Payal Kadakia is an American entrepreneur and the founder of ClassPass, a membership program that provides access to a wide range of fitness classes across multiple gyms and studios. Born on February 2, 1983, in Randolph, New Jersey, she has been passionate about dance since the age of three. Kadakia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She currently resides in New York City, USA.​

Prior to founding ClassPass, Kadakia worked as a consultant at Bain & Company, where she honed her business and strategic skills. She later joined Warner Music Group, gaining experience in the entertainment industry. Alongside her corporate roles, Kadakia pursued her passion for dance by founding The Sa Dance Company in 2009, aiming to increase awareness of Indian dance forms in the mainstream. Her diverse experiences in consulting, corporate strategy, and the arts provided a solid foundation for her entrepreneurial journey.

The inspiration for ClassPass stemmed from Kadakia's personal frustration in finding and booking dance classes after work. Recognizing a gap in the market, she launched the initial version of the platform, originally named Classtivity, which faced challenges and underwent iterations before evolving into ClassPass in 2013. By offering users the flexibility to attend various fitness classes through a single membership, ClassPass rapidly gained popularity. Under Kadakia's leadership, the company expanded to over 30 countries, facilitated millions of class reservations, and achieved a valuation exceeding $1 billion before its acquisition by Mindbody in October 2021. Kadakia's innovative approach and perseverance have established her as a prominent figure in the fitness and tech industries.​