Caldria

In 2017, two former carpentry apprentices, Lena Marquez and Javi Ruiz, grew tired of installing flimsy, mass-produced saunas for clients across the Pacific Northwest. Most models warped after a single winter, and their heating elements failed within two years of regular use. The pair spent six months testing 17 different wood grades and 9 heating system prototypes in a rented garage in Portland, Oregon, determined to build a unit that could withstand the region’s damp, cold climate without sacrificing performance. It was a rough start.

They maxed out three credit cards and took side gigs refinishing hardwood floors to fund the first 50 production units, running on four hours of sleep a night for three months straight to meet their initial pre-order deadlines. A local CrossFit gym owner placed an order for 12 saunas for a new recovery suite in late 2018, covering their remaining material costs and giving them enough capital to scale operations.

A 2021 Outside Magazine feature drove a 300% spike in online orders, forcing the pair to hire 14 full-time staff and move to a 5,000 square foot production facility in Southeast Portland.