Rhoback
Rhoback is a Charlottesville, Virginia-based direct-to-consumer premium performance apparel brand founded in 2016, selling men's, women's, and youth activewear (polos, Q-zips, hoodies, shorts) under proprietary fabrics, with a 58-school collegiate licensing program, 2M+ customers, and 2025 revenue above $150 million.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersCharlottesville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Rhoback does
Rhoback is a Charlottesville, Virginia-based direct-to-consumer premium performance apparel brand founded in 2016 by Matt and Kristina Loftus out of a University of Virginia Darden School of Business class project. The company designs, markets, and sells a unified product portfolio of men's, women's, and youth activewear — including polos, Q-zips, hoodies, shorts, joggers, swimwear, and accessories such as dog bandanas — built around a portfolio of proprietary performance fabrics (SkyKnit, SilverKnit, ButterFlex, FreeStride, AirGlide, AllSoft, Luuna, VSoft, BalanceBlend) featuring moisture-wicking, four-way stretch, and comfort-oriented construction. The brand identity, named after the Rhodesian Ridgeback dog breed, anchors a lifestyle positioning that spans golf, tennis, fitness, and everyday wear.
The business generates revenue through three primary channels: a flagship D2C e-commerce site (rhoback.com) that has shipped more than 3.5 million orders to over 2 million customers since 2016; a recently opened brick-and-mortar retail store in Charlottesville, VA (1,200 sq ft, opened November 2025); and a wholesale program launched in partnership with RepSpark targeting golf pro shops, collegiate bookstores, and specialty retailers. A licensed collegiate Gameday Collection covering 58+ universities, a custom and group embroidery program (12-unit minimum), and a women's-focused Vista Collection supplement the core catalog. Marketing is anchored in the Rhoback U collegiate athlete NIL program, a 250,000+ athlete database accessed via Out2Win, and the CHAMP athlete equity fund, whose 250+ sports luminaries — including Kevin Durant, Mike Trout, and Patrick Cantlay — are co-investors and brand ambassadors. The company is profitable, founder-controlled, and as of June 2026 has raised its first outside capital — nearly $50 million from CHAMP (L Catterton and Patricof Co) at a $500M pre-money valuation — earmarked for retail, wholesale, collegiate licensing, and women's category expansion.
Rhoback firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rhoback
- Legal name
- Rhoback
- Website
- https://rhoback.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Rhoback is a Charlottesville, Virginia-based direct-to-consumer premium performance apparel brand founded in 2016, selling men's, women's, and youth activewear (polos, Q-zips, hoodies, shorts) under proprietary fabrics, with a 58-school collegiate licensing program, 2M+ customers, and 2025 revenue above $150 million.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rhoback industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performance Activewear
- NAICS
- Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (45811), Apparel Manufacturing (315), Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (31599)
- SIC
- Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Golf & Tennis Performance Apparel (CRAAAEAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Activewear & Training Apparel (CRAAAEAA), Athletic / Performance & Activewear Brands (CRAAAAAD), Outdoor & Active Lifestyle Apparel Retail (CRAAABAL)
Keywords
Where Rhoback is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Charlottesville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Rhoback business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations
Revenue model
- Direct Product Sales: One-time product sales through e-commerce (rhoback.com) and retail stores. Products include polos, shirts, shorts, hoodies, dresses, and accessories across men's, women's, and youth categories.
- Wholesale: B2B wholesale channel through RepSpark platform, selling to golf pro shops, collegiate bookstores, and specialty retailers nationwide.
- Retail Store Sales: First brick-and-mortar retail store opened in Charlottesville, VA at Barracks Road Shopping Center. 1,200 square-foot location marking transition from online-only to physical retail.
