Cotopaxi

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.

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

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

• Outdoor apparel
• Travel packs
• Sustainable luggage
• Adventure backpacks
• Recycled gear

Headquarters

HQ city

Salt Lake City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices20 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Gift Cards: Digital gift cards sold in denominations of $25, $40, $50, $100, $200, $300, and $500.
4. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core 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

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Stitch FixminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 June 2026Stitch 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.
• ThredUpcoreTechnology or Integration · 3 November 2025Cotopaxi 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 & OMICSEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partners empowering Indigenous women with knowledge and skills to lead and protect their communities through Cotopaxi Foundation grants.
• Mercy CorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCotopaxi Foundation grantee partner focused on poverty alleviation and humanitarian efforts.
• United to Beat MalariacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCotopaxi Foundation partner that helped make Suriname officially malaria-free, providing malaria interventions to 100,000+ people in South America.
• Bataan Factory (Philippines)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturing partner for insulation and outerwear. Produces jackets with responsibly sourced RDS certified down. Owner prioritizes worker well-being.
• Chinnakarai Factory (India)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFair Trade Certified factory producing organic cotton t-shirts with worker-led initiatives.
• Shanghai Factory (China)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeadwear production at first Fair Trade Certified factory in China. One of the most advanced headwear manufacturers globally.
• Phnom Penh Factory (Cambodia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActivewear production subsidiary of respected activewear manufacturer with 45+ years experience. Leader in community impact and sustainability.
• Asmara (Jawa Barat, Indonesia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWoven apparel and gloves production. Sustainable Apparel Coalition member using recycled materials for technical products.
• Pungkook (Vietnam)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPacks production by leading innovator in outdoor and technical performance space with suite of technologies and certifications.
• Wonder (Yiwu, Zhejiang, China)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive apparel production founded on principles of strong technology and standardized management with community of networked suppliers.
• GreenTex (West Java, Indonesia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerApparel factory dedicated to advancing ethical and sustainable practices in the textile industry.
• Portland Garment Factory (Oregon, USA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWoman-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

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/GearForGood
• Facebookfacebook.com/Cotopaxi-507703575971618
• Instagraminstagram.com/cotopaxi
• TikToktiktok.com/@cotopaxiofficial
• Xx.com/cotopaxi

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds9 records

Investors19 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cotopaxi