Even after founders Rithvik Venna and Michael Markesbery topped the 2018 Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the retail and e-commerce category, the goal of the Cincinnati apparel company Oros will remain the same as always: disrupt the outerwear market.
“Outerwear apparel is a sea of sameness, where brands are all using the same materials and technologies to make the same products,” Markesbery said. “We're bringing something truly different to the table: we're using NASA-inspired insulation to deliver an amazing piece of gear.”
“Very few startups in our space have a core technology in their intellectual property portfolio.”
Oros sells outerwear made with the outdoor enthusiast in mind. The current lineup includes jackets, parkas, fleeces, snow pants, leggings, vests, beanies and headbands. They're all of insulated with Oros’ SolarCore technology, which utilizes the company's version of aerogel.
It's the world’s lightest solid. Aerogel, also used in skyscrapers and space shuttles, is capable of protecting from the cold as well as high levels of heat. Unlike other insulation materials such as down feathers, SolarCore is thin, breathable, durable and waterproof. The technology makes the apparel ideal for any sort of outdoor activity imaginable — whether that is skiing, snowboarding, mountain trekking, or just braving the Cincinnati winter weather — without the bulk that normally comes with bundling up.
Oros hopes to make older insulators obsolete as their SolarCore-insulated apparel disrupts the outwear market. Markesbery said this insulation is what sets Oros apart from other startups and outerwear companies. “Very few startups in our space have a core technology in their intellectual property portfolio,” he added.
Markesbery and Venna launched Oros in 2015 with capital raised through a successful Kickstarter campaign, when both were still students at Miami University. They used Kickstarter again in 2016, raising $600,000. The company has also secured a line of credit with Silicon Valley Bank, which has helped fund mega-successful startups such as Uber, Lyft and Airbnb in the past.
Aside from their line of credit and success on Kickstarter, Markesbery also attributes the rapid growth of Oros to its employees, which has grown to a team of 10. “The factor that’s core to our business' recent success and growth is our team,” Markesbery said. “We have an incredible team that stepped up to the plate this season and delivered a grand slam.”
A viral video has also helped the brand's notoriety. It shows that the jacket still keeps the wearer warm even when scorched with -321-degree-Fahrenheit liquid nitrogen. The video has garnered 438,000 views since Dec. 1 and was featured on Mashable.
Oros' popularity isn't just relegated to the internet. The apparel has sold in 47 countries worldwide, and its success in Asian markets led Oros to sign an international distribution deal with a South Korean distributor. The move will help Oros further their goal of disrupting the outwear market, not just in Cincinnati and the U.S., but also around the globe.
