We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Keegan OConnor a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Keegan, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chillshark/pledge?ref=nav_search&result=project&term=chillshark&total_hits=1

Watch this video and it will give you all the context on the mission. My goal is to get Cold Water Immersion adopted as a treatment strategy by PTSD.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started Chillshark because I saw a massive opportunity to take cold water immersion beyond just a wellness trend and turn it into something measurable, optimized, and backed by data. Cold plunging has had a huge impact on my own mental and physical performance, and I wanted to build something that not only enhances the experience but also helps people understand exactly what’s happening in their bodies when they do it.

The problem I saw was that cold plunges today are mostly guesswork—people rely on rough estimates for time and temperature without knowing what actually works best for them. I wanted to change that. By integrating real-time biometric tracking and syncing with platforms like WHOOP, Oura Ring, and Apple Health, Chillshark gives users real data on how cold exposure affects their recovery, stress levels, and overall performance.

Beyond personal benefits, I knew this technology could be a game changer for athletes, high-performers, and even clinical applications like PTSD treatment. We’ve already started working with organizations like the Grey Team to explore how cold therapy can help save lives.

At the core of it, I built Chillshark because I believe in pushing boundaries—not just in performance, but in how we use technology to unlock human potential.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The answer to everything is work harder and it will all work out. This is a belief that’s been instilled in me since I was a kid but realistically being effective and executing requires more than just hard work.

I learned this the hard way in one of my past ventures. I ended up not suceeding with the business because I didn’t take the time to properly think things through. The way I’ve corrected this now is by partnering with someone who complements my skillsets.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

My whole life I was focused on becoming the best lacrosse player I could be. I ended up going to college on scholarship and got hurt.

I had to basically reset and try to figure out what I wanted to replace lacrosse with and luckily found entrepenuership.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://chillshark.com
• Instagram: @chillsharkinc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chillshark-inc/?viewAsMember=true