- Custom & Group Orders: Custom embroidery of logos on apparel, hats, and bandanas for groups with minimum 12 units. Revenue from B2B custom orders.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | E-Gift Cards available in fixed denominations |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | New customer first order discount |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Rhoback product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rhoback designs, manufactures, and sells premium performance activewear apparel for men, women, and youth, including polos, Q-zips, shorts, hoodies, tees, joggers, swim trunks, dresses, and skorts. The brand offers proprietary performance fabrics (SkyKnit, SilverKnit, ButterFlex, AirGlide, VSoft, FreeStride, Luuna, AllSoft) engineered for multi-activity versatility across golf, tennis, workouts, and everyday wear. It also operates a licensed collegiate Gameday collection covering 58+ schools, a wholesale program, and custom/group embroidery services.
Product overview
Rhoback is a premium active lifestyle apparel brand offering a unified product portfolio centered on performance apparel that transitions seamlessly between athletic activities and everyday wear. The core offering includes men's and women's categories spanning tops (polos, tees, hoodies, Q-Zips), bottoms (shorts, pants, joggers, leggings, skorts), swimwear, accessories (hats, bags, socks), and youth/toddler sizes. Key product sub-brands include the licensed collegiate Gameday Collection supporting 58+ universities, the women's-focused Vista Collection featuring Luuna fabric, and seasonal collections like American Summer. Services include e-gift cards, custom/group embroidery orders (minimum 12 units), and a wholesale program for retail partners. The brand emphasizes performance fabrics including SkyKnit, SilverKnit, AirGlide, ButterFlex, VSoft, FreeStride, and AllSoft materials across its product lines.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Rhoback U: A collegiate athlete program that enables student athletes to benefit from their name, image and likeness (NIL) by earning revenue share through referral links, free gear, and other brand benefits.
Products and services
- Polos Polo shirts for men and women in performance fabrics including SkyKnit and SilverKnit, designed for golf, tennis, and everyday active wear. Available in print, striped, solid, heathered, long sleeve, club performance, and sweater polo styles.
- Q-Zips (Quarter Zips) Quarter-zip pullovers and pullover jackets in performance fabrics (ButterFlex, SkyKnit) with moisture-wicking, four-way stretch, and lightweight breathable construction. Includes Performance Q-Zip, Pace Q-Zip, Knoll Performance Half-Zip, Tailwind Performance Q-Zip, and Club Performance Q-Zips.
- Shorts Men's and women's shorts including Looper Delta, Everyday, Grit Gym, All-Active, Lightweight Looper, and Jam Mesh styles. Range from golf-specific to gym and everyday active wear, with the Lightweight Looper Short featuring AirGlide four-way stretch fabric.
- Hoodies & Sweatshirts Men's and women's hoodies and sweatshirts including Hesi Performance Hoodies, Highlands Performance Hoodies, Blitz Tech Hoodies, Tempo Performance Hoodies, and Swift Performance Crews. Built with VSoft fabric and other performance materials for active and casual use.
- Tees Men's and women's t-shirts including the Blitz Tech Tee in SilverKnit fabric and the Tailwind Performance Tee in SkyKnit fabric, designed for workouts and everyday wear.
- Swim Trunks Quick-drying swim trunks with four-way stretch and comfortable recovery from water exposure, available for men and toddlers.
- Pants Men's pants including the Delta Performance Pant, crafted from FreeStride fabric for transitional, smooth, and comfortable wear.
- Joggers & Sweatpants Men's and women's joggers and sweatpants including Delta Performance Jogger (FreeStride fabric), Sprint Performance Jogger, Looper Delta Jogger, and Ready Sweatpant (BalanceBlend cotton blend).
- Breeze Performance Boxers Men's performance boxers designed for comfort and active use.
- Youth & Toddler Apparel Youth and toddler-sized activewear including toddler polos, toddler hoodies, toddler swim trunks, and youth polos for children.
- Hats & Visors Hats and visors for men and women, including golf headcovers.
- Bags Bags and travel accessories for active lifestyle use.
- Belts Men's belts designed to complement active lifestyle apparel.
- Socks Unisex socks designed for active use.
- Golf Headcovers Golf club headcovers for protecting golf equipment.
