NEW YORK: Global wellness brand Zeel, popularly known as the 'massage on demand" company, Friday announced the addition of Venus Williams — one of the world's leading professional athletes and an accomplished entrepreneur — as a member of its board of directors, shareholder, and key advisor to its new Zeel@Sports division.
This the tennis icon's second investment in the self-care industry; she recently invested in a wellness company called Asutra.
Zeel's network of 11,000 vetted, licensed massage therapists in more than 100 US cities is well positioned to provide on-demand massage services to professional athletes at home and on the road. Zeel's app allows customers to book a massage often within an hour's time, which is ideal for athletes in need of recovery after a tough game or rigorous practice. To provide a seamless experience, Zeel@Sports will pursue growth through partnerships with team trainers and coaches at training facilities, camps, and during the in-season and off-season across college and professional sports leagues.
"For more than a decade, I've been combining my competitive and entrepreneurial spirit into building my two companies and strategically aligning with exciting, global businesses and brands," said Williams. "Zeel is an innovative and transformative company that fits seamlessly with my lifestyle as a professional athlete, and I'm eager to bring my passion for health and wellbeing and for growing businesses to the boardroom of a company redefining Americans' access to wellness."
"Venus brings an elevated understanding of modern health and fitness that recognizes the vital role of muscle recovery in physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing," said Samer Hamadeh, founder and CEO of Zeel. "Together with her career achievements and business acumen, that understanding makes Venus an ideal partner for Zeel, and we are thrilled to welcome her to our dynamic team."
A tennis legend and four-time Olympic Gold medalist, Williams is also an accomplished entrepreneur who founded V Starr Interiors in 2002, a full-service commercial interior design firm that creates designs for commercial and select residential properties, and subsequently launched EleVen by Venus Williams, a successful line of fashion-forward activewear. In addition to her businesses and seven Grand Slam titles, Williams is the author of the New York Times' bestseller, "Come to Win: Business Leaders, Artists, Doctors, and Other Visionaries on How Sports Can Help You Top Your Profession."
Williams joins existing Zeel board members Hamadeh (Zeel CEO), Jeff Anderson of Palisades Growth Capital, Marcel Bens of Emil Capital, Ryan Freedman of Corigin Ventures, and Ilya Nykin of Prolog Ventures. Zeel's investor base also includes Dave Morin, Esther Dyson, and Chris Burch.
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