   Upside Take: This marks a strategic pivot for Peloton as it aims to rebrand itself as a holistic health and wellness company, not just a connected fitness hardware maker. By layering in Breathwrk’s mental health tools, Peloton gains stickier engagement with users at a time when hardware sales are slowing. Expect this acquisition to reinforce Peloton’s subscription-led model, positioning it more squarely against meditation and mindfulness players like Calm and Headspace, while strengthening its pitch as a one-stop wellness ecosystem.
   

3. Big Ten explores ~$2B private capital infusion
   The Big Ten Conference is in discussions to raise $2B in outside capital, possibly through a new “Big Ten Enterprises” entity consolidating media, sponsorships, and commercial rights. (Source: Yahoo Sports)
   Upside Take: This would formalize college sports conferences as professional-style commercial operators. Investors gain exposure to guaranteed broadcast contracts and blue-chip brands, while universities unlock revenue to reinvest in facilities, NIL, and athlete development.
   

4. Arctos Partners launches new sports investment platform
   Arctos created a dedicated unit to connect wealthy individuals and institutions with equity opportunities in sports franchises and leagues. (WSJ)
   Upside Take: “Fractionalized sports ownership” is coming. Arctos is lowering the barrier to entry for investors who can’t write $500M checks but want exposure. Expect this model to democratize ownership access, potentially increasing liquidity and accelerating deal flow.
   

5. Apollo launches $5B dedicated sports capital vehicle
   Apollo Global Management is reportedly raising $5B for a new fund to invest across sports teams, leagues, infrastructure, and media rights. (Source: PE Insights)
   Upside Take: Private equity is no longer dabbling in sports — it’s institutionalizing. A war chest of this size allows Apollo to move from minority equity slices into vertical plays: media networks, betting platforms, global franchise groups. Scale is the strategy.

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⌚ New Product / Initiative / Structural Moves

• Whoop’s Advanced Labs blood test integration service is now live in the US (Source: Wareable)

• Neurable debuts lighter, more affordable MW75 Neuro brain-sensing headphones (Source: Wareable)

• Oura unveils ceramic ring finishes, charging case, and a $99 blood testing service (Source: Wareable)

• Nashville Predators struck a deal with city officials for Centennial Sportsplex upgrades (ice rinks, facilities). (Source: Axios)

• NBA, Amazon partner to offer 4 new stats for fans and broadcasters (Source: NY Times)

• Nearly half of the Finnish brand’s smart ring sales have come in the last year (Source: Wareable)

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⭐ Major Coaching / Practitioner Moves

⚾ Baseball (MLB)

1. Brian Snitker stepping down as Braves manager
   After a long tenure with the Atlanta Braves, Snitker announced he will not return as manager for the 2026 season. He’s coached the Braves since 2016 (in the manager role), with a deep association with the organization. AP News

2. Rocco Baldelli fired by Minnesota Twins
   Baldelli will not return as the Twins’ manager for 2026. He had been in place since 2018, led the team to multiple division titles, and was AL Manager of the Year in 2019. Twinkie Town

3. San Francisco Giants fire Bob Melvin
   The Giants have dismissed Bob Melvin (who took over in 2024) as their manager. The move comes during a restructuring of leadership under new baseball operations leadership. Lone Star Ball

4. Los Angeles Angels announce Ron Washington will not return for 2026
   The Angels revealed that Washington is stepping down / not returning for next season (though context includes health concerns). The Sun

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🏉 Rugby / Union

• Newcastle Red Bulls sack Steve Diamond
  Very soon after the club came under Red Bull ownership, and after just one match under that new regime, Steve Diamond was let go. Alan Dickens has become head coach and there’s been a broader reorganisation of the coaching / talent development structure. The Guardian

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Big Picture / Significance

• The MLB has seen multiple veteran managers either leaving or being let go in the past week, which is a significant shift in leadership in that sport.

• In rugby, the quick decision from Newcastle Red Bulls suggests that new ownership is moving fast to set its direction.

👀 Things to Watch

• Fabian Hurzeler — Brighton’s manager has been linked with the Manchester United job. He’s spoken out, saying it’s an honor to be considered, but reaffirmed his commitment to Brighton. Talksport

• Ruben Amorim / Manchester United — There’s pressure mounting on Amorim due to results. United are reportedly considering alternatives (incl. Hurzeler, Andoni Iraola, Oliver Glasner) if things don’t improve. But no change yet. The Sun

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