Cotopaxi (company)
| Company type | Private benefit corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Apparel |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founder | Davis Smith and Stephen Jacob |
| Headquarters | Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
| Products | Outdoor clothing and gear |
| Website | cotopaxi |
Cotopaxi is a Salt Lake City-based outdoor gear company known for colorful, sustainably made backpacks and jackets, adorned with a llama mascot.[1][2]
History
Cotopaxi was founded in 2014 by Davis Smith, Stephan Jacob and CJ Whittaker.[3] The company took its name from a volcano in Ecuador, where Smith had spent time as a child.[4] It was certified as a B corporation.[5]
Range Light Ventures, now known as Ridgeline Ventures, led a 2016 funding round of $11.1 million for Cotopaxi. In 2021, the company announced a funding round of $45 million, which included Bain Capital.[6]
Leadership
Smith stepped down as CEO in 2023 to serve a three-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Recife, Brazil. He was replaced by Damien Huang.[7] Huang left in 2024 and was replaced by Lindsay Shumlas, who had been serving as chief operation officer and chief financial officer for the company.[8]
References
- ^ "Despite growth, Utah outdoor brand lays off employees". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2025-09-03.
- ^ "Why this outdoor gear is designed to last 61 years". South China Morning Post. 2017-10-05. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
- ^ "The Heartbreaking Reason This Outdoor Gear Is Designed To Last for 61 Years". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on 2023-05-07. Retrieved 2025-09-03.
- ^ "Cotopaxi founder Davis Smith, who built a company with a mission to combat poverty, to speak at Gonzaga Thursday". Spokesman.com. 2023-04-12. Retrieved 2025-09-03.
- ^ "Utah's Cotopaxi doing good business by doing good". Deseret News. 2018-03-24. Retrieved 2025-09-03.
- ^ Smith, Eric (2021-09-24). "Cotopaxi CEO Outlines Goal to Become Billion-Dollar Brand". Outside Online. Retrieved 2025-09-03.
- ^ "Cotopaxi founder/CEO Davis Smith stepping down to serve Brazil mission". Deseret News. 2023-01-07. Retrieved 2025-09-03.
- ^ Palmieri, Jean E. (2024-12-05). "Cotopaxi Names Lindsay Shumlas CEO to Continue Its Purpose-driven Work". WWD. Retrieved 2025-09-03.