Store It Cold

Store It Cold, LLC manufactures and sells patented micro-controllers that enable the conversion of a standard, off-the-shelf air conditioner into a refrigeration unit for a walk-in cooler. The company was born out of a direct need experienced by its founders, Ron and Kate Khosla, who started Huguenot Street Farm in 1999. Faced with the high cost of traditional walk-in coolers for their vegetable harvest, Ron Khosla, a farmer, developed the initial concept for an affordable cold storage solution. After several seasons of development, he collaborated with his Cornell University engineer roommate, Timothy, to create the first generation of the CoolBot. Officially founded in 2007, the company commercialized this invention to serve a broader market.

The core of the business is the direct-to-consumer sale of its flagship products, the CoolBot and the WiFi-enabled CoolBot Pro. These devices work by overriding a standard air conditioner's thermostat, allowing it to cool a well-insulated space to as low as 35°F without the unit freezing over. This approach provides a significant cost-saving alternative to traditional refrigeration compressor systems, claiming up to a 72% reduction in equipment costs and around 40% less electricity usage. The business generates revenue through the sale of these controller units. For the CoolBot Pro, which offers remote monitoring, temperature adjustments, and alerts via a mobile app, the company utilizes a subscription model with a monthly fee. The company also offers complete walk-in cooler packages.

Store It Cold targets a diverse clientele that requires affordable cold storage, including small-scale farmers, florists, hunters, brewers, restaurants, and dairies. The product's value proposition is centered on affordability, energy efficiency, and ease of installation, empowering users to build their own walk-in coolers. The company has a significant global footprint, having sold over 50,000 units in numerous countries. In October 2015, Stoic Holdings, a private equity firm, acquired a majority interest in Store It Cold to help scale the business, with founder Ron Khosla remaining involved in technical development. Subsequently, in 2024, Kinzie Capital Partners acquired the company.

Keywords: DIY walk-in cooler, CoolBot, affordable cold storage, farm refrigeration, floral cooler, brewery cooling, restaurant cold room, hunter meat locker, air conditioner hack, microcontroller, energy-efficient cooling, remote temperature monitoring, walk-in cooler kit, post-harvest storage, food preservation, small business refrigeration, cold storage solution, Ron Khosla, Huguenot Street Farm, agricultural technology