Sleepout announces investment from Sleep Country

The Sleepout Curtain is easy to install with no tools in just seconds. Sleepout uses industrial-strength suction cups to hang up and stay up until you or your loved ones are done resting. (CNW Group/Sleepout/Mark Coombs)

TORONTO — On Nov. 23, Sleep Country announced an agreement to acquire a 25% stake in Sleepout, a Canadian startup specializing in portable blackout curtains.

Born out of the pandemic, and out of co-founders Mark Coombs and Hannah Brennen’s reported frustration, Sleepout is a Canadian direct-to-consumer business that works to help people sleep better while making a positive impact on the environment. Like nearly a third of Canadians, Mark suffered from insomnia and found that total darkness was the best solution to get a restful night’s sleep. After years of ineffective DIY solutions, Mark and Hannah developed the Sleepout® Curtain, a patented portable blackout curtain that installs anywhere in seconds to completely darken any room.

“We are thrilled to receive this investment from Sleep Country, Canada’s leading sleep retailer,” said Mark Coombs, CEO and Co-Founder of Sleepout “We couldn’t have asked for a better investment partner. With Sleep Country’s support, Sleepout will be able to cover new ground by achieving larger scale and advancing our joint mission of helping North Americans sleep better.”

The 25% stake represents Sleep Country’s first-ever minority investment. As an omnichannel specialty sleep retailer, Sleep Country’s investment will help Sleepout as they move into their next phase of growth. Logistical assistance with warehousing and supply chain, alongside the business relationships that can be built from this partnership will be instrumental in Sleepout’s ability to rapidly expand their business to meet rising demand.

“We are thrilled to expand our product offering with Sleepout. Sleepout fills a major gap in the market and addresses a problem around sleep for people living all over North America, and beyond.” said Phil Besner, Senior Vice President, Business Development of Sleep Country Canada “Through our investment in Sleepout’s portable blackout curtains we will be able to continue to provide Canadians with products that will help them get the rest they need both at home and while traveling.”

Sustainably designed with premium Greenguard® and OEKO-TEX® certified 100% blackout fabric, the Sleepout® Curtain is reportedly effective at keeping out light. It temporarily installs to any window using industrial-strength locking suction cups and blocks extra light with the help of the proprietary Sleepout Pads: a non-damaging adhesive technology designed to block light bleeds.

“As a small company, we want to lead by example and prove it is possible to develop innovative solutions to everyday problems without compromising on the health of the planet. Through our journey in becoming the world’s leading portable blackout curtain we want to do good for the environment and leave it better than we found it.” said Hannah Brennen, COO and Co-Founder of Sleepout.