ELOS: Power In Motion
- KLS
- Jul 31
- 7 min read
For the 199th feature of our "Together Talks" campaign, we collaborated with ELOS and Co-Founder, Anthony Dragisics. Crafting transformative thermal solutions, empowering human ability, & optimizing performance in All environments.
"Together Talks" feature # 199: ELOS presented by KLS - Your Trusted Shipping Solutions In The USA
What separates you from your competition? What have been the biggest challenges? Goals for upcoming year + Next phase of the company?
What were your concerns to transition to starting your own business? How have you dealt with being the face of the company?
What aspect of entrepreneurship do you appreciate the most? Share a decision that you made that was detrimental? What is your why?
Story of how it was created?
We’re a true dorm room story. ELOS started while we were in college during COVID, when we had some downtime. The three of us had a great mix: one with a business background, one technical engineering mind, and one idea-first visionary. All three of us, and everyone who’s been part of the company since, were Division I athletes.
The inception of the product came from solving a real problem. Speaking for myself, I run extremely cold. In the winter, my feet would always be freezing. I was the first to complain about my toes and fingers every time we got out on the field. When my buddy T, now my co-founder, came to me with the same issue and a brilliant idea to solve it, that’s when we both got the itch and felt like we were on to something.
We were all in. We asked our parents for help, bought a 3D printer, and started prototyping in our dorm. Thousands of iterations later, we secured a patent. That led to our first capital to get this thing off the ground. It all started by solving our own problem as athletes. From there, we realized how broadly the product could scale across markets. That shared obsession with solving the climate performance problem is still what drives us.
What separates you from your competition?
From both a brand and product perspective, ELOS is different. Starting with the product: our flagship heating insole uniquely combines heat delivery with orthotic-grade support. Most companies focus on either the heating aspect or the orthotic aspect. We combine both and have created a new category as a result.
There are disposable heating products and some high-performing orthotic insoles in the market, particularly in the direct-to-consumer space. But what if we could deliver both, more affordably, and at a high performance standard?
The heating market is incredibly fragmented. You can get disposable toe warmers for $2 to $5, or high-end heated socks or battery-powered insoles for $50 to $300. But many of those are bulky, uncomfortable, or not suitable for athletic use. We got obsessed with building a midpoint: a product that brings heat, support, and comfort together for people who actually perform in cold environments.
What have been the biggest challenges?
The biggest challenge from the beginning has been what we call "growing too wide." We quickly realized this product could serve many different types of people, but we had to narrow our messaging. That’s why we doubled down on the athletic space. We like to think this is a product made by athletes, for athletes.
Educating the market has been hard. Creating a marketing message to a 55-year-old with diabetic neuropathy is totally different than messaging to a millennial who runs every morning. We’re finally finding our niche as an outdoor, winter-performance product. That clarity was difficult but essential.
Seasonality has also been a challenge. We see lulls in the warmer months, and managing inventory and cash flow through that is tricky. But we’ve been focused on speed, getting the product to market as fast as possible without sacrificing quality. That early balance between urgency and precision has been a learning curve.
Goals for upcoming year + Next phase of the company?
It all goes back to speed. Over the next 12 months, we’re aggressively pushing two things: product expansion and channel growth.
First, we’re launching a cooling variant of the insole, targeting spring/summer 2026. Climate adaptability and performance are our core thesis, and this fits right in.
Second, we’re going fully omni-channel. This fall, our heating version will hit retail, DTC, Amazon, and TikTok Shop. That’s a lot to balance, so we’re investing in systems and infrastructure now to support the ramp.
We’ve also kicked off big-box pilot conversations. Retail partnerships are a big focus, and we’re building an athlete-led content engine to rally a community around the product. That’s where we’re headed - rapid innovation and rapid distribution.
What were your concerns to transition to starting your own business?
The risk, for sure. I grew up in a household where stability was a priority. Entrepreneurship was a totally different path.
I also had my circle urging me to pursue professional soccer. Giving that up, along with the idea of a more traditional career, were both big decisions.
