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Intake Breathing received a $62 million investment from Camino Partners, its first significant outside capital, according to Athletech News. The company says it plans to use the funding to expand into physical retail and specialty channels and make key hires; the investment terms and rollout timetable were not reported.
Intake Breathing has received a $62 million investment from Camino Partners, the investment firm founded by Kind Snacks creator Daniel Lubetzky, as the nasal-device company plans to expand beyond direct-to-consumer sales into physical retail and specialty channels. The funding is described by Athletech News as Intake’s first significant outside capital infusion; the company also plans to make key hires.
Intake was founded by inventor and medical device engineer Jim Castillo and is led by his son-in-law, co-founder and CEO Alex Hauck. Its product is a magnetic nasal dilator: a reusable band and adhesive tabs designed to mechanically open the nasal valve, the narrowest part of the nasal airway. The system differs from conventional adhesive nasal strips, according to the source report.
The company has built its business primarily through online direct sales. It says the new capital will support entry into physical retail and specialty channels, as well as hiring. The report does not specify which retailers Intake is targeting, how many employees it expects to add, or when the expansion will begin.
Athletech News reported that Intake has attracted professional athletes, including Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski and Belgian soccer player Amadou Onana. Athlete associations and consumer interest form part of the company’s market positioning; the report does not provide sales figures, clinical findings, or evidence that the product improves athletic performance or sleep.
Retail Plans Put Nasal Devices in Focus
The investment gives Intake resources to pursue a larger market than its existing direct-to-consumer business, with retail availability potentially putting the product in front of consumers who do not shop for nasal devices online. It also signals investor interest in a category the company and Camino want to position within everyday wellness, rather than only as a traditional drugstore product.
That market opportunity is an investor and company thesis, not a demonstrated change in consumer behavior. Intake’s expansion will depend on factors not detailed in the report, including retailer uptake, repeat purchases, product pricing and how the brand communicates what its device can and cannot do. The $62 million figure establishes the scale of the announced investment, but not the company’s valuation or expected financial performance.
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From Family Business to Funded Expansion
Intake began as a solution developed by Castillo and grew into a family-run business led by Hauck. The source report characterizes the Camino funding as the company’s first significant outside capital, marking a shift from a primarily direct-sales operation toward a planned retail and hiring push.
Camino’s portfolio includes Barry’s, a boutique fitness brand, and Athletic Brewing, a nonalcoholic beer maker, according to Athletech News. The firm’s founder, Daniel Lubetzky, previously created Kind Snacks. Camino’s stated interest is in helping Intake build a broader consumer market for nasal breathing products, drawing a comparison to the way it sees consumer demand evolving in other wellness categories.
“We’re not just gaining capital, we’re gaining a partner who knows exactly what it takes to help get us there.”
— Alex Hauck, Intake Breathing co-founder and CEO, as quoted by Athletech News
Investment Terms and Rollout Details
The report does not disclose the investment’s terms, including whether Camino received an ownership stake, nor does it give Intake’s valuation or revenue. It also leaves retail partners, launch dates, hiring plans and spending allocations unspecified. The source describes the funding as received but provides no separate details on when the transaction closed.
The product’s performance claims are also not substantiated with clinical or independent test results in the report. Intake’s design is described as intended to open the nasal valve and improve airflow, but no evidence is supplied on effects on sleep, recovery, breathing disorders or athletic outcomes. Those questions should not be treated as resolved by the investment or by athlete use.
Retail Expansion and Hiring Plans
Intake says it will use the funding to pursue physical retail and specialty distribution and make key hires. The next visible developments will be the announcement of retail partners, product availability and the roles the company adds. The report gives no schedule for those steps, so their timing remains open.
Further company or investor disclosures may clarify the investment structure and how the funds will be allocated. Until then, the confirmed development is the $62 million investment and Intake’s stated growth plans—not a completed retail rollout or a verified change in consumer demand.
Key Questions
Who invested $62 million in Intake Breathing?
Camino Partners, the investment firm founded by Kind Snacks creator Daniel Lubetzky, made the investment, according to Athletech News.
What does Intake Breathing make?
The company makes a magnetic nasal dilator using a reusable band and adhesive tabs, designed to mechanically open the nasal valve. The report does not provide independent test results on its effects.
How does Intake plan to use the funding?
Intake says it plans to expand from direct-to-consumer sales into physical retail and specialty channels and make key hires. It has not disclosed specific retailers, hiring numbers or a timetable.
Were the investment terms disclosed?
No. The report gives the $62 million investment amount but does not state Camino’s ownership stake, Intake’s valuation, or other transaction terms.
Does the investment establish that the strips improve sleep or performance?
No. The investment report describes the product and its intended design but supplies no clinical or independent evidence establishing effects on sleep, recovery or athletic performance.
Source: athletechnews.com
