Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi is a Certified B Corporation outdoor brand designing and selling sustainably made packs, apparel, and travel gear through DTC e-commerce, 20+ retail stores, and wholesale channels, with a mission-driven focus on poverty alleviation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersSalt Lake City, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Cotopaxi does
Cotopaxi, legally Global Uprising PBC, is a privately held, Certified B Corporation outdoor brand headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, founded in 2014 by Davis Smith with a stated mission of using business to alleviate poverty. The company designs, manufactures, and sells outdoor and adventure gear — including the Allpa travel pack line, the Del Día one-of-a-kind deadstock-fabric collection, the newly launched Coraza hard-sided recycled-polycarbonate luggage, daypacks, duffels, totes, organizers, and men's and women's apparel — primarily through direct-to-consumer channels, supported by more than 20 company-owned retail stores and six regional country websites (US, Australia, Canada, EU, Japan, New Zealand, UK). Manufacturing is distributed across a curated global partner network spanning the Philippines (Bataan for packs), China (Tianjin for outerwear, Shanghai for headwear, Yiwu for active apparel), India (Chinnakarai for organic cotton), Cambodia (Phnom Penh for activewear), Indonesia (Asmara and GreenTex for woven apparel), Vietnam (Pungkook for packs), and the US (Portland Garment Factory), with multiple Fair Trade Certified facilities and 96%+ of products containing repurposed, recycled, or responsibly certified materials as of 2024.
The business model is direct-to-consumer-led one-time unit sales (no subscription), with prices spanning $25-$500 across gift cards, packs, and apparel, plus an emerging resale channel via a ThredUp-powered Clean Out Program launched in November 2025. Revenue is supplemented by donations to the Cotopaxi Foundation (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit receiving 1% of annual revenue), with cumulative impact metrics including 4.7 million people helped, 2,745,000 yards of fabric kept from landfill, and over 50,000 five-star customer reviews. The Guaranteed for Good program provides lifetime warranty, repairs, and trade-in options as a retention mechanism. The company has raised approximately $83.3M cumulatively across nine funding rounds, including a $45M growth round led by Bain Capital Double Impact Fund in September 2021, and is currently backed by Bain Capital as a private-equity financial partner.
Cotopaxi's strategic positioning centers on mission-driven differentiation, sustainability credentials (B Corp, 1% for the Planet, PFAS-free, Fair Trade, bluesign, RDS-certified down), and a circular-commerce architecture combining deadstock sourcing, repairability (Coraza QR-coded repair guidance, replaceable parts), and resale. Recent strategic initiatives include the April 2026 Coraza luggage entry into the $10B U.S. luggage market, the Stitch Fix wholesale partnership for activewear/accessories exposure, an agentic-AI product discovery buildout with Mirakl and Shopify, and physical retail expansion (e.g., Jackson Hole, Wyoming). The company operates across multiple sales channels — DTC e-commerce, owned retail, authorized wholesalers, and emerging platforms — and continues to invest in supply-chain transparency and circularity as core brand pillars.
Cotopaxi firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cotopaxi
- Legal name
- Global Uprising, PBC
- Website
- http://www.cotopaxi.com/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Cotopaxi is a Certified B Corporation outdoor brand designing and selling sustainably made packs, apparel, and travel gear through DTC e-commerce, 20+ retail stores, and wholesale channels, with a mission-driven focus on poverty alleviation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cotopaxi industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Outdoor Apparel and Gear
- NAICS
- Textile Bag and Canvas Mills (314910), Luggage and Leather Goods Retailers (45832), Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159), Sporting Goods Retailers (45911)
- SIC
- Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Women's, Misses', And Juniors Outerwear (2330), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Backpacks, Bags & Load-Carriage Retail (CRAMAMAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Outdoor Travel Gear (Duffels, Packs, Dry Bags) Retail (CRAMAAAI), Sports, Outdoor & Adventure Packs Manufacturing (Backpacks/Duffels) (IMAOAHAE), Outerwear & Cold-Weather Apparel Manufacturers (CRAAAAAI), Camping, Hiking & Backpacking Gear Retail (CRAMAMAA)
Keywords
Where Cotopaxi is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Salt Lake City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices20 records
Markets served
Cotopaxi business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Product Sales (Packs, Apparel, Accessories): Cotopaxi generates revenue primarily through direct sales of outdoor gear including backpacks, travel packs, apparel, and accessories through its e-commerce platform and retail stores.
