The Canadian-born brand raised $8.5 million this summer as it looks to expand its popular concept that combines saunas, cold plunges and social connection
Othership, the experiential wellness brand that combines contrast therapy and social rituals, is expanding its footprint in New York City with a new Williamsburg, Brooklyn, location opening on Monday.
The move follows an $8.5 million raise this summer that positions the Canadian-born company to grow its unique model of community-driven wellness across the U.S.
Founded in Toronto during the pandemic by five friends, including CEO Robbie Bent, Othership began as a backyard ice bath experiment and has since evolved into a multi-location wellness brand known for its guided rituals. Its first U.S. location opened in Manhattan’s Flatiron district in 2024, quickly drawing attention from wellness enthusiasts. The company also has two locations in Toronto.
The new 6,500-square-foot Williamsburg space at 25 Kent Avenue is anchored by a cedar-lined sauna that holds up to 100 guests, 20% larger than Flatiron’s. The studio also features two sunken cold plunge pools for eight to ten people at a time, a stadium-style lounge with a hidden DJ booth and custom artworks woven into the architecture.
Programming at the Brooklyn location extends Othership’s mix of structured and free-flow offerings. Signature guided sessions will include “Music Discovery,” a live performance series amplified by towel-waving and plunges; “Friendship,” an evening designed to spark new social connections; and “Lovership,” which combines sauna parties with ice baths in an immersive environment.
For those who prefer flexibility, “Free Flow” and “Quieter Free Flow” allow guests to move at their own pace, while “Evening Social” provides a sober alternative to nightlife.
“Williamsburg builds on everything we’ve learned about how people want to feel and connect,” Bent said. “It’s our most communal space to date. From the design changes to new programming, the intention was to create something transformational for people looking for more from their social experiences.”
Co-founder Amanda Laine added that the brand’s mission has always gone beyond hot-and-cold recovery.
“The sauna and cold are just tools for emotional wellness and discovery,” Laine said. “It’s the full experience that keeps people coming back.”
Othership’s recent funding raise was completed through a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) and included investors across North America, Europe and the Caribbean, according to Canadian business publication The Logic.
Rocana Ventures co-founder Gurdeep Prewal, one of the participants, described the raise as a stepping stone ahead of a planned Series B. Past backers include early investors in Headspace, the founders of SoulCycle and Daybreaker and singer Shawn Mendes.
Looking further ahead, Othership has confirmed a third New York location on the Upper East Side, slated to open in 2027. That 13,500-square-foot site will feature a “bathing wing,” a modern reinterpretation of the traditional bathhouse with pools, steam, sauna, dunk showers and communal rituals.
