Before founding C11, I worked in construction, learning the ropes in a small family-run business, my dad’s. It was in that environment that I learned the core principles I still carry today: hard work, structure, and the grit it takes to build something from the ground up.
The Idea Came Years Before the Company
Funnily enough, the idea for C11 came long before I ever imagined launching a company. I was about 16 or 17, playing football and hurling for Kildare, and I remember spotting a gap. After tough evening training sessions, we never had access to proper recovery equipment. Most of the gear was locked away in professional facilities, and those were hard to get to late at night. So, I started sketching ideas — one of which was a mobile trailer with ice baths in the back that would travel to teams. I even tried to pitch it to my dad back then.
It Started as a Tupperware Box
Years later, I knew I still had to give it a go even before I had the money or means to do it properly. That’s when I came up with the C11 Box. It was a small Tupperware container with two pairs of Normatec boots, massage guns, foam rollers, electrolytes, the works. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. It helped me build a brand, a reputation, and trust before I had the resources to build the C11 Recovery Truck.
Every Athlete Should Feel Like an Elite One
From day one, my vision has always been to make every athlete, no matter what level they’re at, feel like an elite one. I was lucky enough to experience that professional feeling briefly, and I’ve never forgotten how motivating and empowering it is. That’s why, whether it’s a golfer on the DP World Tour or a junior football team in Ireland, they all get the same high-level experience with us. No shortcuts.
The Hardest Calls
It hasn’t been easy. One of the hardest moments was deciding to leave my father’s business and go all-in on C11. For 12–18 months it was just a side hustle. But eventually, I had to take the leap. Another major turning point was launching in the Middle East, a region we had no experience in, but believed in massively. That decision stretched me more than anything: learning to work across nationalities, languages, and cultures, but also proving that what we had built in Ireland could stand tall globally.
Where C11 Is Today
Today, C11 is one of the largest sports recovery companies in the world, with an incredible team based across Ireland, the UK, Spain, and the Middle East. I’m still hands-on across all regions and still learning every day. I’ve built a team of people I trust, who I’m proud to say I learn from just as much as I lead.
What Comes Next
Looking ahead, I see C11 being a pillar of all major sporting events around the world, a brand that’s known for quality, innovation, and doing things the right way. We’ll keep partnering with the best. We’ll keep showing up where athletes need us most.
Anything Is Possible
And if there’s one thing I’d want anyone reading this to know, it’s this: anything is possible. From a plastic box in the boot of my car to a 10–15-person team operating in the Middle East, this journey has been built off hard work, commitment, and good people. That’s C11.
Have a Question? Talk to Ryan
C11 works alongside professional teams and industry leaders to provide athletes with world-class recovery technologies and protocols that enhance performance and reduce downtime. Whether it’s a question about the cold plunge range, the saunas, an event or the recovery truck, get in touch and Ryan will come back to you himself.
