Cotopaxi (company)

Last updated
Cotopaxi
Company type Private benefit corporation
Industry Apparel
Founded2014;11 years ago (2014)
FounderDavis Smith and Stephen Jacob
Headquarters Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
ProductsOutdoor clothing and gear
Website cotopaxi.com

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]

Contents

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 the 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

  1. ↑ "Despite growth, Utah outdoor brand lays off employees". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2025-09-03.
  2. ↑ "Why this outdoor gear is designed to last 61 years". South China Morning Post. 2017-10-05. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  3. ↑ "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.
  4. ↑ "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.
  5. ↑ "Utah's Cotopaxi doing good business by doing good". Deseret News . 2018-03-24. Retrieved 2025-09-03.
  6. ↑ Smith, Eric (2021-09-24). "Cotopaxi CEO Outlines Goal to Become Billion-Dollar Brand". Outside Online. Retrieved 2025-09-03.
  7. ↑ "Cotopaxi founder/CEO Davis Smith stepping down to serve Brazil mission". Deseret News. 2023-01-07. Retrieved 2025-09-03.
  8. ↑ Palmieri, Jean E. (2024-12-05). "Cotopaxi Names Lindsay Shumlas CEO to Continue Its Purpose-driven Work". WWD. Retrieved 2025-09-03.
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