{{Short description|American fitness entrepreneur}}
'''Elizabeth Cutler''' is an American entrepreneur and venture capitalist. She is noted for co-founding the startup SoulCycle, a popular indoor cycling brand.
==Early life and education== Cutler obtained her undergraduate degree in Art History and Religious Studies from the University of Colorado. She went to India, where she lived in a monastery as part of her studies, and she also traveled throughout Southeast Asia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Magnia |date=2024-12-05 |title=Elizabeth Cutler |url=https://www.shofco.org/elizabeth-cutler/ |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=SHOFCO |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Career== Cutler's early career after graduation included work in Telluride, Colorado, where she worked as a real estate agent like her mother. She then moved to New York City, where she resides with her husband, Allen, and their two daughters.<ref name="LiS">{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Shan |date=2015-08-09 |title=SoulCycle founders are peddling fun in the gym |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-himi-cutler-rice-20150809-story.html |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2006, Cutler co-founded SoulCycle with Julie Rice and Ruth Zukerman.<ref name="Clark">{{Cite web |last=Clarke |first=Katherine |date=2025-07-07 |title=SoulCycle Co-Founder Lists Colorado Estate for $29.5 Million |url=https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/luxury-homes/soulcycle-co-founder-lists-colorado-estate-for-29-5-million-85938c42 |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=The Wall Street Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> The concept was an indoor cycling gym, and she became its co-CEO until 2015. From one studio, the business quickly expanded, and by 2015, it had 46 locations and employed 1,500 people.<ref name=LiS/> Its popularity was attributed to the 45-minute classes, which combined fitness and fun. Its clients included prominent personalities such as Michelle Obama, Chelsea Clinton, Harry Styles, and David Beckham, among others.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Julie Hirschfeld |date=2016-01-11 |title=A Beat and a Bike: The First Lady's Candlelit Habit |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/11/us/politics/a-beat-and-a-bike-michelle-obamas-candlelit-habit.html |access-date=2026-03-03 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-08-15 |title=Harry Styles: Superstar on stage, but not at SoulCycle {{!}} Page Six |url=https://pagesix.com/2014/08/15/harry-styles-superstar-on-stage-but-not-in-soulcycle/ |access-date=2026-03-03 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-07-31 |title=Why are Americans hooked on SoulCycle? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-33723769 |access-date=2026-03-03 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> The startup was acquired in stages by Equinox Fitness: first, a majority stake in 2011; and, full ownership in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grenoble |first=Ryan |date=8 April 2016 |title=SoulCycle's Co-Founders Resign From The Indoor Cycling Phenomenon |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/soulcycle-founders-resign-julie-rice-elizabeth-cutler_n_5707ea59e4b04bf520ff59a6#:~:text=The%20company%20that%20Cutler%20and,this%20hard%2Dhitting%20journalism.%E2%80%9D&text=Say%20goodbye%20to%20annoying%20video,No%20more%20autoplay%20videos |website=HuffPost}}</ref> She reportedly earned $90 million from the sale.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Creswell |first=Julie |date=2015-08-20 |title=Investors Hope to Ride Swell of SoulCycle Fever in Coming I.P.O. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/21/business/investors-hope-to-ride-swell-of-soulcycle-enthusiasm-in-coming-ipo.html |access-date=2026-03-03 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
A year later, Cutler launched Dopamine Ventures, which aimed to advise and finance startups. The company had funded the co-working space the Wing, Iconiq, and Cava, a Middle Eastern fast-casual restaurant chain.<ref name="Hughes">{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=C. J. |date=2025-11-18 |title=SoulCyle co-founder picks up Cobble Hill brownstone for $6M |url=https://www.crainsnewyork.com/real-estate/soulcycles-elizabeth-cutler-buys-brooklyn-townhouse-6m |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=Crain's New York Business |language=en}}</ref> Her new ventures also included Peoplehood, which she co-founded with Rice. The business involved a 60-minute “conversation Circle”, where participants develop skills required for connection.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 August 2023 |title=Meet Elizabeth Cutler {{!}} Founder SoulCycle and Peoplehood |url=https://shoutoutcolorado.com/meet-elizabeth-cutler-founder-soulcycle-and-peoplehood/ |website=Shoutout Colorado}}</ref> The concept, which was dubbed as SoulCycle without the bicycle, was introduced post-pandemic and anticipated the so-called “global loneliness crisis”.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-15 |title=244. Elizabeth Cutler, Co-Founder of Peoplehood & SoulCycle |url=https://www.hurdle.us/blog/2023/3/15/244-elizabeth-cutler-co-founder-of-peoplehood-amp-soulcycle |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=Hurdle |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2013 and 2014, Cutler was listed as one of Goldman Sachs’ 100 Builders + Innovators. She was also recognized a year later as one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Elizabeth Cutler {{!}} Keynote Speaker {{!}} AAE Speakers Bureau |url=https://www.aaespeakers.com/keynote-speakers/elizabeth-cutler |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=www.aaespeakers.com}}</ref>
===Real Estate=== Aside from her startup ventures, Cutler is still involved with real estate. In 2025, she sold her Colorado estate, which was listed for $29.5 million.<ref name=Clark/> In the same year, she purchased Cobble Hill brownstone in New York City for $5.7 million.<ref name=Hughes/>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cutler, Elizabeth}} Category:Living people Category:21st-century American businesspeople Category:21st-century American businesswomen Category:American business executives Category:American women business executives Category:Exercise instructors Category:Year of birth missing (living people)