The VO2 Cup
Join 200 people in San Francisco for a six-month VO2 max competition with a $50,000 grand prize.
Wait, what is this?
This is a season-long, SF-based competition to get in the best shape possible. The season looks like this:
How do we know who wins?
The winner will be the person with the highest VO2 max percentile for their age and sex, as measured in January / February via our covered, proctored VO2 max tests.
We thought a lot about the right metric for this challenge. Most health metrics fail at least one test: a) not clearly tied to longevity and general well-being, b) so genetically driven they barely respond to training, or c) not practical to measure across a diverse population.
VO2 max passes all three: a) nearly everyone should be optimizing it - it is one of the strongest known predictors of long-term mortality (JAMA, 2018, and the American Heart Association calls it a clinical vital sign), b) it is far more trainable than something like mile time, and c) it has clear percentiles across every population and is straightforward to measure in a lab.
Who can join?
Anybody can apply, no introduction or referral needed. Runners, founders on four hours of sleep, people who haven't trained since college, dads trying to get back in shape.*
Join a community
Six months of a private Slack with weekly accountability, community, and expert sessions.
It's hard to work on anything in a vacuum, and fundamentally, this challenge is about the power of community. We think a challenge like this can kickstart a real shift in how the tech community treats its health, if we all just have a reason to prioritize it.
So: join a community of 200 people who are... well, the kind of person that would join this challenge. Doesn't that sound fun?
The test
A standardized VO2 max lab test. Put a mask on, push until you hit your max, and the machine tells us your VO2 max, objectively.
Same lab, protocol, and testing window for everybody · no judgment calls
The celebration
One closing night in San Francisco, February 2027: dinner with the cohort, meet our special guests, and see the winner unmasked.
Winner's choice. Awarded live at the finale. Nobody will know who won until the celebration.
"How do I know you won't just run away with my money?"
Extremely fair question!
For some context, this is all run by Pablo Hansen, a 21-year-old founder building Proliferate who has mild obsessions with VO2 max scores, community, and competition. A few things that may help put you at ease:
Please note: we may take on sponsors to help cover costs, make the final celebration more exciting, and cover any contractors' expenses.
Why am I doing this?
Let me drop into first person for a second.
I (Pablo) want to catalyze a conversation about what it means to have gigantic ambitions while prioritizing health, and I think this is a fun, albeit quite idiosyncratic, way to do so.
I want to run this as an experiment. SF is the most obsessive, ambitious city in the world, and I love it. I'm a native, went to three schools with “San Francisco” in their names, and went through YC, so nobody can deny that I'm EXTREMELY SF. I want to see what happens if we point some of that same energy toward optimizing our health.
Oh and, we've done this before.
Yes, we're back to the plural version of Pablo. We did the first version of this challenge in 2026, at a smaller scale. The rules: the lowest third of VO2 max percentile scorers pays for the top two thirds' dinner at a Michelin-star restaurant. More than 40 people joined, and we celebrated at Michelin-starred Birdsong. Mahmoud Al-Madi took the board at the 97th percentile (he's disqualified from this challenge).
Questions
What is VO2 max?+
The most oxygen your body can use during hard exercise, in millilitres per kilogram per minute. One of the best single numbers for overall fitness, and one of the strongest predictors of how long you live.
Isn't this a genetics lottery?+
Less than you'd think. Genetics set your range, but VO2 max responds well to training, and scores are adjusted for age and sex, so the field stays close.
How does the test work?+
A real lab test: a treadmill with a mask measuring your breath, ramping up until you hit your max. About ten minutes of real effort, with one protocol for everyone.
Who can join?+
Anyone 18 or older may apply, with no introduction or referral required. Every application is reviewed individually for safety, eligibility, and a level playing field.
What about taxes?+
Cash and non-cash prizes are generally taxable to the winner at fair-market value. The winner supplies the required tax information and handles personal taxes.
Is this gambling?+
No. It is a contest of measured athletic performance: the prize is determined by a proctored VO2 max result, not by a raffle or random drawing.
Claim one of the 200 places.
Applications reviewed individually for safety and eligibility. Pablo reserves the right to determine eligibility in the name of creating a level playing field.
PDF Official rules · Rev A Open PDF