- Dog Bandanas Moisture-wicking bandanas for dogs, inspired by the Rhodesian Ridgeback dog breed.
- Women's Dresses Women's active dresses including the Melbourne Active Dress, featuring GTG tech and built-in liner for tennis, court sports, and active wear.
- Women's Skorts Women's skorts combining skirt and shorts with built-in liners, designed for active tennis, golf, and everyday activities.
- Women's Leggings Women's leggings designed for yoga, workout, and active lifestyle use.
- Women's Matching Sets Coordinated women's activewear sets featuring matching tops and bottoms designed for unified athletic style.
- Gameday (Licensed Collegiate Collection) Licensed collegiate apparel supporting over 58 schools, featuring performance fabrics with embroidered team emblems for college sports fans. Includes hoodies, polos, and Q-Zips under the Gameday collection.
- Vista Collection Women's activewear collection featuring ultra-soft Luuna fabric. Includes Vista Active Dress and Vista Active Skort with lightweight, moisture-wicking comfort and flattering fit.
- Men's Golf Collection Men's golf-specific apparel including performance polos, golf shorts, Q-Zips, and accessories designed for the golf course with moisture-wicking and performance fabrics.
- American Summer Collection Seasonal collection featuring USA-inspired styles for men and women that blend performance comfort with summer-ready design for warm weather activities.
- Custom & Group Orders Custom embroidery services for groups and companies with a minimum of 12 units. Includes custom logo embroidery on apparel, hats, and bandanas with dedicated project lead support.
- Wholesale Program Wholesale partnership program for retailers including golf pro shops, collegiate bookstores, and specialty retailers. Simplifies ordering and provides real-time inventory access through the RepSpark B2B platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- +24% year-over-year revenue growth from email optimization
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Rhoback
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Rhoback technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature10 records
Rhoback partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Patricof CocoreSports advisory firm co-founding CHAMP with L Catterton. Created athlete-led investment model where athletes become equity stakeholders rather than just endorsers.
- Out2WinmajorPlatform partnership providing Rhoback access to database of 250,000+ athletes for identifying micro-influencers at licensed universities and high-profile athletes to expand Rhoback U program and NIL marketing campaigns.
- The Turtle Trackers of Hilton Head IslandminorCharitable partnership donating 20% of net sales from Turtle Tracker Performance Polo to sea turtle conservation efforts. In memory of cofounder's mother Linda Loftus who served as organization president.
- Backyard BaseballminorLimited edition print polo collaboration celebrating the nostalgic video game. Rhoback x Backyard Baseball collab released March 2026 ahead of the game's new release July 9, 2026.
- FDNY Pipes and Drums BandminorLongstanding partnership since 2016 supporting FDNY Pipes and Drums tradition. Over $95,000 raised through 20% donation from Pipes and Drums Performance Polo sales.
- Movember FoundationminorAnnual November campaign supporting men's health. 20% of net sales from Stache 2.0 Performance Polo donated to prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention programs.
- RepSparkcoreB2B wholesale commerce platform partnership enabling Rhoback's expansion into wholesale markets. Provides simplified ordering, real-time inventory access, and enhanced service capabilities for retail partners including golf pro shops, collegiate bookstores, and specialty retailers.
- Old BayminorSummer collaboration celebrating Chesapeake Bay culture and Old Bay seasoning brand. Rhoback x Old Bay taste of summer collaboration featuring coastal-themed apparel.
- Texas Flood ReliefminorEmergency relief campaign donating 50% of net sales from Texas Collection to families affected by Texas floods, including Kerr County Flood Relief Fund and Camp Mystic Therapy Fund.
- National Links TrustminorNon-profit partnership supporting accessible municipal golf in Washington DC. 20% of net sales from Potomac Performance Polo donated to 'The Hike' fundraising event for East Potomac Golf Links rehabilitation.