- Cotopaxi Foundation Donations: Customers can donate to the Cotopaxi Foundation with proceeds going to vetted nonprofit partners working to end poverty. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
- Gift Cards: Digital gift cards sold in denominations of $25, $40, $50, $100, $200, $300, and $500.
- Resale (ThredUp Partnership): Dedicated resale shop powered by ThredUp allowing customers to resell gently-worn Cotopaxi items for shopping credit and shop pre-loved items.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Coraza Carry-On Suitcase |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Coraza Medium Checked Suitcase |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Allpa 35L Travel Pack |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Allpa 28L Travel Pack |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Allpa 50L Adventure Travel Pack |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Calidez Down Parka (Women's) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gift Cards |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Digital Gift Card |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Cotopaxi product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cotopaxi designs, manufactures, and sells sustainably made outdoor gear including travel packs (Allpa line), hard-sided luggage (Coraza line), daypacks, duffels, totes, roller bags, organizers, and men's and women's outdoor apparel (outerwear, insulation, fleece, sun protection). Products are sold through direct e-commerce, owned retail stores, regional country sites, and authorized wholesale retailers, anchored by the Guaranteed for Good program (lifetime warranty, repairs, trade-ins) and supported by the Cotopaxi Foundation donation mechanism.
Product overview
Cotopaxi is a Certified B Corporation adventure brand offering a comprehensive outdoor gear portfolio centered on responsibly made packs, apparel, and travel accessories. The core product lines include the Allpa travel pack collection (18L-50L+), the newly launched Coraza hard-sided luggage (entry into $10B luggage market with repairable, recycled polycarbonate designs), the Del Día collection (deadstock fabric bags with unique colorways), and full men's/women's apparel lines spanning outerwear, insulation, fleece, and sun protection. The business model is anchored by the 'Guaranteed for Good' program (lifetime warranty, repairs, trade-ins) and the Cotopaxi Foundation (1% revenue donation to poverty alleviation). Recent expansion includes AI-enabled product discovery through agentic platforms and a ThredUp-powered resale marketplace.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Del Día: A collection of colorful backpacks made from 100% leftover deadstock fabric. Each pack is one-of-a-kind and kind to the planet.
- Coraza
- Teca
- Cada Día
Products and services
- Allpa Collection
Quantifiable outcome
- 4.7 million people helped since 2014 through Cotopaxi Foundation grants
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Cotopaxi
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Cotopaxi technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability2 records
Feature3 records
Cotopaxi partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Stitch FixminorStitch Fix is expanding into activewear, footwear, and accessories, adding Cotopaxi alongside brands such as Outdoor Voices, Malbon Golf, and Frye while deepening partnerships with adidas and New Balance.
- ThredUpcoreCotopaxi launched a dedicated resale shop and closet clean out program powered by ThredUp's Resale-as-a-Service platform. The program allows customers to resell gently-worn Cotopaxi items for shopping credit and shop pre-loved items directly on Cotopaxi's website.
- CARE Ecuador & OMICSEcoreNonprofit partners empowering Indigenous women with knowledge and skills to lead and protect their communities through Cotopaxi Foundation grants.
- Mercy CorpscoreCotopaxi Foundation grantee partner focused on poverty alleviation and humanitarian efforts.
- United to Beat MalariacoreCotopaxi Foundation partner that helped make Suriname officially malaria-free, providing malaria interventions to 100,000+ people in South America.
- Bataan Factory (Philippines)corePrimary manufacturing partner for backpacks and bags. Factory partners with Cotopaxi in reducing fabric waste through Del Día products using unused materials from other brands.
- Tianjin Factory (China)coreManufacturing partner for insulation and outerwear. Produces jackets with responsibly sourced RDS certified down. Owner prioritizes worker well-being.
- Chinnakarai Factory (India)coreFair Trade Certified factory producing organic cotton t-shirts with worker-led initiatives.
- Shanghai Factory (China)coreHeadwear production at first Fair Trade Certified factory in China. One of the most advanced headwear manufacturers globally.
- Phnom Penh Factory (Cambodia)coreActivewear production subsidiary of respected activewear manufacturer with 45+ years experience. Leader in community impact and sustainability.
- Asmara (Jawa Barat, Indonesia)coreWoven apparel and gloves production. Sustainable Apparel Coalition member using recycled materials for technical products.
- Pungkook (Vietnam)corePacks production by leading innovator in outdoor and technical performance space with suite of technologies and certifications.
- Wonder (Yiwu, Zhejiang, China)coreActive apparel production founded on principles of strong technology and standardized management with community of networked suppliers.
