Gym+Coffee

Established in 2017 by Niall Horgan, Diarmuid McSweeney, and Karl Swaine, Gym+Coffee is a direct-to-consumer athleisure brand headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. The founders, inspired by the active and social lifestyles they observed while living abroad in places like Sydney and San Francisco, aimed to create a brand that encouraged a community around exercise and socializing. Horgan brought experience from sales and marketing roles at Twitter and Slack, while McSweeney had a background in marketing.

The business operates in the competitive athleisure market, offering a range of clothing for men and women, including hoodies, t-shirts, leggings, and accessories. Revenue is generated through a multi-channel approach, combining e-commerce sales with physical retail stores, known as 'Clubhouses'. Initially an online-only venture, the company expanded into brick-and-mortar retail after a successful two-week pop-up shop in Dundrum, which has since become a long-term location. The brand has also established a wholesale channel, partnering with major UK retailers like Next and Debenhams, and is finalizing distribution deals in Asia and the Middle East.

Gym+Coffee’s core proposition is to provide comfortable, stylish apparel suitable for both workouts and casual social gatherings, encapsulated in their 'Make Life Richer' motto. A significant part of the company's strategy involves building a community through free events like yoga classes and hiking meet-ups. This community-centric focus has been a key differentiator. The brand has successfully garnered support from high-profile investors and ambassadors, including pop star Niall Horan and rugby legend Brian O'Driscoll. Since its inception, the company has raised $25.4 million over four funding rounds, with a notable €17 million investment in 2022 led by Castlegate Investments to fuel UK expansion and sustainability initiatives. By March 2024, the company had processed its one-millionth customer order in Ireland and now serves customers in over 80 countries. In June 2025, the founding trio announced they were stepping back from daily operations, with Niall Horgan becoming Chairman and former Nike and Adidas executive Jason Crawford appointed as CEO to lead the next phase of international growth.

Keywords: athleisure, direct-to-consumer, community-focused retail, Irish fashion brand, e-commerce apparel, activewear, lifestyle brand, retail expansion, celebrity-backed startup, Niall Horgan, Diarmuid McSweeney, Karl Swaine, omnichannel retail, hoodies, fitness apparel, social exercise, European startup, venture capital funding, Castlegate Investments, international growth, wholesale partnerships