Bergeri and Kapps started HigherDose in 2016 after recognizing a void in the wellness technology space and grew it into a market leader.
Katie Cupps and Lauren Bergeri founded HigherDose in 2016 to bring high-tech recovery tools to the masses. Some of the brand’s most popular products include infrared sauna blankets, red light face masks, and infrared PEMF mats. HigherDose also recently signed a deal with Sephora and is opening a brick-and-mortar store in New York City.
As HigherDose continues to grow, it is seeking strategic partnerships and activations at major events, including the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Athlete News spoke with Berlingeri and Kaps to discuss the early days of HigherDose and how the brand has grown and evolved since its founding.
The following conversation has been lightly edited for clarity and length.
Athlete News: Can you tell us about your respective backgrounds and how that influenced your decision to found HigherDose?
katie cupps: My career before founding HigherDose was heavily based in the business world. I studied at the London School of Economics and worked on Wall Street for over 10 years as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. He then led Tough Mudder’s business development and is proud to have contributed to the company’s tremendous growth. Both Lauren and I are passionate about health, entrepreneurship, and innovation, so starting our own company felt like a natural next step for us.
Lauren Bergeri: My background is rooted in the lifestyle and fitness field. Having had a successful career as a model and host, I decided to expand my expertise and earned a certification in Nutrition and Health Coaching from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Through my experience in the wellness industry, I discovered the power of infrared technology and saw an opportunity to bring this technology to the masses.
Since the creation of the brand, we have achieved spectacular success. We attribute this to our ability to bring a new perspective to biohacking and develop cutting-edge innovations that are transforming the spa business. Our combination of expertise is a real asset in growing your business. I oversee product innovation, brand storytelling, and education, complemented by Katie’s business and marketing acumen.
ATN: What gap in the market made you believe HigherDose would be successful?
Co., Ltd.: In 2016, the wellness technology white space was huge. Although infrared therapy existed in European spas, it was not available through products or distribution in U.S. spas. We recognized the value of therapeutic hyperthermia for longevity and bet that consumers would do the same. Additionally, biohacking has been a predominantly male-dominated industry for many years, so entering with a fresh perspective from a female perspective has definitely given us an edge in the market.
lb: HigherDose offers premium products inspired by the healing powers of nature with science-backed infrared, PEMF, and red light therapy, developed to enhance longevity and vitality from the inside out. Because “Dose” in HigherDose stands for dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins, we continue to improve our product offerings by leveraging these technologies in innovative ways and educating consumers about their benefits. Can be expanded.
How has HigherDose grown and evolved since its founding?
KK: From 2016 to 2019, we focused on in-store growth through seed investments and strategic hospitality partnerships with New York City’s Equinox and 11 Howard, among others, to expand our brand experience across three states. is completed.
Soon, celebrities, athletes, medical professionals, and biohackers are championing the efficacy of “getting high naturally” and promoting social media posts with HigherDose’s iconic neon-meets-nature aesthetic. A cult-like fan base was born. Despite the heat on site, we also saw the potential to further the brand’s mission of accessibility and longevity by developing portable technology for home use.
When the pandemic hit in 2020, we decided to pivot and accelerate our DTC business and develop further products that consumers could ‘take’ wherever they were. This was incredibly successful, increasing sales tenfold year-over-year while opening the door to retail partnerships with Sephora, Harrods, Blue Mercury, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Best Buy, and more.
We are now extremely proud of the awards and accolades we have received from customer testimonials and media coverage, as well as the retail partnerships we have led. The brand continues to grow exponentially through e-commerce, retail, and wholesale while maintaining its position as the number one self-care “lifestyle” brand with a passionate community through content, events, and an ambassador program.
ATN: What are the biggest challenges and opportunities for home wellness companies?
lb: Because we are a pioneer in products that leverage emerging technologies, our challenge is to concisely educate consumers about our science-backed effectiveness and how each unit works.
This is your chance to bring wellness technology to the masses. HigherDose’s mission is inspired by the fact that Finland has more saunas than people because the population is educated about health. The opportunity here is to extend that concept and make enhanced self-healing and longevity available to the masses through effective products.
ATN: What’s next for HigherDose?
Co., Ltd.: We continue to expand our DTC portable wellness technology products that support longevity, vitality, sleep, skin, recovery and detoxification. Please look forward to the announcement this spring!
lb: We are also expanding our business through strategic partnerships with top retailers, brands and talent. With markets such as wellness tourism growing over 30% year over year, our portable products enable a travel-friendly HigherDose experience. At this year’s Paris Olympics, look out for us as we host recovery activities for female Olympic athletes.
