Leader Spotlight Series: Christian Shaw, Founder & CEO, Treeswax
Jacinta Gordon | May 8, 2024.
This month, we’re excited to spotlight Christian Shaw, founder of Treeswax, a company rethinking what high performance outdoor products can look like when they’re built in alignment with the natural environments they’re used in.
Through Treeswax, Christian is building a brand rooted in performance, design, and responsibility, challenging the assumption that outdoor gear needs to rely on fossil-fuel-based materials to work well.
Christian Shaw
Founder & CEO of Treeswax
Wild Gift Class of 2023
WG: What impact are you currently making?
Christian:
Treeswax is expanding reach, adoption, and momentum. We are now carried in 200+ retail accounts, have entered Japan through distribution, and continue building both wholesale and direct customer demand.
We are in the middle of a friends-and-family raise that is now over 50% subscribed, helping position the company for its next stage. We're seeing a small product gain real traction with shops, customers, and partners, and begin opening the door to a broader platform.
WG: What are you currently focused on building or expanding? Any recent milestones we can celebrate with you?
Christian:
We are expanding beyond surf into adjacent categories. We are especially excited about snow, where our first ski and board wax prototypes have shown encouraging early results.
We are continuing to deepen our retail presence, strengthen distribution, and lay the foundation for growth. What feels worth celebrating is that Treeswax is no longer just a single product idea — it is becoming a platform with real traction and room to expand.
WG: Looking back, what shifted for you during the Wild Gift Fellowship?
Christian:
During the fellowship, I was exposed to a diversity of ideas and perspectives that expanded my capacity to listen and thoughtfully integrate feedback. That has had lasting value as I build my team and develop partnerships.
On a personal level, the exercise of choosing what to leave behind as we entered the canyon is something I revisit almost daily.
WG: What is one piece of advice you would offer someone starting their own organization?
Christian:
If it were easy, everyone would do it.
WG: What’s next for you and your organization in the coming year?
Christian:
In the coming year, we are focused on strengthening our foundation by continuing to expand our retail and distribution footprint, refining operations, and building the systems and capacity to support thoughtful growth.
We’ll keep extending our reach while staying disciplined about product quality, brand integrity, and the pace at which we scale.
WG: How can the Wild Gift community support you right now?
Christian:
The Wild Gift community can support us by sharing Treeswax with friends and by picking up wax in shops or online, or by checking out our hats and beanies.
We are also always excited to connect with people who want to test product, especially anyone chasing snow in the Southern Hemisphere this summer.
And as we continue our current raise, introductions to aligned investors, strategic partners, and thoughtful connectors are always deeply appreciated.
WG: Where can people learn more about your work?
Christian:
Our website, www.treeswax.com
& Instagram: @treeswaxsurf
Some recent articles:
https://santacruzworks.squarespace.com/news/treeswax-update-what-matters-sticks
https://www.surfer.com/news/treeswax-surfboard-wax
Thanks for reading the Leader Spotlight segment of the Wild Gift Blog! If you are a Wild Gift Alumni and want to be featured, please email jacinta@wildgift.org.
