Our Mission
We’re challenging you to think differently about your clothes and gear. Working together, we can support a circular economy and drastically reduce the textile industry’s environmental impact by utilizing a closed-loop cleaning system that preserves water and electricity, captures microfibers, and ultimately extends the life of textiles that come through our system.
We are here to close the loop in textile circularity.
Our History
Tersus Solutions was founded in 2009 in Denver, Colorado with a mission of building a better CO2 textile cleaning machine. Along the way, we’ve learned a multitude of lessons about the power of good ideas, the importance of choosing great partners, maintaining lofty goals, and perseverance.
In 2018, Tersus launched Cleaning as a Service (CaaS) for high-end brand and outdoor apparel companies. In addition, we brought our machine assembly and testing in-house, resulting in major new machine innovations, an increase in build quality, and reduced build times.
In 2020, Tersus broadened our suite of service offering by adding sorting, repair, upcycling, recycling, and decommissioning to our platform. Later in 2020, Tersus began the manufacturing of machines in Holland to satisfy the growing European market. Further, we completed a licensing deal in Asia that allows us to bring our equipment and services into the Asian market. Over the course of the last 11 years, we have been at the forefront of innovation in the use of LCO2 and ultimately keeping textiles out of landfills or being incinerated. Our machines and processes are simply the most advanced in the world.
The Team
Jake Jackson: CEO & Board Member
After investing in Tersus in 2015, and becoming a member of the Board of Directors in 2018, Jake Jackson stepped in as Chief Executive Officer with a passion for textile technology that contributes to the furtherance of a circular economy in the textile and fashion industry. Believing that sustainability should be a primary focus in an industry that has historically been known for vast consumption of water and energy, Jake’s mission at Tersus, and in the textile industry as a whole, is to raise awareness of current technology that can allow for a better way to process textiles and prevent garments from being incinerated or sent off to a landfill.
A proud alum of the University of Missouri, Jake is a former member of the Mizzou basketball team, including the 2001-2002 Elite Eight Missouri Tigers. Jake holds a B.S. in Political Science and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri. His interests include coaching youth sports, being on the water, and above all spending time with his wife Kasey and two sons Colin and Carter.
Steve Madsen: Founder, CTO, & Board Member
Steve Madsen has been working with Liquid CO2 and textiles since 2004 when he founded Revolution Cleaners in Denver with 4 partners. Steve soon became one of the go-to people for innovation and experience in CO2 textile processing. While a fan of the technology, Steve was not a fan of the first generation of machines. After failed efforts to work with the early machine manufacturers on machine improvements, Steve set out to build better machines. Tersus Solutions emerged from this effort.
Today, Tersus Solutions operates a full production laundry and manufactures the Tersus Solutions textile machines in Denver. Steve has taken Tersus Solutions global, with machines being manufactured in the US, Europe and China. In his spare time he plays guitar (poorly) and enjoys cooking and traveling with his family. He enjoys reading history books.
Sean DeWitt: CFO & Board Member
Sean currently serves as Managing Partner of Card Sound Capital (“CSC”). He began his career in specialty finance as an Analyst at Castle Pines Capital. During his tenure, the firm grew its assets under management from $20 million to over $2 billion in less than six years. Most recently, he held the position of Managing Director at C2FO, a working capital marketplace, where he was responsible for business development focusing on the Fortune 250. In 2015, Sean joined the CSC team to advance the vision of making strategic investments in companies that are disruptive in their respective industries. Since joining the team, CSC has grown its portfolio of investments in the impact and health & wellness spaces. Sean graduated from James Madison University’s College of Business with a B.B.A in Finance.
Peter Whitcomb, President
Peter spent the 5 years prior to joining Tersus building circular business models across the retail sector, serving as Vice President of Growth and Partnerships at Trove, the leading white label resale solutions provider for premium brands and retailers, including REI, Lululemon, Nordstrom, and Patagonia. While at Trove Peter oversaw the entire customer lifecycle and played a leading role in fundraising, helping the company to close a successful $77M Series D. Prior to Trove, he was the Head of New Business Development and Circular Commerce at REI and built and led their rentals and recommerce businesses. He successfully grew the new division from one person to more than eighty five people. During his time at REI, Peter was also the Director of Enterprise Strategy. Before joining REI, Peter managed the cycling and action sports businesses at Amazon and held a variety of roles on Wall Street with both Citibank and AllianceBernstein, eventually helping build AllianceBernstein’s Hedge Fund and Private Equity Fund businesses. Peter received his undergraduate degree from Colgate University, where he served as Captain of the Division One lacrosse team. Peter holds an MBA from UT McCombs School of Business.
asha agrawal: board member
Asha is Managing Director of Tin Shed Ventures and Corporate Development at Patagonia, working on Patagonia’s investment, innovation, and other strategic initiatives. She oversees strategic partnerships in the recommerce space and works with Tersus to launder used Patagonia gear received back from customers before reselling or upcycling them. Prior to Patagonia, Asha was on the executive team of two sustainability startups, invested in venture backed climate solutions at The Westly Group, and practiced corporate law at Gunderson Dettmer, LLP and Sidley Austin, LLP. Asha graduated from Northwestern University (B.Sc.) and the University of Michigan Law School (J.D.).