Aviron Keeps People Committed to Fitness Through Gameplay

Andy Hoang never planned to take the conventional path in fitness tech. He looked at what the market offered, flashy classes, celebrity trainers, and repetitive cardio, and found little that truly motivated him. What kept him engaged was something else: visible progress, real challenges, and gameplay that made the effort feel worthwhile. That idea became the seed for Aviron, a connected rowing machine that blends full-body training with interactive, game-based experiences.

He believed that if exercise felt more like play, people would come back to it consistently. That belief shaped Aviron from the beginning. The company has steadily expanded its product lineup, grown its user base, and increased its revenue. Through every stage of growth, it has remained committed to a clear principle. Fitness should be enjoyable, practical, and grounded in real results.

From Problem to Product

Andy was already deep into the fitness world. A black belt in Taekwondo and former national athlete, he knew discipline and movement well. But he also loved video games. The traditional rowing machine, though effective, felt like a chore. He believed it didn’t have to.

So he launched Aviron in 2018, originally targeting gyms and shared fitness spaces. The product combined a sleek rower with a screen and software built for games. Then came 2020. The pandemic forced gyms to close, but it opened an unexpected door. Consumers were suddenly building home gyms—and they wanted machines that kept them interested. Andy shifted the business to focus on that demand.

He bootstrapped the early days with personal savings, even selling his car and remortgaging his condo. It was a bet on two things: that rowing deserved more attention, and that interactivity, not instruction—was what would keep people coming back.

Designing for Stickiness

Aviron’s rowers stand out because of what happens on-screen. The Strong Series, one of its core products, features a 22-inch touchscreen, commercial-grade build, and adjustable resistance. But the draw isn’t just the build—it’s the gameplay.

Users can row through obstacle courses, compete in real-time races, or challenge themselves in arcade-style games that reward effort with progress. Multiplayer functionality, leaderboards, and unlockable achievements help keep motivation high without the need for instructors shouting through the screen.

The content is built in-house. Andy brought on former game developers to design original titles that make rowing feel like a mission, not a grind. That decision has paid off. The company tracks metrics like return frequency, workout completion, and engagement time—not just unit sales.

Building a Business That Lasts

As the product matured, so did the business. Aviron raised $4.5 million in 2021 from investors who saw the value in a model not built around subscription-based class content. Then came a $18.5 million Series A. Andy kept the focus on sustainability—growing through efficiency, not hype.

What helped was Aviron’s steady increase in active users and low churn rate. The company invested in quality support, easy setup, and solid warranties. Word spread. Customers appreciated not just the tech but the thoughtfulness behind it.

By 2023, Aviron was expanding beyond just one machine. It launched the StrongGo, a lighter and more affordable version designed to reach a broader range of users. It also hit major retail shelves, including Amazon, Best Buy and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Expanding the System

In 2024, the company introduced a new product: the Aviron Fit Bike. Still grounded in gaming, the bike offered scenic rides, multiplayer competitions, and time-based challenges—all without relying on celebrity trainers or high-production classes.

That same year, Aviron released a standalone app compatible with Concept2 rowing machines. This allowed users to access Aviron’s library of workouts and games without needing to buy its hardware. It was a strategic decision that opened the brand to thousands of new users.

What didn’t change was the focus on creating an experience that could hold attention. Whether on a rower, a bike, or through an app, the goal was the same: make people want to come back.

Staying Disciplined

Andy doesn’t chase trends. He keeps the company centered on what users say they want and what the data shows they’ll actually use. Aviron doesn’t do glossy promotional stunts or rely on influencer hype. It focuses on building a product people remember the next day—and the next week.

That’s a holdover from his consulting days, where every decision had to be backed by data. It’s also why Aviron measures success through substance: retention, engagement, and satisfaction.

Internally, Andy keeps the team lean and product-focused. He values engineers and designers who care more about experience than aesthetics. For him, it’s about finding the point where design and usefulness intersect.

Built for the Long Haul

The home fitness market has seen companies burn fast and fall hard. Aviron isn’t interested in short-term buzz. Andy’s goal has always been to build a company that could thrive for the long term.

By 2024, Aviron had doubled its revenue year over year. It had tens of thousands of active profiles and high customer retention. And most importantly, it had built a product that didn’t need constant reinvention to stay relevant.

The team continues to invest in new content and improve the software. Updates come regularly, based on community input and internal testing. The idea is simple: the machine you buy today should still surprise you a year from now.

Community, Not Celebrity

One thing Aviron hasn’t done is chase the traditional connected fitness model of front-and-center instructors. There are no famous faces guiding workouts, no choreographed classes. Instead, community comes from shared challenges, multiplayer modes, and competition that feels personal.

That approach gives users more autonomy. They don’t have to follow someone else’s pace. They can go hard one day, casual the next. What matters is that they keep moving.

For many users, that flexibility makes Aviron not just another piece of equipment, but a habit.

A Simple Promise

Andy believes that what makes Aviron work isn’t the technology alone. It’s the mindset. The product isn’t trying to replace the gym. It’s trying to remove the excuses. The friction. The boredom.

That clarity guides every decision. Build products that fit into real lives. Make fitness feel less like a chore and more like something worth doing. Then stay disciplined and deliver.

That’s what Aviron has done so far. And for Andy, it’s just the beginning of what connected fitness can look like when you stop chasing noise and start building value.

Andy Hoang, Founder & CEO, Aviron

What better way to make rowing fun and exciting than by putting video games on there.