Ben Francis
Overview
- Source of Wealth
- Fitness clothing
- Industry
- Fashion & Retail
- Residence
- Birmingham
- Education
- Aston University (Drop Out)
Biography
Ben Francis is the founder and CEO of Solihull, England-based sportswear brand Gymshark.
Francis sold a 21% stake to private equity firm General Atlantic in August 2020, in a deal that valued the company at $1.45 billion; he owns 70%.
He cofounded the company with his friend Lewis Morgan in his parents' garage in 2012 at age 19, when he was still a college student delivering pizzas.
Gymshark grew thanks to partnerships with fitness influencers on social media, paying them small amounts to wear the company's gear in their videos.
The company also has an office in Denver and opened its first brick-and-mortar store on London's Regent Street in October 2022.
About
Francis built two fitness apps when he was an 18-year-old college student.
Gymshark started out selling supplements, but Francis and Morgan quickly pivoted to selling fitness gear they made with a screen printer and sewing machine.