As a hacker and data nerd who stumbled into health tech, I've always appreciated how the Fitt Insider newsletter cuts through the noise. In an industry drowning in promotional content and paid advertising, their founder— Anthony Vennare’s— commitment to genuine, transparent coverage of consumer health products stands out. He’s a man of integrity.
Our recent conversation on The Augmented Life revealed fascinating parallels between his own journey with health— which includes learning how to get to a place of preventative care—and the broader evolution of the wellness industry overall.
Anthony’s drive to succeed in business was supported by his training as a marine. While this might surprise some, it didn’t shock me in the slightest. (Fun fact: I’ve read almost all the military training materials.) In them, you’ll see the Corps' doctrine of radical empowerment - enabling individuals to act autonomously in chaotic situations. This mindset translates seamlessly to the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.
As Anthony put it, he embodies a "confident and clueless" approach— meaning he’s sure he can get something done, even if he doesn’t know how he’ll achieve it. That has served him well, since he’s gone from running a single gym at 22 to a broader health tech enterprise in under a decade.
Since Anthony began his first business, the healthcare landscape has shifted dramatically. Traditional boundaries between fitness, wellness, and medical care are dissolving as passive health monitoring devices become ubiquitous. While companies like Whoop and Oura pioneer new territory, the real challenge lies in meaningful healthcare integration. We're seeing early signs of this fusion in high-end clinics like Monarch, which combine medical care with fitness and nutrition under one roof. Though currently serving a wealthy clientele, these integrated facilities represent crucial proof that a more holistic approach is possible.
This integration becomes personal when you hear stories like Anthony's. His account of navigating health challenges - both his own and his father's - highlights how our current system often misses serious issues until they become critical. At Fulcra, we've observed how well-visualized, longitudinal health data can help bridge the gap between patients and skeptical healthcare providers, leading to more productive conversations and better outcomes.
The industry's shift toward holistic wellness reflects a deeper understanding that everything - from drinking water to household materials - impacts our health. This awareness has caught the attention of major investors, with family offices traditionally focused on industries like oil and gas now pouring capital into health tech and longevity solutions.
Yet amid all this technological advancement, Anthony's experience running multiple gyms revealed a fundamental truth: successful health outcomes often boil down to basic habits. Drinking water, getting enough sleep, and moving consistently create the foundation for lasting change. These small, achievable wins matter more than any sophisticated intervention.
Our discussion of sleep habits perfectly illustrated this principle. While Fulcra's platform can uncover complex correlations like the relationship between macronutrient timing and sleep quality, sometimes the most effective solution is as simple as establishing a proper bedtime routine away from screens.
As we push forward with tools to augment human health and performance, technology should enable and enhance fundamental healthy behaviors rather than replace them. The future of healthcare isn't just about sophisticated monitoring devices or AI-driven diagnostics - it's about creating systems that make it easier for people to build and maintain healthy habits while providing the data-driven validation that both patients and healthcare providers need to make better decisions.
This topic is complex, and I loved diving into it with Anthony. Listen to our full episode to hear a story about my kung fu master wife and our 60 hour cleanse, Anthony being misdiagnosed by a doctor, and the tech tools we both love.
Take a listen, and let me know what you think:
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