Starting a business is never easy, but UD alumnus Blake Armentano (‘20) has done it twice—first with his indoor cycling studio, Oh-So Cycle, and now with his AI-driven startup, Revi Solutions. What started as a way to improve client engagement at his gym has grown into a powerful tool helping fitness businesses boost retention and revenue.
This two-part series explores Blake’s journey from fitness entrepreneur to tech founder. In Part 1, we’ll dive into how he got started, validated his idea, and tackled early challenges. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll discuss his long-term vision and the future of AI in business.
Q: What inspired you to start this venture, and what problem are you aiming to solve?
A: “When I was going into my senior year at the University of Delaware, I opened an indoor cycling studio called Oh-So Cycle. Over the 4.5 years that I owned and operated the business before eventually selling it, I learned invaluable lessons about entrepreneurship, leadership, and growth. One of the most significant takeaways was the critical importance of effectively engaging and communicating with clients—not just to foster a sense of community, but to guide them through their fitness journey, ultimately increasing conversion rates, customer retention, and lifetime value.
As I navigated these challenges, I began building systems that leveraged artificial intelligence to streamline and enhance client communication. These tools helped me connect with members more personally and efficiently, driving measurable growth for my studio. After about a year of using these systems successfully, I decided to offer them as a pilot to other gym owners within my network. Seeing the same transformative results in their businesses confirmed that I was onto something meaningful. That’s when I knew it was time to scale the idea—and that’s how my venture was born.
At its core, my mission is to solve the problem of ineffective client engagement in the fitness industry (and beyond) by providing AI-driven solutions that not only automate communication but also create authentic, personalized experiences that drive growth”
Q: How did you first validate your idea? Was there a particular reaction or feedback that stuck with you?
A: “The validation of Revi Solutions started internally at my own business, Oh-So Cycle. I wasn’t setting out to create a tech company at the time—I was simply trying to solve a real problem within my studio: how to improve client engagement, boost conversion rates, and retain members more effectively. I built AI-driven systems to optimize these areas, and the results were undeniable. Our conversion rates jumped from 14% to 38%, and our retention rates nearly 5x’d. Seeing that kind of impact firsthand was the first signal that I was onto something bigger than just an internal tool. The real turning point, though, was when we implemented the system for our first external client—a large gym in Brooklyn generating over $350,000 in monthly revenue. I wanted to see if Revi could deliver the same level of success in a completely different environment, with a different business model and scale. They added over $25,000 in new revenue month over month after adopting Revi, with similar improvements in conversion and retention metrics. What stuck with me wasn’t just the numbers, though they were impressive—it was the reaction from the gym’s owner. They told me, “I’ve never seen a system that not only brings in more revenue but makes the entire process feel effortless.” That feedback reinforced what I already believed: this wasn’t just a tool that worked for my business—it was a scalable solution that could transform any business. That’s when I knew”
Q: What has been your biggest challenge so far, and how did you overcome it?
A: “The biggest challenge I’ve faced has been the need to completely reinvent myself while building Revi Solutions into the SaaS product it’s becoming today. Transitioning from running a fitness studio to leading a tech company required me to step far outside my comfort zone. I had to take my understanding of AI automation to a whole new level, essentially wearing multiple hats—acting as an AI automation engineer, UI designer, product tester, and product manager—all while steering the vision of the company.
At the same time, I was managing an eight-person engineering team responsible for translating my vision into a scalable product, overseeing more than 25 clients, and leading an in-person team of three at our Manhattan office. The biggest issue wasn’t the workload itself; it was being spread too thin, which made it difficult to give each area the focus and attention it deserved.
To overcome this, I realized I needed to shift from doing everything to building the infrastructure that would enable my team and the business to thrive without relying solely on me. I focused on creating systems, processes, and leadership structures that allowed for more autonomy across teams. This meant implementing project management frameworks, refining internal communication channels, and delegating key responsibilities to trusted team members.
The result? I was able to reclaim the mental space needed to focus on high-impact areas like product vision and strategic growth, while empowering my team to operate efficiently and effectively. That experience taught me that scaling a business isn’t just about growing the product or client base—it’s about scaling yourself as a leader”
Q: What do you consider your startup’s biggest achievement or milestone to date?
A: “One of our biggest achievements to date was successfully raising a $500,000 pre-seed round less than five months after launching Revi Solutions. Securing that level of investment so early on was a huge milestone—not just because of the capital itself, but because of what it represented. It validated our vision, our product, and most importantly, the relentless dedication of our team.
We didn’t achieve this by luck. It was the result of countless late nights, an unwavering belief in the value we were creating, and the ability to execute with precision. From managing product development and refining our technology to scaling client operations and delivering measurable results, our team operated with a level of focus and intensity that made it clear we were building something special.
Investors didn’t just see potential in our product; they saw the passion, resilience, and capability of the people behind it. That pre-seed round wasn’t just a financial milestone—it was proof that our hard work, strategic thinking, and commitment to solving real problems had positioned us for long-term success. It marked the moment we shifted from a promising idea to a venture with the resources and momentum to scale.”
Q: What’s your vision for the company in the next 5-10 years?
A:”My vision for Revi Solutions over the next 5–10 years is to evolve from a service-based business into a fully scalable SaaS company. While our service-driven approach has been instrumental in validating our systems, building client relationships, and proving the effectiveness of our AI-driven solutions, we know that to truly maximize our impact, we need to shift towards a product-led model.
This pivot will allow us to scale exponentially, providing value to thousands of businesses across industries, not just the select clients we can manage directly. By transitioning to a comprehensive SaaS platform, we’ll empower businesses to leverage our technology independently—giving them access to powerful AI tools that optimize client engagement, streamline operations, and drive revenue growth.
Long-term, I envision Revi Solutions as the go-to platform for businesses looking to harness the power of AI without the complexity. We aim to democratize access to advanced automation, making it simple, effective, and transformative for businesses of all sizes. Our goal is to not only keep pace with the future of AI-driven growth but to help define it.”
Blake Armentano turned a simple idea into a powerful AI tool for businesses. With Revi Solutions, he’s helping companies grow and engage customers more effectively. As he expands into a scalable SaaS platform, his journey proves that innovation and adaptability drive success— and this is just the start.
Follow Blake’s journey on Instagram @blakearmentano.
About Horn Entrepreneurship
Horn Entrepreneurship serves as the creative engine for entrepreneurship education and advancement at the University of Delaware. Currently ranked among the best entrepreneurship programs in the U.S., horn Entrepreneurship was built and is actively supported by successful entrepreneurs, empowering aspiring innovators as they pursue new ideas for a better world.
