The Anti-AI Bet

Run clubs are the new Tinder. At this point, that’s hardly a hot take, especially if you ask Lea-Sophie Cramer and Oliver Roskopf. While much of the world is focused on artificial intelligence, the two founders are betting with their start-up EPIX Sports on what AI cannot replace: real human connection in the physical world. In their talk with Laura Wontorra, they explain why in-person experiences matter more than ever and what problems they are aiming to solve with EPIX Sports. These are their best GMPLN-Quotes.

Both Cramer and Roskopf have already built billion-dollar companies in the digital space with Amorelie and Zalando. But instead of launching another pure tech startup, they are now tackling a much more fundamental issue: the lack of accessible sports infrastructure. There simply aren’t enough facilities. Not enough courts, not enough studios and most importantly, not enough scalable concepts to expand what already exists. This is true across Germany and Europe. The result? Padel courts are booked out weeks in advance, climbing gyms are operating at full capacity, and Pilates studios have long waiting lists. He also believes that many founders in the sports space don’t lack ideas. They just need the right push to scale. That’s exactly where EPIX Sports comes in.

Their solution: an “operating system for sports.” EPIX Sports positions itself as the operating system for local sports venues, using AI as a targeted scaling lever. This is what makes it possible to offer what truly matters on the ground - genuine human connection - in ten cities simultaneously. The focus is on fast-growing categories like padel, Pilates, bouldering, and women’s boxing. But it’s not about short-term hype. It’s about long-term habits. The goal is to make sports part of people’s everyday lives, ideally multiple times a week.

The key to making that happen lies in two things: proximity and community. Successful locations are built where people actually live, not where trends briefly spike. At the same time, community becomes the real product. As traditional sports clubs lose relevance, new social spaces are emerging. Because today, sports are more than just physical activity. They’re part of people’s identity. If you are working out; you often feel like you belong to something. As Cramer puts it: some people are “Pilates girls,” others are “Hyrox athletes,” and some are deep in their “running era.” That sense of belonging is driven by real human interaction and that’s exactly what EPIX Sports aims to create.

To scale this idea, the founders see themselves as enablers. Through their own physical “EPIX spaces,” they create hubs that bring together different sports providers under one roof. Their goal: ten locations by 2032. These spaces make it easier for operators to access facilities that would otherwise be out of reach, while also lowering the barrier to entry for users. Someone who comes to play padel might discover bouldering next door and try it the next time. That’s how you create easy, low-threshold access to movement.

From a business perspective, the model is equally clear. While many tech companies take years to become profitable, sports offerings often generate sustainable revenue from day one. By building a network of profitable operators, EPIX Sports is creating a cross-sport ecosystem with the ambition of rethinking and modernizing traditional club structures. The key concept: pay-to-play.

According to the founders, they are “on track” to achieve their goals which projects hundreds of millions of euros in revenue in a few years. But perhaps the most important driver behind their work is a societal one.