The Origins: A Personal Project Turns into an App
In 2005, tech veteran Mike Lee embarked on a personal weight loss journey with his wedding on the horizon. Frustrated by the lack of effective and user-friendly tools for tracking calories and nutrition, he took matters into his own hands and built a desktop calorie tracking tool. The tool's success among his family and friends demonstrated its broader potential, leading Lee to transform the project into a public platform. His brother, Albert Lee, soon joined him, and together they launched the company MyFitnessPal, Inc. Initially bootstrapped, the company prioritized building a comprehensive database of nutritional information, which would become one of its most valuable assets.
The Mobile Revolution and Exponential Growth
While MyFitnessPal existed as a web-based service for several years, its true explosive growth began with the launch of its mobile apps. The company released its first iOS app in 2009, capitalizing on the rising popularity of smartphones. This move democratized calorie tracking, moving it from the cumbersome process of using a notebook to a convenient, always-available tool in users' pockets. This accessibility, combined with its massive food database, drove a rapid increase in user acquisition, with the platform adding millions of users every month. The founders focused on community building and enhancing the user experience during this period, establishing MyFitnessPal as a household name in fitness and diet tracking.
The Under Armour Acquisition and Feature Expansion
In 2015, athletic apparel giant Under Armour acquired MyFitnessPal for a reported $475 million. This acquisition was part of Under Armour's broader strategy to expand its digital connected fitness ecosystem, which already included the MapMyFitness platform. The acquisition aimed to create a unified platform that combined fitness tracking with nutritional planning. Under Armour invested in feature expansion, and in May 2015, MyFitnessPal introduced its first premium subscription tier, offering users advanced tools and features. This era saw the platform's user base swell significantly, reaching over 200 million users by the time of its eventual sale. However, the Under Armour ownership period also faced challenges, including a major data breach in 2018 and concerns from some users about the direction the app was taking. Founders Mike and Albert Lee departed the company in January 2017.
A New Chapter with Francisco Partners
After five years under Under Armour's ownership, MyFitnessPal changed hands again. In October 2020, Under Armour announced its decision to sell MyFitnessPal to the private equity firm Francisco Partners for $345 million. The sale, which was completed in December 2020, reflected a strategic shift for Under Armour to refocus on its core apparel and footwear business. For Francisco Partners, the acquisition represented an investment in a robust, recurring-revenue business with a unique consumer proposition. Under the new ownership, the app's development continued, with a renewed focus on the core user experience and the premium offering. A notable development in 2025 was the acquisition of the AI-driven meal planning startup, Intent, to integrate more advanced and personalized meal planning features into the MyFitnessPal ecosystem.
Comparison: MyFitnessPal Under Different Ownership
| Aspect | Initial Founders (2005-2015) | Under Armour (2015-2020) | Francisco Partners (2020-Present) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | Primarily food logging and community building | Integrating into a broader 'Connected Fitness' ecosystem | Core user experience, premium features, and advanced AI integration |
| Funding | Bootstrapped; later took venture funding | Acquired for $475 million | Acquired for $345 million by a private equity firm |
| Key Milestones | Launch of mobile apps (iOS 2009), rapid user growth | Introduction of Premium tier, significant user base expansion | Acquisition of meal-planning AI startup Intent in 2025 |
| Challenges | Scaling infrastructure and database | Integrating with broader UA ecosystem, data breach | Modernizing platform, enhancing premium value, competition |
| User Experience | Simple, community-driven, focused on basic tracking | Features expanded, some user complaints about complexity | Increased emphasis on premium features, potentially more targeted advertising |
The Evolution of MyFitnessPal's Core Features
Over its history, MyFitnessPal has steadily enhanced its core functionalities to meet evolving user needs:
- Barcode Scanner (Post-2009): A massive improvement to the food logging process was the introduction of barcode scanning, allowing users to instantly log packaged food items by simply scanning the product's barcode.
- Exercise Tracking (Early 2010s): While initially focused on nutrition, the app integrated a dedicated exercise logging feature, allowing users to track workouts and have those calories burned factored into their daily goals.
- Premium Features (2015): The introduction of a premium subscription tier under Under Armour offered features like macro tracking by gram/percentage, food analysis, and guided plans.
- Third-Party Integrations (Mid-2010s): MyFitnessPal began to integrate with other popular fitness apps and wearables, such as MapMyRun and Fitbit, creating a more holistic health and wellness tracking experience.
- AI-Powered Features (Post-2020): After the Francisco Partners acquisition, the focus shifted toward incorporating more advanced features. The 2025 acquisition of Intent and subsequent integration of AI-powered meal planning marks a significant step towards personalized nutrition guidance.
Conclusion: From Humble Beginnings to a Digital Powerhouse
From a passion project created by Mike Lee to a global platform with hundreds of millions of users, the history of the MyFitnessPal app is a testament to the power of a simple, effective idea. Its journey from bootstrapping to strategic acquisitions demonstrates its ability to adapt and grow within the dynamic digital health industry. As MyFitnessPal continues to evolve under its current ownership, it remains a dominant force in helping people achieve their health and fitness goals. The future will likely see further development in AI and personalized nutrition, continuing its legacy of innovation. One can explore the early journey in more detail by viewing the co-founders' story on YouTube, which was a resource published following the Under Armour acquisition.
The MyFitnessPal Journey at a Glance
- The 2005 Startup: Mike and Albert Lee launch MyFitnessPal after Mike develops a personal calorie-tracking tool for his own weight loss goals.
- The 2009 Mobile Expansion: The launch of the iOS app marks a major turning point, driving explosive user growth and cementing MyFitnessPal's status in the mobile market.
- The 2015 Under Armour Era: Acquired for $475 million, the app expands its features and introduces a premium subscription tier, though its direction faces some user criticism.
- The 2018 Data Breach: A major data breach affecting 150 million users under Under Armour's ownership brings security issues to the forefront.
- The 2020 Francisco Partners Acquisition: The app is sold for $345 million to a private equity firm, signaling a strategic focus shift by Under Armour.
- The 2025 AI Integration: Under Francisco Partners, the app acquires the AI-based meal planner Intent to enhance its personalized nutrition capabilities.
FAQs
Q: Who were the original founders of the MyFitnessPal app? A: The MyFitnessPal app was co-founded by brothers Mike and Albert Lee.
Q: When was MyFitnessPal first launched? A: The web-based version of MyFitnessPal was launched in September 2005, with the mobile app for iOS following in 2009.
Q: Why did Under Armour sell MyFitnessPal? A: Under Armour sold MyFitnessPal to focus on its core apparel and footwear business and to simplify its digital strategy, aiming for a more cohesive brand ecosystem centered around MapMyFitness.
Q: Which company owns MyFitnessPal now? A: Since 2020, MyFitnessPal has been owned by the private equity firm Francisco Partners.
Q: What significant updates occurred after the Francisco Partners acquisition? A: A notable update after the Francisco Partners acquisition was the 2025 acquisition of the AI-based meal-planning startup Intent, aimed at offering more personalized meal plans to users.
Q: What led to the initial creation of MyFitnessPal? A: Mike Lee created the initial version of MyFitnessPal as a personal tool to track his calories and help with his weight loss goals before his wedding, after finding existing options inadequate.
Q: Has MyFitnessPal experienced any major security incidents? A: Yes, in 2018, while under Under Armour's ownership, MyFitnessPal disclosed a data breach that affected approximately 150 million user accounts.
