Serendipity Stories bring the practice of serendipity to life in real-world examples.
The story of outerwear company Cotopaxi embodies the classic pattern of serendipity, where prepared minds recognize and act upon unexpected encounters and opportunities.
The Restless Explorer
Founder Davis Smith had already achieved what many would consider success. His e-commerce ventures had proven profitable, yet something fundamental was missing. Growing up in Latin America—living in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Ecuador—Smith had witnessed stark inequality firsthand. These formative experiences created what he later described as "a hole in my heart" that business success alone couldn't fill.
"I always knew I wanted to use business as a vehicle for social impact," Smith would later explain. This deep yearning set him on an intentional quest to find a business that could unite his entrepreneurial talents with his passion for both outdoor adventure and meaningful social change.
Clarity at 19,347 Feet
In 2013, Smith found himself ascending Ecuador's Cotopaxi volcano—the same peaks he'd admired as a child. As the thin Andean air filled his lungs and the physical challenge pushed his limits, something unexpected happened: a moment of profound clarity.
Standing on those volcanic slopes, Smith experienced what mountaineers call "summit clarity"—when physical exertion and awe-inspiring vistas create ideal conditions for breakthrough thinking. The majestic volcano before him suddenly represented the perfect metaphor for what he sought to build: something bold, challenging, and deeply connected to a region that had shaped his worldview.
Weaving Disparate Threads
In this crystallizing moment, Smith connected seemingly unrelated elements of his life experience. His e-commerce expertise, love for outdoor adventure, childhood memories of Latin America, and commitment to fighting poverty suddenly came together to form a coherent vision—a company that would create premium outdoor gear while directing meaningful resources toward alleviating poverty.
Building Purpose Into Business DNA
Smith lived up to his goals. He established Cotopaxi as a Benefit Corporation from its founding in 2014 and built its values into a core feature of its products. For example, when creating the Luzon Del Día daypack, the team confronted material sourcing challenges typical of a new brand. Rather than seeing leftover fabric scraps as limitations, they transformed this constraint into their signature innovation—each pack would be one of a kind, with color schemes chosen by the individual maker in the Philippines.
This "Del Día" approach became more than just a workaround; it manifested the company's values—resourcefulness, individual creativity, and mindful production—in vibrant, tangible form. The colorful packs quickly became recognizable symbols of the brand.
The Serendipity Dividend
What began as a moment of personal clarity on a volcanic slope evolved into a company now valued not just for its products but for its purpose. By 2023, Cotopaxi had grown into a $100+ million business while maintaining its founding commitment to donate 1% of revenue to alleviating poverty.
Smith's journey reminds us that serendipity isn't merely about luck—it's about creating the conditions for meaningful encounters, recognizing their significance, and having the courage to act. Cotopaxi demonstrates how preparation meeting opportunity allows entrepreneurs like Davis Smith to transform unexpected moments into lasting value.