224. Will Bartholomew, Founder & CEO of D1 Training
Today, I’m joined by Will Bartholomew, founder and CEO of D1 Training. Will developed the idea for an athletics-based training center after an ACL injury cut his NFL career short. Since 2001, D1 has grown from one Nashville location to 40+ facilities nationwide — helping aspiring college athletes, pros, and the general public reach their goals. In this episode, we discuss Will’s journey scaling a multi-million-dollar business. Plus, we talk trends in youth sports and boutique fitness. We also cover: • D1’s approach to athletic training and fitness • Having Peyton Manning and Chris Paul as investors • Deciding to franchise after being privately run for 16 years Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcast Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider D1 Training’s Website: https://www.d1training.com/ D1 Training’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/d1sports D1 Training’s FB: https://www.facebook.com/D1Sports/ D1 Training is actively seeking qualified, community-minded franchisees with a passion for the fitness industry to continue its growth through single and multi-unit franchise deals. For more information on D1 Training and franchise opportunities, please visit https://www.d1franchise.com/ - The Fitt Insider Podcast is brought to you by EGYM. Visit EGYM.com to learn more about its smart workout solutions for fitness and health facilities. Fitt Talent: https://talent.fitt.co/ Consulting: https://consulting.fitt.co/ Investments: https://capital.fitt.co/ Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:53) D1 Training's background and growth (04:03) Business model and coaching approach (05:49) Recruiting and training coaches (07:45) Scaling and franchising (10:09) Will deciding to follow his passion and go all in on D1 Training (14:20) Creating a team environment at D1 Training (16:26) Facility size and programming (19:12) Diversifying revenue streams (21:30) Peyton Manning and other professional athlete involvement (24:04) Corporate-owned locations vs franchising (25:03) Youth sports and getting kids active (28:15) Emphasis on strength and conditioning for athletes (31:40) Future roadmap and Will’s focus (32:35) Conclusion