Scaling a Mission: Lessons from Cotopaxi

Davis Smith founded Cotopaxi with an ambitious goal: to eradicate extreme poverty in his lifetime. His strategy? Build an outdoor gear brand where impact isn't an afterthought — it's the foundation.

"I want to be part of the movement showing business can be a force for good," Davis shares with Masters of Scale host Jeff Berman .

Davis's journey shows how mission-driven companies can thrive while staying true to their values. Here are three key takeaways for entrepreneurs looking to scale with purpose:

Keep your mission at the core. From the start, Davis prioritized Cotopaxi's mission over traditional business strategies. He structured the company as a certified B Corp (despite his attorney advising against it), hired a Chief Impact Officer before a Chief Marketing Officer, and committed to donating 1% of revenue to fight extreme poverty. Even when speaking publicly, Davis focuses not on Cotopaxi’s products, but on its purpose. "Humans are good and want to do good," he says. "Our example helps them see possibilities."

Find the right people, not just familiar faces. Davis learned from an earlier failed venture that success depends on the right expertise. Instead of turning to friends or family, he sought out industry veterans via LinkedIn, pitching his vision and building a team aligned with Cotopaxi's mission. "When you're starting a business, it's so fun to have a best friend or a family member that you can brainstorm with," he reflects. "But the best [co-founder] isn't always your brother, cousin, or spouse."

Make a bold entrance. Entering a crowded outdoor gear market, Davis knew he needed to stand out. He launched Cotopaxi with a 24-hour adventure scavenger hunt — part race, part service project — that led to 30,000 social media posts in a single day. "People were living the brand, wearing our product, sharing it on social media," he recalls. "Celebrating on stage with 5,000 people, all wearing the product, waving do-good flags, was surreal. It felt divine."

To learn more from Davis, watch his full Masters of Scale episode on YouTube, or listen to it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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