Meet the Crew
Baselayer: Our Story
Capstone to Concept
May, 2020
Sophia and Richard met in their senior capstone at CU Boulder’s Leeds School of Business. They teamed up to bring an early version of the idea to life – winning a mock Shark Tank competition judged by C-Suite Executives, entrepreneurs, and angel investors. Soon after that classroom win, Sophia called Richard and said, “We need to take this to market,” and just like that, the next chapter began.
Laying the Foundation
May 2020 - May 2023
Post-graduation, they dove into building the brand from scratch—working full-time jobs, collaborating remotely across time zones, and navigating the chaos of COVID. With no prior experience, they taught themselves everything: refining the product design, filing patents, sourcing materials, and running early sampling rounds while building a strong network of mentors.
Hard Lessons, Real Progress
May 2023 - Jul. 2024
With a handful of prototypes behind them and hard lessons learned through trial, error, and steep learning curves, they made the call to step back and realign. This period was defined by deeper research, tightening operations, and finding the right manufacturing partner – this phase was about turning vision into reality, and preparing to scale.
Hands On, All In
Jul. 2024 - Jan. 2025.
At the start of 2025, the duo flew to China to meet their manufacturing partners face-to-face. This trip solidified relationships, solved lingering production issues, and aligned everyone on quality and execution. It marked a major turning point: from startup scrappiness to operational momentum.
The Why, Realized
Jan. 2025 - Present
After years of persistence, their product is finally here. What started as a class project has become a purpose-driven solution – one that brings joy back to skiing and solves a real problem for real skiers. Backed by trust, grit, and a shared vision, Sophia and Richard proudly stand behind the WinterProof Bag. This is only the beginning.
Sophia Wubben
Raised in Golden, Colorado, Sophia grew up shaped by the outdoors and driven by movement. Optimistic and driven, she pairs creativity with execution, fueled by a passion for connection and purpose.
Richard Riegel
Raised on the East Coast, Richard’s love for the outdoors began with surfing and skiing, growing into a lifelong pursuit of adventure. Steady and intentional, he turns challenges into purposeful solutions, refining ideas into something simpler, stronger, and enduring.
Own Your Adventure.
