TL;DR
Get wellness gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Intake Breathing received a $62 million investment from Camino Partners, marking its first significant outside capital, according to the company’s report. The nasal-dilator brand plans to use the funding to expand beyond direct-to-consumer sales into physical retail and specialty channels, while adding staff.
Intake Breathing has received $62 million from Camino Partners, the investment firm founded by Kind Snacks creator Daniel Lubetzky, as the family-run maker of magnetic nasal dilators prepares to expand into physical retail and specialty channels. The company described the investment as its first significant outside capital infusion and said it will also fund key hires.
Intake makes a nasal dilator that uses a reusable magnetic band and adhesive tabs to mechanically open the nasal valve, the narrowest part of the nasal airway. The design differs from conventional adhesive nasal strips, which are placed on the outside of the nose. The source report describes the device’s intended mechanism but does not provide clinical evidence or independent findings about its effects.
The business was founded by inventor and medical device engineer Jim Castillo and is led by his son-in-law, co-founder and CEO Alex Hauck. Intake has built its sales primarily through direct-to-consumer channels. It plans to use Camino’s investment to broaden distribution and hire for the next stage of growth, though it has not specified retailers, launch dates or how the funding will be divided among those plans.
Intake says its product has drawn interest from professional athletes, including Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski and Belgian soccer player Amadou Onana. Athlete use is not evidence of a product’s effectiveness. Camino’s investment thesis, as described in the report, is that nasal breathing products could move from a niche category into routine consumer wellness purchases.
Funding Targets Retail Expansion
The investment gives Intake capital and a partner with experience building consumer brands as it seeks to reach customers outside its own online sales operation. A move into physical retail and specialty channels would broaden the company’s distribution beyond direct-to-consumer sales. The report does not specify which retailers or specialty channels Intake is pursuing.
Camino’s investment is based on its view of consumer demand around sleep, recovery and performance, areas the source report says have drawn attention to breathing products. The investment does not establish that the category will become mainstream or that Intake’s device delivers specific health or performance benefits. Intake has not provided details about how it will evaluate the results of its broader distribution plans.
The funding comes as the family-run company plans to hire and expand distribution. The report does not provide projections for sales, employment or growth. It also does not describe the investment terms beyond the amount and investor.
Products Worth Considering
TheraGun Relief Massage Gun – 3 Speed, Black
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9300 Electric Toothbrush, Black
Therabody SleepMask Blackout Eye Mask with Vibration
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
From Online Sales to Stores
Intake began with a problem Castillo sought to address in his own garage, according to Hauck’s account in the source report. The company developed a magnetic nasal-dilator system rather than relying on a single-use adhesive strip. Until this investment, it had built its business primarily through direct-to-consumer sales, making a move into stores a change in its distribution strategy.
Camino was founded by Daniel Lubetzky, who created Kind Snacks. The firm’s portfolio also includes boutique fitness brand Barry’s and nonalcoholic beer maker Athletic Brewing, according to the report. Camino says it sees a parallel between the market opportunity for Intake and the earlier growth of consumer interest in whole-food snacks. That comparison is the investor’s view, not a guarantee that the breathing-product market will follow the same path.
The source report situates the investment within rising consumer interest in sleep, recovery and performance optimization, but supplies no market-size figures or sales data for the nasal-dilator category. It also does not detail Intake’s revenue, existing retail footprint or the terms of the investment beyond its stated amount and investor.
““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
Retail Plans Still Undetailed
The report does not name retail partners, identify when products may reach stores or specify which specialty channels Intake is pursuing. It also does not explain the investment structure, whether Camino receives an ownership stake, or what milestones the company will be expected to meet.
Intake’s product is described as designed to open the nasal valve and improve airflow. The source material does not include trial results, independent assessments or regulatory details that would establish the extent of any health, sleep or athletic benefits. The presence of professional athletes among its users does not resolve those evidence questions.
It is also unclear how much of the $62 million will go to retail expansion, hiring, product development or other operating needs. The report gives no financial results or market data with which to assess Intake’s current scale or the size of the broader category.
Distribution and Hiring Milestones
Intake says its next steps are to expand into physical retail and specialty channels and make key hires. The company has not announced specific stores, hiring targets or a timeline, so those details remain the next indicators of how quickly the investment translates into operational changes.
Further updates may clarify which products will be offered through new channels and whether the company plans changes to its existing direct-to-consumer business. Readers will also be able to track whether Intake or Camino releases more detail on the investment terms and the evidence behind product-performance claims. For now, the confirmed development is the funding and the company’s stated growth plans—not a retail launch or a demonstrated change in health outcomes.
Key Questions
How much did Intake Breathing raise?
Intake received $62 million from Camino Partners, according to the source report. The company called it its first significant outside capital infusion.
What does Intake plan to do with the funding?
The company says it will expand from primarily direct-to-consumer sales into physical retail and specialty channels, and make key hires. It has not disclosed a detailed budget or timeline.
What is Intake’s magnetic nasal dilator?
It uses a reusable magnetic band and adhesive tabs to mechanically open the nasal valve, according to the report. The source material describes its design and intended mechanism, but does not provide independent evidence of health or performance outcomes.
Who invested in Intake Breathing?
The investor is Camino Partners, founded by Daniel Lubetzky, who created Kind Snacks. Camino also has other wellness-oriented businesses in its portfolio, including Barry’s and Athletic Brewing.
Source: athletechnews.com
