The first in a series of profiles on locally-rooted startups that were “drafted” onto the Series B[uffalo] team
Twipes cofounders Elle McIntosh and Al Borz arrived in Buffalo in early 2023 with a big proposition.
Their argument: the wet wipes industry is a $21 billion annual exercise in noxious environmental degradation, particularly in releasing microplastics into the water system.
The solution: a flusable, biodegradable wet wipe that appeals to a new generation of eco-conscious consumers.
Two years later, Twipes is starting to make serious in-roads into that promise, with a sophisticated understanding of its market and a focus on direct-to-consumer sales that has pushed its monthly subscriber list past 14,000 individuals. The company’s revenue has grown from $600,000 in 2023 to $1.1 million in 2024 and nearly $2 million this year.
Twipes has also seen success with business partnerships such as the one it enacted with Kaleida Health’s Bradford Regional Medical Center.
“We are seeing people’s perceptions start to change as they understand the value of eco-friendly products,” Borz said. “Consumer patterns are changing in America, and what that means for Twipes is that our market is growing.”
Twipes now has five fulltime employees in Buffalo. The company is currently raising money to move its production to the U.S., as its main challenge is supply chain issues that make it hard to meet rising demand. The team is hoping to move manufacturing to Buffalo.
Twipes was among 11 companies recently “drafted” onto the Series B[uffalo] team by Buffalo Bills legend Eric Wood, honoring its momentum and growth projections. This is the first profile in a series of profiles on those companies.
