Wellbeats, a LifeSpeak company is pleased to share that Jason Von Bank, Wellbeats president and LifeSpeak chief operating officer, 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 wellbeing have become a global priority and a growing number of employers are offering comprehensive benefits programs that support workplace wellbeing,” 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 award 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 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 2.3 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 wellbeing platform LifeSpeak. This supercharged growth for both companies and expanded their brands by delivering vital wellbeing 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. 

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. Meet the Heartland finalists.

About Wellbeats, a LifeSpeak company

Wellbeats, a LifeSpeak company is a leading provider of on-demand virtual fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness classes for use in workplaces of all sizes, health plans, on college or university campuses, multi-family housing, the U.S. military, and fitness and health clubs. Based in St. Louis Park, MN, Wellbeats makes fitness accessible, affordable, and approachable for everyone. More than 1,000 classes and 35+ programs are available to help members stay on track and meet their goals. To learn more, visit www.wellbeats.com or check out a sampling of the company’s fitness classes during a Facebook Live class, and follow Wellbeats on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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.