I’ve been an entrepreneur since the age of fourteen when I founded a fashion magazine, Prim, which very unexpectedly went onto become a success within the fashion world, retailing across five continents and amassing over one million readers worldwide. Disillusioned by the fashion industry and wanting to change the world in a more impactful and positive way, at the age of twenty-four I founded The Provocateur, a digital platform for women that spoke to leading females in culture about topics that mattered. Luckily, The Provocateur also did incredibly well and picked up endorsements and collaborations from fellow outlets which included the likes of Vogue Italia and i-D, but it was in the middle of our seed round that I received a message that would change the trajectory of my life forever – I lost my close friend due to the effects of a sexual assault. I was shocked, heartbroken, and lost, but my friend was a fighter just like me and I knew that nothing would make her more proud than to alchemize this pain into a positive good – one that wouldn’t just turn her into another statistic.

I came across a report commissioned by the National Institute of Justice that found that women who physically defend themselves against their aggressors reduce their risk of violence by over 80% compared to women who are nonresistant. A second study by the University of Oregon found that self-defense is “one of the most promising interventions to prevent violence against women.”

As a woman, I was shocked by these numbers. As a contemporary, I couldn’t help but wonder if my friend would still be here if she knew how to protect herself. As an entrepreneur, I saw a huge gap in the market and a category-defining company waiting to be born.

Why has self-defense and strength training never been branded for women in a world where 81% of women have experienced sexual harassment or assault? Why have we never packaged it in such a way that made it something that they would actually want to do? Why do we only help women once they’ve already been assaulted? Why is no one providing them with the knowledge and skills required to keep them safe in the first place? Why are we not giving women who have already been assaulted a safe space to grow their confidence in both body and mind?

After months of research and early feasibility studies, I gave up The Provocateur to found Uppercut, a new subscription-based digital fitness platform that is committed to empowering women through protective strength training and self-defense.

We’re currently working alongside the best and the brightest in the sport – women who have led historic HBO fight cards, held multiple world championship belts, are in the Hall of Fame, and have sold out Madison Square Garden – to develop a unique blend of MMA, boxing, and traditional self-defense that improves reflexes, endurance, strength, and speed (all while also giving a great workout.)

⁣In addition, we’ve also partnered with some of the world’s most iconic female rock stars to mentor women on the backend of our platform regarding self-confidence, self-love, and autonomy, ensuring that their minds are just as strong as their bodies.

We have also committed 10% of our profits to funding one-on-one self-defense classes for female sexual assault survivors and underprivileged, at-risk women. Because we believe that knowing how to protect yourself and developing confidence in your body shouldn’t be a privilege – it’s a right.

It is our mission to prevent violence against women by empowering them to confidently and assuredly protect themselves, one lesson at a time.

x,

Kristin Prim
Founder and CEO