- GreenTex (West Java, Indonesia)coreApparel factory dedicated to advancing ethical and sustainable practices in the textile industry.
- Portland Garment Factory (Oregon, USA)coreWoman-owned, zero-waste design and fabrication studio. B Corp known for prioritizing circularity, sustainability, and democratic operating model.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cotopaxi competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Patagonia: Direct peer as a mission-driven outdoor brand with deep sustainability credentials (1% for the Planet founder, B Corp, Fair Trade, recycled materials). Competes across packs, apparel, and outdoor gear with overlapping customer base of conscious outdoor enthusiasts.
- Allbirds: Direct peer as a sustainable, mission-driven consumer brand (B Corp, carbon-neutral positioning) serving conscious consumers. Comparable DTC-first model, premium pricing, and emphasis on material innovation and ESG storytelling.
- REI Co-op: Direct peer as an outdoor retailer with deep sustainability commitments, co-op mission, and broad assortment of packs, apparel, and outdoor gear. Operates both retail stores and e-commerce, overlapping significantly with Cotopaxi's distribution model.
- Osprey Packs: Direct peer as a pack-specialist outdoor brand offering travel packs, daypacks, and backpacks with comparable lifetime warranty (All Mighty Guarantee) and similar target customer of adventure travelers and outdoor enthusiasts.
- Peak Design: Direct peer as a DTC-first bag and travel gear brand with premium pricing, lifetime warranty, sustainability initiatives, and strong design-led positioning. Competes most directly with Cotopaxi's Allpa travel pack and everyday carry bags.
- Topo Designs: Direct peer as an outdoor/commuter bag and apparel brand with sustainability credentials, Colorado roots, and comparable price points. Overlaps on packs, duffels, and outdoor apparel for adventure and everyday use.
- FJÄLLRÄVEN: Direct peer as a heritage outdoor brand specializing in backpacks (Kånken) and travel gear, with strong sustainability positioning and premium pricing. Comparable customer base of outdoor enthusiasts and conscious consumers.
Emerging players
- Away: Emerging direct peer with Cotopaxi's Coraza launch — both DTC-first, design-led luggage brands targeting millennial/Gen Z travelers. Comparable premium pricing and brand-driven positioning, though Away is more established in the luggage category.
Broad incumbents
- Columbia Sportswear: Broad incumbent in outdoor apparel, footwear, and accessories with vastly larger scale, wholesale distribution, and international reach. Competes with Cotopaxi across outerwear and outdoor gear but at lower price points and broader demographic.
- VF Corporation: Broad incumbent parent of The North Face, JanSport, and Eastpak — directly competing across Cotopaxi's core pack categories at massive scale, with established wholesale relationships and brand recognition. Industry layoffs in 2024 affected this portfolio alongside Cotopaxi.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cotopaxi social profiles
Digital presenceCotopaxi compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Cotopaxi financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cotopaxi leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Cotopaxi funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds9 records
Investors19 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cotopaxi M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cotopaxi
What does Cotopaxi do?
Cotopaxi designs, manufactures, and sells sustainably made outdoor gear including travel packs (Allpa line), hard-sided luggage (Coraza line), daypacks, duffels, totes, roller bags, organizers, and men's and women's outdoor apparel (outerwear, insulation, fleece, sun protection). Products are sold through direct e-commerce, owned retail stores, regional country sites, and authorized wholesale retailers, anchored by the Guaranteed for Good program (lifetime warranty, repairs, trade-ins) and supported by the Cotopaxi Foundation donation mechanism.
Is Cotopaxi a public or private company?
Cotopaxi is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Cotopaxi founded?
Cotopaxi was founded in 2014. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Cotopaxi based?
Cotopaxi is headquartered in Salt Lake City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cotopaxi make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Product Sales (Packs, Apparel, Accessories) is the primary driver. The others are cotopaxi Foundation Donations, gift Cards and resale (ThredUp Partnership).
Who are Cotopaxi's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Patagonia, Allbirds, REI Co-op, Osprey Packs, Peak Design, Topo Designs and FJÄLLRÄVEN. Away is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Columbia Sportswear and VF Corporation.
Does Cotopaxi have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cotopaxi.
What industry is Cotopaxi in?
Cotopaxi's product category is Outdoor Apparel and Gear. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMAMAI, Backpacks, Bags & Load-Carriage Retail, with a secondary code of CRAMAAAI, Outdoor Travel Gear (Duffels, Packs, Dry Bags) Retail. Its NAICS code is 314910 and its SIC code is 2300.