- Nicklaus CompaniesmajorLimited edition brand collaboration releasing golf-themed hoodies and performance polos featuring Jack Nicklaus and Golden Bear branding ahead of Masters tournament. Available exclusively on Rhoback's eCommerce platform.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Rhoback competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- TravisMathew: Premium men's golf- and lifestyle-inspired apparel brand (owned by Callaway). Directly comparable to Rhoback in product categories (polos, shorts, Q-zips), golf-pro-shop wholesale channel, and active-lifestyle positioning aimed at the same affluent consumer.
- Peter Millar: Premium golf and lifestyle apparel brand carried in golf clubs, resorts, and specialty retailers — overlapping with Rhoback's polos, Q-zips, and golf-pro-shop wholesale strategy, and competing for the same upscale active-lifestyle consumer.
- Johnnie-O: Premium preppy/active lifestyle apparel brand with strong college and golf distribution. Closely comparable in target demo (collegiate, golf, fraternity/lifestyle) and product mix (polos, quarter-zips, shorts), with parallel multi-channel GTM.
- Faherty Brand: Premium family-focused active lifestyle apparel brand with similar product breadth (polos, shorts, hoodies) and a strong DTC-plus-retail footprint. Comparable in positioning premium-but-approachable activewear for families and lifestyle consumers.
- Bonobos: Premium men's apparel brand built on fit and direct-to-consumer strength, with retail and wholesale. Comparable to Rhoback in DTC heritage, premium men's polos/tops positioning, and multi-channel growth playbook.
Broad incumbents
- Vineyard Vines: Established premium lifestyle apparel brand with deep wholesale distribution, collegiate licensing program, and a much larger footprint. Comparable in collegiate/multi-channel model and aspirational positioning toward affluent lifestyle consumers.
- Lululemon: Dominant premium athletic apparel incumbent with major women's business and growing men's golf offerings. Represents the larger-scale competitive set Rhoback is moving into, particularly relevant for women's expansion (Vista Collection, skorts, leggings).
- Under Armour: Global athletic apparel incumbent with golf and active-lifestyle product lines. Comparable in the performance-fabric technology story and category overlap, but at vastly greater scale and distribution depth.
- Nike Golf: Global golf apparel category leader under the Nike brand. Directly competing for the same on-course consumer through polos, shorts, and footwear — the benchmark against which Rhoback's golf traction must be measured.
Emerging players
- Castore: Premium sportswear brand with strong athlete-partner DNA (similar to Rhoback's CHAMP-equity model), focused on performance apparel for golf, tennis, and training. Comparable in growth-stage and athlete-driven positioning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Rhoback social profiles
Digital presenceRhoback financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rhoback leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Rhoback funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rhoback 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 Rhoback
What does Rhoback do?
Rhoback designs, manufactures, and sells premium performance activewear apparel for men, women, and youth, including polos, Q-zips, shorts, hoodies, tees, joggers, swim trunks, dresses, and skorts. The brand offers proprietary performance fabrics (SkyKnit, SilverKnit, ButterFlex, AirGlide, VSoft, FreeStride, Luuna, AllSoft) engineered for multi-activity versatility across golf, tennis, workouts, and everyday wear. It also operates a licensed collegiate Gameday collection covering 58+ schools, a wholesale program, and custom/group embroidery services.
Is Rhoback a public or private company?
Rhoback is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Rhoback founded?
Rhoback was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Rhoback based?
Rhoback is headquartered in Charlottesville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Rhoback make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Direct Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are wholesale, retail Store Sales and custom & Group Orders.
Who are Rhoback's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are TravisMathew, Peter Millar, Johnnie-O, Faherty Brand and Bonobos. Broad incumbents are Vineyard Vines, Lululemon, Under Armour and Nike Golf. Castore is listed as an emerging player.
Does Rhoback have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rhoback.
What industry is Rhoback in?
Rhoback's product category is Performance Activewear. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAAAEAF, Golf & Tennis Performance Apparel, with a secondary code of CRAAAEAA, Activewear & Training Apparel. Its NAICS code is 45811 and its SIC code is 5600.