Press Release

Wellbeats President Jason Von Bank Named Finalist for EY Entrepreneur of the Year® Heartland Award

Issued by Wellbeats

May 23, 2022

Recognition acknowledges industry dominance and rapid growth, including successful completion of recent acquisition

ST LOUIS PARK, MN — Wellbeats, Inc., a LifeSpeak company (TSX: LSPK) and the leading provider of on-demand, virtual well-being content, announced today that President and CEO Jason Von Bank has been selected as a finalist for the prestigious Ernst & Young (EY) Entrepreneur of the Year® 2022 Heartland Award. Von Bank was chosen by a panel of independent judges based on criteria that included entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth, and impact, among other core contributions and attributes.

“Health and well-being have become a global priority, and a growing number of employers are offering comprehensive benefits programs that support workplace well-being,” said Von Bank. “I am incredibly proud of the work our team has done to help employers build and sustain employee engagement in wellness benefits, especially during the pandemic and the evolving workplace dynamic. It’s an honor to be recognized as a finalist for this preeminent business awards for entrepreneurs and high-growth companies, and I look forward to further sharing the Wellbeats success story.”

Regional EY award winners will be announced June 9, 2022, at The Fillmore Minneapolis. Those winners will advance to be considered by a national independent judging panel, with national awards being presented in November at the Strategic Growth Forum, one of the nation’s most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies. The Entrepreneur of the Year National Overall Award winner will advance to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year Award in June 2023.

Von Bank joined Wellbeats in 2015 and led a transformation of the company from a provider of video kiosks for fitness centers to a leading content and software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider. In 2018, Wellbeats introduced on-demand, virtual wellness to the employer market at a time when the connection between physical activity and employee health and performance was becoming widely recognized. Today, Wellbeats serves more than 2.4 million users in more than 90 countries through employer-sponsored benefits programs. The company was recently acquired for $92.5 million by leading mental health and well-being platform LifeSpeak. This supercharged growth for both companies and expanded their brands by delivering vital well-being support to workplaces on a global level.

“While I’m proud of the work our team has done, I believe the best is yet to come. We are excited to continue building and strengthening our course offerings and for the opportunity to capitalize on our LifeSpeak affiliate to accelerate our mission of improving well-being for all people – regardless of age, interests, or ability level,” said Von Bank, who also serves as chief operating officer for LifeSpeak.

The Entrepreneur of the Year program has recognized more than 10,000 U.S. executives since its inception in 1986. Entrepreneur of the Year Award winners have exclusive, ongoing access to the experience, insight and wisdom of fellow alumni and other members of the entrepreneurial community in over 60 countries — all supported by vast EY resources.

About Wellbeats

Based in St. Louis Park, MN, Wellbeats is the premier provider of on-demand, virtual wellness content and programming for use in corporate well-being initiatives. With more than 1,000 fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness classes, programs, and fitness assessments available anytime and anywhere, Wellbeats allows employers to support employees with wellness resources that fit their needs, lifestyle, and schedule. Wellbeats provides best-in-class content that appeals to more than 2.3  million members of all ages, interests, and fitness levels. Wellbeats content is easily accessible through apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and Apple TV; any modern Web browser, Chromecast, Airplay, and Roku. To learn more, visit www.wellbeats.com, Follow on LinkedIn or check out a sampling of the company’s fitness classes during a Facebook Live session.

About Entrepreneur of the Year

Entrepreneur of the Year is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of the Year is the first and truly global awards program of its kind.

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