Interview with Altipeak Founder Noel O’Brien
Altipeak Founder Noel O’Brien applied his passion for endurance athletics and over 20 years of business development, operations and performance-tech experience across logistics and high-performance sport, to set up his Altipeak business. Altipeak™ International launched its first facility in 2017 and began franchising in 2024. Noel talks about his journey and plans to expand in the UK.
Tell us a bit about yourself
As CEO & founder of Altipeak™ International, I bring over 20 years of business development, operations and performance-tech experience across logistics and high-performance sport.
My passion outside work is endurance athletics. I compete in Ironman-style events, and I love applying that athlete mindset to business. Altipeak™ grew from that passion.
Can you tell us about Altipeak?
Altipeak™ International launched its first facility in 2017 and began franchising in 2024.
We moved to the franchise model to scale our proprietary altitude-training ecosystem and empower local entrepreneurs to bring this high-performance concept to their markets.
We currently support multiple franchise locations, offering a complete suite of services: our bespoke altitude-training systems (designed and manufactured in-house), performance testing, recovery protocols, membership & session programming, and full site-launch and ongoing operational support.
Who is your target market?
Our target market includes boutique gyms, premium wellness studios, physiotherapy & sports-rehab clinics, corporate wellness centres, and performance-driven health clubs.
Demand is strong as altitude and hypoxic training moves from elite sport into mainstream fat-loss, recovery, wellness and performance niches.
The health-and-fitness industry continues to grow strongly in the UK, Ireland and globally.
Why is Altipeak a great investment for potential franchisees?
Investing in Altipeak™ means owning a unique equipment-and-service franchise in a relatively under-served niche.
Franchisees benefit from exclusive territories, recurring member revenue (training, testing, recovery), and the distinction of owning in-house manufactured hardware — not simply reselling third-party gear.
Our model offers lower head-count overheads and a strong profit-potential pathway.
What differentiates Altipeak from the competition?
Unlike typical fitness franchises with commodity equipment, Altipeak™ controls its own manufacturing and product design in-house - delivering a bespoke altitude-training environment no one else replicates.
Our brand integrates tech, performance science, and studio experience into a premium offering that stands apart from standard “gym-with-machines” models.
What is the role of an Altipeak franchisee?
A franchisee operates their Altipeak™ site: managing member experience, overseeing sessions and performance testing, marketing locally, and engaging the community.
We provide the systems, training, and brand — the franchisee brings local leadership and delivers the premium experience.
What qualities do you look for in an Altipeak franchisee?
We’re seeking entrepreneurs with business drive, passion for fitness and performance, strong people skills, and a commitment to delivering high-quality experiences.
A successful franchisee combines commercial acumen with genuine belief in the value of performance and wellness.
What challenges have you had to overcome?
We navigated complex product-design, manufacturing, and regulatory challenges in creating a safe, branded altitude-training system designed for commercial use.
We’ve built internal manufacturing and quality-control capabilities to ensure consistency and reliability — a difficult but differentiating foundation.
What have been Altipeak’s biggest achievements to date?
Highlights include multiple site launches across Ireland under our brand, development of our own in-house altitude-training hardware, and building a full performance-testing and recovery ecosystem that attracts both wellness clients and elite athletes.
What does the future hold for Altipeak?
Our target is to establish 25 franchise sites in Ireland/UK in the next three years, then scale to 100+ globally within five years.
We’re also developing portable/consumer-grade altitude systems to tap into the home performance market.
What expansion plans have you got nationally and internationally?
We’re actively recruiting franchise partners nationally (Ireland, UK) and internationally (rest of Europe, Middle East, Australia, USA).
We’ll support master-franchise arrangements to drive localised growth with full central support infrastructure.
Interested and want to know more about Altipeak?
The Altipeak profile outlines all aspects of their franchise opportunity and allows you to contact them for further information or to ask a question.
