CityRow

Active

Overview

CityRow is an omni-channel fitness brand offering connected at-home rowing machines, digital workout platforms, and in-person studio classes focused on rowing intervals combined with sculpting exercises.²³ It positions rowing as accessible through form-focused instruction and proprietary performance-tracking technology, operating both direct-to-consumer hardware and franchise studios nationwide.¹⁴ The brand expanded from studios to home equipment, raising $12 million in funding to support growth.¹³

History

CityRow was founded in 2014 by Helaine Knapp in New York, initially as boutique rowing studios combining water-based rowing with strength training.¹² It reported 375% revenue growth in 2020 and expanded to 65 franchises and 2 corporate stores by 2021.¹ In 2021, the company raised $12 million in Series A funding to develop connected rowing machines and omni-channel offerings, later basing operations in Westlake Village, California.¹³

Product Lines

Product Line	Positioning	Price Range
CityRow At-Home Rower	Connected water-resistance rowing machine for home use	$1,800 - $2,500
Studio Rowing Classes	In-person interval rowing with sculpting	$20 - $40 per class
Digital Workout Platform	App-based rowing and fitness programs	$10 - $30 per month
Franchise Studio Program	Boutique fitness studio licensing	$100,000 - $500,000 initial

Manufacturing

Products are developed with proprietary technology for performance tracking, but specific manufacturing locations are not disclosed in available sources.²³ Hardware like connected rowers is produced for at-home use, likely outsourced given the fitness equipment industry norms.

Notable Products

CityRow Connected Rower - Water-based home rowing machine with app integration for classes and metrics tracking.
CITYROW Studio Classes - High-intensity rowing intervals paired with low-impact sculpting exercises.
CityRow App - Digital platform delivering form-focused rowing workouts and progress tracking.
Water Row Machine - Indoor rower used in studios mimicking water resistance for full-body training.

Reputation

CityRow is recognized among fitness enthusiasts for making rowing approachable via engaging classes and technology, with strong growth noted in revenue and studio expansion.¹ Professionals highlight its omni-channel model bridging studios and home use, though some sources list it primarily as a studio franchisor with limited hardware details.¹⁵ Criticisms are minimal in records, but scale remains modest compared to larger fitness brands, with under 50 employees.⁵

Sources (5)