trx
TRX Training is the pioneering force behind suspension training, founded by former Navy SEAL Randy Hetrick in 2005.
The Story
TRX Training is the pioneering force behind suspension training, a fitness category the company essentially invented and scaled into a global movement. Founded by former Navy SEAL Randy Hetrick, TRX began as a field expedient—a jiu-jitsu belt rigged over a doorframe for bodyweight resistance training while deployed overseas. Hetrick formalized the invention in 1997, left the SEALs in 2002, earned his Stanford MBA in 2003, and launched TRX Training in 2004.
The early years were lean. Hetrick bootstrapped the company from his garage, held over 30 patents, and built the TRX instructor certification program that became the backbone of the brand. A manufacturing defect—handles that cracked like potato chips on first use—nearly sank the company in its earliest large lot, but Hetrick stabilized operations and pushed through. By 2015, TRX had reached over $50 million in annual revenue, earned multiple Inc. 500 placements, and certified more than 350,000 trainers across 30 countries.
In 2019, Hetrick sold a controlling stake to private equity. The partnership soured within a few years, and under new ownership the company filed for bankruptcy. Hetrick partnered with Jack Daly to buy TRX back and returned as CEO in 2023. He now also runs OutFit Training, a mobile fitness franchise concept that brings functional training gear to outdoor locations in custom vans, designed to lower barriers for veterans entering the fitness industry. TRX remains headquartered in San Francisco and continues to manufacture its signature Suspension Trainers while expanding the product line to include the TRX Pro4, TRX RIP Trainer, and accessories for home, gym, and military use.
Key Facts & Metrics
Company Timeline
2005 — TRX Training founded
Randy Hetrick launched TRX Training in Delray Beach, Florida, commercializing the suspension training system he developed as a Navy SEAL.
2007 — First retail partnerships
TRX expanded from direct-to-consumer into retail partnerships, bringing suspension trainers to mainstream fitness audiences.
2010 — Global expansion
TRX Training established international distribution and became the dominant brand in suspension training equipment worldwide.
2020 — Digital subscription launch
TRX launched the TRX App with on-demand workouts and live classes, extending the brand beyond equipment into digital fitness.
Episodes Featuring trx
Advice Line: Tapping AI as a Resource for Your Business
Guy Raz hosts a special Advice Line episode where six founders reveal how they weave AI into their businesses. From Modi Toys to Raising Cane's, these entrepreneurs share concrete examples of automation and analysis that freed them to focus on what humans do best. No hype, no buzzwords—just practical insights you can apply.
Advice Line with Randy Hetrick of TRX
The HIBT Advice Line with Randy Hetrick of TRX delivers actionable, no-fluff solutions to listener fitness roadblocks. He shares adaptable bodyweight training tips for every skill level, plus strategies for building sustainable movement habits even on the busiest, most unpredictable schedules. Listeners leave with personalized, equipment-free guidance to upgrade their strength and mobility routines without expensive gym memberships.
