Kazakhstan-based fitness tech startup 1Fit, known for offering a unified fitness membership, abruptly ceased operations in Mexico at the end of April 2025. The company exited the market without prior notice to users or partners, leaving thousands of customers — including those with annual and semi-annual memberships — unable to access services.
Mexican users expressed outrage on social media. One user, @andygachvz, said she began receiving cancellation notices for her classes on April 29, and despite trying to reach out to the company, received no response. “It feels suspicious… I hope everyone gets their money back, but with over 2,000 people affected, it’s hard to believe,” she said.
What did the company say?
On April 30, 1Fit Mexico issued an official statement via its Instagram account, citing serious financial difficulties and security threats to employees as the main reasons for its sudden exit.
The company had entered the Mexican market in August 2024, launching services in cities like Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Querétaro. Initially successful, things changed in late April 2025, when the team reportedly faced aggressive demands and threats from unidentified individuals.
“Once we assessed the severity of the situation with local security advisors and authorities, we decided to evacuate our staff back to Kazakhstan to avoid putting them in further danger,” the statement reads.
1Fit emphasized that employee safety is their top priority. Following risk analysis, the company decided to gradually shut down operations in the country. They claimed that all employees had been fully compensated, and any remaining obligations to customers and partners would be addressed in accordance with Mexican law.
Why did the exit spiral out of control?
According to 1Fit co-founder and CEO Murat Alikhanov, the exit was initially meant to be orderly and well-managed, as the company had previously wound down operations in other markets.
However, the emergency evacuation disrupted internal coordination. One employee leaked the shutdown information to partners prematurely, despite a prior agreement not to do so. This triggered a chain reaction — partner studios began restricting user access, leading to widespread backlash on social media.
“Our plan was to continue running the service while gradually handling the legal closure process so that users wouldn’t be affected,” Alikhanov explained.
Currently, the company is working with a legal firm to finalize the official exit process in Mexico, including audits and court-supervised financial settlements, as required by local regulations.
