Oro Sports + Wellness

High-impact cooling wearables that improve performance and prevent heat stroke

Follow Oro Sports + Wellness to be notified if they later decide to raise funding.

Highlights

1
High growth potential
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Located in Opportunity Zone
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Simple solutions for a complex problem
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Woman-owned

Our Team

The idea to develop products aimed at regulating body temperature is one that found me. My brother Van, a former DKNY designer, lost his health and career due to a chronic condition. As with 133M Americans with chronic conditions, Van became worsened when overheated. Our personal cooling solution unwittingly became a performance piece. 

Heat Compromises Human Performance

The development of an aesthetically-pleasing, high performing cooling vest was a project of passion, not ever intended to become a company. My brother, a former DKNY designer, lost his health and a dynamic career to Multiple Sclerosis. Already compromised, Van's condition became worsened whenever he became overheated. In 2008 I gave him a challenge: design a cooling garment that might help regulate body temperature. His design became a cooling vest targeted at 133M  Americans with a chronic condition.  

Van DiBernardo + Donna Karan

Those years ago, we never imagined our idea would be the basis for a company. Neither did we anticipate that we would one day be solving the #1 challenge of the endurance athlete: compromised performance due to heat stress. At the time, our company was called "Coolture".

Siblings Luanne DiBernardo + Van DiBernardo

Tried, Tested, and Proven!

From the United States Coast Guard, to Professional Racers, to the US Soccer National Team, our cooling vest always comes out on top. It's preferred for its fit, its longer-lasting cooling experience, and for the quality of our textiles and construction -- all USA. 

Graham Rahall, Race Car Driver Precools with our 1st Cooling Vest

2020 Rebrand: Oro Sports

Rally Pro Cycling Team cooling with Oro during warmups at Tour de Luxembourg

Underfunded Wonderdogs on the Hunt

Aside from a $200K Grant that allowed us to start manufacturing in 2013, we have not raised the capital required to really (really) launch! All marketing initiatives have been my guerilla-style efforts. Just a band of terrific advisors and years of long, 7-day workweeks fueled by passion and conviction that we would be where we needed to be when facing the top of the curve. 

The Covid Curveball

Before the ink could dry on our decision to focus on endurance sports in 2020, the Corona Virus slammed the brakes on our strategy. In this, we are far from unique, and luckier than most. We can, and are, changing our focus to the 47M runners who are less affected by team sports. We look to the 110M fitness walkers and almost 50M cyclists who will continue their activities, particularly those in the South who will also battle heat waves. And, yes, we will continue to nurture the wellness populations who turn to us the minute temperatures reach 75º. Heart disease, respiratory disorders, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and others. 

Customer with Multiple Sclerosis wearing our cooling vest in Uganda!


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Overview