Bryan McGehee

Post-pitch story

Brothers Mitch and Bryan McGehee started GATR Coolers in Thibodaux, Louisiana, in 2017, making custom rotomolded coolers, drinkware and branded merchandise — the kind of rugged gear the Gulf Coast runs on. Bryan called into the show's helpline episode in 2020, and the growth since then has been steady and real. The company took private investment from Callais Capital Management in 2020, then raised $542,000 through equity crowdfunding in early 2023, letting its own customers and community buy in. A 2024 Edward Lowe Foundation profile reports the business has averaged roughly 60% annual revenue growth since founding — remarkable for a hardware company in a crowded market. Today GATR runs an active storefront and e-commerce operation in Thibodaux with a near-perfect customer rating, and Bryan McGehee is still CEO, still talking about the business on podcasts in 2026. No splashy exit, no venture mega-round — just a Louisiana company that kept growing year after year. For a helpline caller asking how to scale, GATR is about as good an answer as the show has produced.