Hest, the Seattle-based maker of sleeping gear for outdoor enthusiasts, raised $2.7 million in Series A funding this month as the company sees continued growth.
The initial close was backed by existing investors — Ascend, Cascade Seed Fund, Alliance of Angels, and a number of Seattle-area angel investors — and Hest is opening the round to new investors with a final close later this year.
Founder and CEO Aaron Ambuske told GeekWire that Hest continues to experience significant growth with a 50% increase in sales this year. The startup expects to turn an operating profit for the first time.
Ambuske said the growth is driven by an expanded product line and an increase in sales at REI, where Hest is now in all stores. The company also has a partnership with electric vehicle maker Rivian.
The fresh cash will be used to support future growth opportunities.
“We are launching a new product category in 2026, expanding our partnership with Rivian and investing in new sales channels,” Ambuske said. “We recently launched in Japan and will continue to explore international options when they are a fit.”
He added that while tariffs imposed by the Trump administration “have been a lot to navigate,” over half of Hest’s cost of goods and final assembly are in the U.S., so the company has been “slightly insulated from the turbulence.”
Ambuske, who spent 18 years at K2 Sports, launched Hest in 2019 to satisfy his desire to bring a more comfortable sleeping experience to car and tent campers.
Based in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood, Hest opened its first showroom this summer. The company employs 10 people.