On top of that, I had no experience running a CPG company. I was 22 years old, fresh out of business school. No one was holding my hand. You have to self-motivate every single day. There’s no one telling you what to do. No big budgets. No perfect roadmap. It’s trial, error, and failure until you get it right.
That was definitely scary early on. But I’ve learned more about myself through that than anything else I’ve done.
How have you dealt with being the face of the company?
Leadership has always come naturally to me, probably because of my sports background. I captained teams growing up and was always comfortable stepping into ownership roles.
There is pressure, no question. I wake up thinking about my future, my family’s future, my girlfriend’s future. That’s a real motivator. Pressure is fuel.
Of course, comparison culture creeps in. You see 6-month overnight success stories on LinkedIn or Instagram. That can weigh on you. But I try to stay locked in on what I can control: showing up every day and setting the tone.
I hope that mindset is contagious within our company. Lead by example. That’s always been my approach.
What have you learned since becoming an entrepreneur?
The first big thing: you get to build what you wish existed. We started with nothing but belief. Taking that belief to a patent, to a manufacturing deal, to a retail contract, all of these things are incredibly powerful.
I’ve also come to love the speed of iteration. When you’re locked in on solving a problem and willing to fail fast, you learn fast. That rapid learning loop is addictive.
Lastly, entrepreneurship gives you a direct link between effort and outcome. What you put in is what you get out. That doesn’t exist in most career paths. It's real. I love that.
Do you recall the first moment of traction for the company?
There have been a few. But the big one was landing our first major retail contract for this upcoming fall. That was with Ski Barn, one of the biggest ski retail chains on the East Coast.
Having them believe in us, stock our product, and invest in in-store marketing was a huge moment. It validated the product and gave us a roadmap to scale. Them taking a swing on us said a lot about what ELOS can become.
What is your why?
Personally, it’s the people who believed in me from day one. My family. My girlfriend. My close friends. The people who supported me through the early stages, before there was any traction or validation.
I want to give them something tangible. Something they can be proud of. That motivates me more than anything.
Entrepreneurship always leaves you wanting more. There’s no ceiling. But the drive behind it is deeply personal.
Do you have a moment that brings you the most joy?
Yeah - early this year, when we were self-fulfilling orders. We had just launched, and at the end of February, we stacked over 50 boxes in my co-founder T’s house. We took a picture in front of them.
That moment hit me. We had done it. We shipped real products to real customers. Very few products even make it to market. That photo’s going on my wall someday.
New releases
I’ve talked a lot about the product, but I need to speak to the brand.
We’re obsessed with redefining what thermal gear means. The cooling variant coming in spring/summer ’26 will unlock a new tier of performance and let us tell a broader story.
The mission is temperature resilience. That applies to everyone from soldiers to skiers to weekend hikers. We feel a responsibility to serve all those people, and that’s what excites us.
We’re trying to remove limits from human ambition by designing gear that keeps your body in peak condition no matter the external factors. That’s the next chapter.
Piece of Advice
The best advice I’d give is this: chase clarity, not perfection. In the early days, you’ll feel pressure to do it all, to look like you’ve got it all figured out. But the most important thing is staying grounded in what matters most to you, and making decisions from that place.
Your vision will evolve. Your team will shift. But if you stay clear on your values, and stay close to the problem you’re solving then you’ll always be in the right fight.
I’ve found that the best entrepreneurs aren’t the loudest or the flashiest. They’re the ones who get up every day and keep moving forward, even when the path isn’t obvious.
Promo Code
Purchase from their site here and use promo code below:
15OFF – 15% off when V2 relaunches this fall!
Community Callout
Mike Wysong - CARE Pharmacies Mike’s the CEO of Care Pharmacies and former Chairman of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. He’s been an incredible mentor to both T and me.
Sure, his experience in drug store retail is valuable, but more than that, he’s taught us what it takes to build a business, systems, and teams that last. And how to show up as a great speaker, father, and human being in the best possible ways.
In Closing
KLS wants to thank ELOS and Co-Founder, Anthony Dragisics, for today's "Together Talks" feature. Follow along for their journey with their social handles below!
Comments