Kos: inspiring people to be happy, healthy, and connect
“The closer you get to real matter, rock air fire and wood, boy, the more spiritual the world is.”
– Jack Kerouac
Sweat bathing - the practice of exposing the body to elevated temperatures for health, relaxation, or ritualistic purposes - has united humans across civilizations and cultures for thousands of years. Public saunas are now popping up everywhere in the United States, and we are leading the way in upstate New York, with a target opening date of September 2025.
I'm Kate, the Creator of Kos. I became happily and hopelessly devoted to sauna after moving to Oslo, Norway, in 2018. Sitting in a beautiful sauna, then dipping in the icy fjord brings peace, joy, focus, good health, community, and connection during the cold and dark winter months. As a proud dual Norwegian-American citizen, I am hugely inspired to bring the best part of the Nordics home with me, where I believe people of all ages can greatly benefit from this practice. I have been fortunate to bring two talented business partners on board who are equally passionate about the transformative power of sauna, both for individuals and communities.
We are currently raising money to bring our vision to life and hope that you will consider contributing to our journey. As they say, “it takes a village to raise a child” - in our case, it takes a village to build a sauna!
Help us bring our bold vision to life
Kos is a natural sauna oasis where people revitalize their senses together. We will float at Lago by Druthers on Saratoga Lake in Saratoga Springs, NY. Unlike saunas in gyms or spas, ours is a beautiful, simple, communal experience in nature. Key to delivering this experience is our bold and unique sauna structure, specifically designed to foster community through ample gathering and resting spaces - it is like nothing that currently exists in the United States.
We estimate our total startup costs at $226K, $181K of which will fund construction materials and labor. We currently have $68K in the bank, $50K committed investment, and are in underwriting for a Small Business Administration loan of $160K.
Given the unpredictability of today's world and the fact that we are the doing this for the first time in New York state, our goal is to raise $25K to provide contingency for the "unknown unknowns." This could include unforeseen construction costs, permitting requirements, insurance premiums, and other bumps or delays we may encounter along the way.
Scratch our back, we'll scratch yours!
We are thrilled to offer the following rewards in return for your generous contribution:
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$300 gets you one 90-minute private booking for up to 15 people (a $450 value)
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$100 gets you four 90-minute social sessions (a $120 value)
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$50 gets you two 90-minute social sessions (a $60 value)
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$25 gets you one 90-minute social session (a $30 value)
We are also offering two B2B bundles for companies seeking a fun and unique team-building activity: a private session for your team up to 15 people ($500 - a $650 value), or a private session followed by lunch at Lago by Druthers ($1000 - a $1200 value). Both B2B bundles include two mentions of your company on social media to boost your employer branding and show the world that you're a great place to work!
Doing something for the first time isn't easy ... but we got this
Because we are among the first on the East Coast to start a public floating sauna, there is no accepted "best practice" or established way of doing things. We are blazing our trail as we go - creating new designs, navigating permits and regulations, upskilling our builders, and defining insurance requirements. It is tough work, full of uncertainty and risk, but our founding team has all the skills to make it happen:
- Bjørnar, a seasoned architect who designed, built, and runs a community-driven floating sauna in his hometown of Bergen, Norway, brings design and operational expertise.
- Tom, originally from western Norway and currently based in Brooklyn, is a skilled lawyer in the global media industry who offers legal and marketing support.
- Kate’s almost 20 years of working with international business, design, and innovation have given Kos a strong start and solid foundation for growth.
In addition, our builders bring decades of experience building structures on the water up and down the East Coast. In short, if this Dream Team can't make this happen, we don't believe anyone can!
Can't contribute right now?
We understand that not everyone may be in a position to contribute financially. Don't fret - there are plenty of other ways you can support our mission!
Thank you for your support in blazing a new trail in upstate New York, inspired by the beautiful fjord saunas of Norway. We look forward to welcoming you into the warmth this fall!
