10. Michael Markesbery | Oros (performance apparel)

Michael Markesbery is the Co-Founder and CEO of Oros.
Michael has always been a self-proclaimed science geek. During his sophomore year at Miami University, he took a backpacking trip to the Swiss Alps. After triumphantly making it to the top of the tallest mountain, he was disappointed to realize he looked like the Michelin Man, wearing layers upon layers of puffy goose down coats to keep him warm. He didn’t get it. With all this incredible innovation happening in other industries, why was outerwear the same old, same old? When he got back to school, he learned about aerogel, the best insulation in the universe. It’s the thing that NASA puts in space shuttles to keep the astronauts warm in space. He thought immediately that this stuff needed to be in every jacket on the planet. After some experimentation and trial and error to get the aerogel into a form that worked for apparel, Lukla was born. Today, Lukla goes by a new name…Oros.
At Oros, Michael and his team make next generation consumer apparel. Their tagline “Find Your Beyond” couldn’t be more true as their clothes are designed to withstand the coldest elements. You can literally wear a T-shirt and their jacket at the top of a mountain and stay completely warm. Today, they sell jackets, midlayers and pants as well as a few accessories for both men and women, but it’s easy to see where they could go from here.
This was an inspiring interview that opened my mind up to what’s possible in the apparel space.
Tune in to hear Michael's story!
Use code “Founder” at checkout to get 15% off all Oros products through the end of August.
EPISODE TOPICS: 

• (2:28) What does Oros look like today (mission, vision, products, size)? 
• (3:18) What is your background and what were you working on before starting Oros? 
• (14:20) How have you tackled fashion vs function when designing your products?
• (17:30) Who are your core customers and how much education does it take to get them to purchase Oros products?
• (20:02) How do you think about competition? 
• (22:15) What marketing strategies have worked for Oros?
• (25:20) What will Oros look like in 5-10 years?
• (26:13) What do you look for in people you hire?
• (32:04) What's the biggest investor lesson you've learned?
• (34:01) What has been your most frustrating/validating moment as a founder?
• (39:54) If you could teleport back to when you started, what would tell yourself?
• (44:48) What resources would you recommend to others? 
• (45:38) Michael's startup manifesto 
• (46:43) Michael's founder nomination 

Oros - www.orosapparel.com

• Follow Oros (@orosapparel) on Instagram // Twitter
• Follow Michael (@michaelmarkesbery) on Instagram // Twitter // LinkedIn 
• Michael's learning and resource recommendations 

The Founder - www.thefounderpod.com 

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