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By Skye Maisel ’21, cofounder and administrative director, Crinny Woloson ’22, cofounder and marketing director, and Lauren Sobran ’22, cofounder and creative director, exo

exo is a sustainable luggage company that makes packing and traveling more efficient. After the venture’s three cofounders spent time traveling abroad, they realized that each day and each location required a different piece of luggage that they didn’t have. Struggling to choose between essentials and add-ons, they desperately wished for one bag that they could take everywhere. A bag that could be a carry on, checked bag, or daily pack to get them where they needed, with what they needed. Not to mention, a bag that wouldn’t be so heavy and end up costing more than the flight they were taking.

exo is solving these packing problems for all travelers — the souvenir getters, backpackers, roadtrippers, weekenders, and study-abroad explorers. It’s your “One Bag”: a duffel, backpack, and carry-on that’s made to be customized and compacted.

Picture this: An accessible bag that can be wheeled, dragged, carried, and split apart. With a sleek exoskeleton and protective interior, in upcycled materials for everyone — canvas, faux leather, and recycled metal. Say goodbye to extra bag weight fees and that space in your house dedicated to bags you only use once a year. Making traveling better for you and the environment, Maisel, Woloson, and Sobran developed the intersection of luxury, sustainability, and flexibility. exo. For all of life’s baggage.

Spring semester, team exo worked hard to secure seed funding to take essential steps in progressing their business. Because this venture is based on a complex product, they reached far outside their team to meet various needs. Funding was primarily used to solicit help from various individuals with skills, knowledge, tools, or access that exo’s team members do not possess themselves. Team exo’s funding was also used to purchase supplies.

The first step of the prototyping process was to acquire a basic drawing of the design, which was professionally done after reaching out to TIA alumni and being connected with artists. Next, funding was used to gain support from a product developer, Duane, which was crucial due to his decades of experience. This step of the venture includes further prototyping with 3D renderings in order to explore the desired product in more depth.

Once the formal TIA term ended, team exo realized just how complex this product development process was. In order to keep moving forward, they have been reevaluating their mission and product design, following more market research. This has included further purchasing of tools in order to build handmade prototypes and versions of the desired product.

Team exo wants to thank everyone at TIA for their continued support and encourage everyone to follow along with their journey. Be sure to sign up for email updates via their website and follow their Instagram for behind-the-scenes looks at their progress.