Avantopool exists to bring wellbeing to everyone
Thank you to those of you who wanted something that didn’t exist
Avantopool’s roots go back to a swimming pool shop in Espoo in 2014, when some ice swimming enthusiasts asked for a cold pool that could be used at home. We didn’t have one, so we started a frantic search. We found a few pools around the world, but they were massive and, in addition, complicated to install and maintain. And VERY expensive.
There simply wasn’t a cold pool on the market that was suitable for home use for ice swimmers, fitness enthusiasts and others interested in wellbeing. So we – three engineering entrepreneurs who had been doing sports our whole lives – set out to right this wrong in the world.
We knew that the use of cold water to recover from performance was already a no-brainer in the world’s leading professional sports leagues, like the English Premier League, the NBA and the NHL. Why, then, shouldn’t people who play sports for fun and just want to boost their own wellbeing be able to take advantage of the cold as well? Together we decided to solve this problem. We started developing a cold pool suitable for both top athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and really everyone.
Faith is a good start, but an engineer needs hard facts
We had many decades of expertise in swimming pools and hot tubs. But the opportunity to create something new to fill a global need really made our heads spin. As number-loving engineers (even one economist included!), we rolled up our sleeves and prepared to do battle.
We did some market research and our assumption was confirmed: there definitely was demand for cold water everywhere. And if you could get the same pool warm if needed, that’s even better.
To strengthen our vision, we commissioned a cold recovery study at the Department of Biology of Physical Activity at the University of Jyväskylä. The results were encouraging and we also received some pretty major support from the Finnish state, which meant that product development could begin in earnest.
Four years of hard work paid off in 2018, when we released Avantopool’s first Kinos pool to the market. We thought we were busy back then, but that was just the beginning. Don’t worry though, recovery will never be an issue in this job.
Not to toot our own horn, but we can honestly say that we really know cold and clean water. That said, there’s always more to learn and understand, which is why we’re constantly developing new cold water innovations focused on wellbeing. It’s important to us that the benefits of our pools are based on scientific evidence and that our pools are safe, ecological, Finnish, and stylish.
What’s your thing?
An athlete’s recovery from demanding sports activities is very important. But it’s equally important that a “regular” person training and challenging themselves is able to get back on the jogging trail the next day. And that a person suffering from pain gets relief. Or that cold can help you have a healthier and happier life. In the end, it’s all about human beings and the unique lives each of us lead.
It’s inspiring to be involved in promoting people’s wellbeing in so many ways. Today we primarily feel like ambassadors of wellbeing and hope that we will be able to help as many people as possible. Thank you to everyone who has been involved in our journey. It feels like we’re just getting started.
Juha & Pekka & Mika