Dryworld

Dryworld is a Canadian athletic footwear and apparel company headquartered in Victoria, British Columbia. The business was founded in 2010 by former rugby players Matt Weingart and Brian McKenzie, who developed the concept after retiring from the sport. Their initial product idea addressed a practical problem faced by athletes playing outdoors in wet and cold conditions: how to keep footwear and feet drier without adding substantial weight to the shoe. The resulting dryfeet product was designed as an exterior cover that could be rolled over footwear such as soccer shoes. Its stated purpose was to reduce the effect of rain, mud, and cold-weather conditions while preserving the athlete's existing footwear setup. After its initial footwear concept, Dryworld expanded into multiple clothing and athletic-product lines. The company's product focus has been associated particularly with soccer, football, rugby, basketball, boxing, athletics, and other team or outdoor sports. Dryworld has also described independent laboratory testing through the Sport Innovation Centre, or SPIN, a division of the Canadian Sport Institute. This testing connection reflects the company's emphasis on sports performance and product validation, although the available reference material does not provide a complete technical catalogue or detailed test results. Dryworld pursued visibility through sponsorships and team-supply agreements. In 2016, it announced arrangements involving Brazilian soccer clubs Fluminense, Goiás, and Atlético Mineiro. Goiás was the first of those clubs to present and use a Dryworld kit in competitive play. Santa Cruz also announced a partnership in February 2016, although the reference material identifies that arrangement as unconfirmed by Dryworld. The Brazilian club relationships later ended in late 2016 or early 2017. The company subsequently announced agreements with English clubs Watford and Queens Park Rangers in July 2016, covering the 2016–17 Premier League and Championship seasons. Those relationships were short-lived. By January 2017, both clubs had announced new suppliers. The QPR arrangement became particularly contentious because the club considered legal action over alleged failed payments and late delivery of merchandise; players reportedly had to use equipment from a previous Nike arrangement. These events illustrate the operational and contractual risks associated with Dryworld's rapid expansion through professional sports sponsorships. In December 2020, Dryworld completed a reverse merger with Nexus Energy Services and became a publicly traded company. The company filed with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority seeking approval to change its trading symbol from IBGR to DRYW. The available reference material does not establish whether the proposed ticker change was completed, nor does it provide current financial results, a current executive roster, or a definitive account of the company's present operating scale. Dryworld's documented brand identity remains centered on athletic footwear, sportswear, team apparel, and performance-oriented products for athletes and sports organizations.

Dryworld was established in 2010 by Matt Weingart and Brian McKenzie, two former rugby players. Their starting point was a product intended for athletes competing outdoors in rain, cold, and other wet conditions. The founders developed dryfeet, an exterior footwear product that could be rolled over shoes such as soccer footwear. The concept was intended to help athletes keep their feet and footwear warmer and drier while limiting the additional weight associated with conventional wet-weather solutions. The company later broadened its offering beyond the original footwear-cover concept and produced several clothing lines. Its documented scope came to include athletic footwear, sportswear, team apparel, and products associated with soccer, football, rugby, basketball, boxing, athletics, and other performance-sport categories. Dryworld's product-development and validation activities were linked in the available account to independent laboratory testing at the Sport Innovation Centre, known as SPIN, which is a division of the Canadian Sport Institute. A major part of Dryworld's expansion strategy involved professional sports sponsorships and teamwear contracts. In 2016, the company announced sponsorship agreements with Brazilian soccer clubs Fluminense, Goiás, and Atlético Mineiro. Goiás was the first of these clubs to formally present the Dryworld kit and use it in competitive matches. Santa Cruz separately announced a Dryworld partnership on 3 February 2016, though the reference material notes that the company did not confirm it. The Brazilian relationships later ended in late 2016 or early 2017. In July 2016, Dryworld announced agreements with Watford and Queens Park Rangers. The contracts were intended to cover the 2016–17 Premier League and Championship seasons. The arrangements did not continue through the relevant seasons: by January 2017, both clubs had announced new suppliers. The QPR relationship generated allegations of failed payments and late delivery of merchandise, and the club reportedly considered legal action. Because of supply problems, players were reported to have used equipment from the club's prior Nike arrangement. This episode was a significant setback for Dryworld's teamwear expansion and commercial credibility. Dryworld's sports-marketing activity also extended to individual athletes and other sports. The available reference lists footballer Luan, Ronaldinho, basketball player Braden Smith, boxer Samuel Vargas, gridiron football players Rolly Lumbala, Ronnie Yell, and Trente Jones, athletics competitor Darya Klishina, and rugby organization Ospreys and league Super Rugby Aupiki among its associations. It also identifies the Netherlands national football team and Super League Triathlon in its sports-related listings. The source material does not specify the terms, dates, or current status of each relationship, so they cannot be treated as uniformly active or formally contracted. In December 2020, Dryworld completed a reverse merger with Nexus Energy Services, providing a route to public trading. The company subsequently filed with FINRA to seek approval for a ticker change from IBGR to DRYW. The reference material does not confirm whether that symbol change was approved or whether the company continues to trade under the proposed symbol. No reliable financial figures, current leadership information, or current corporate ownership details are supplied in the available sources. Dryworld's documented history therefore consists of its Canadian athletic-product origins, product diversification, ambitious but unstable professional-team sponsorship strategy, and transition into a publicly traded corporate structure.

• 2020

  Reverse merger creates a public company

  [1]Dryworlden.wikipedia.org

  Dryworld completes a reverse merger with Nexus Energy Services and becomes publicly traded.

• 2017

  English club relationships end

  [1]Dryworlden.wikipedia.org

  Watford and Queens Park Rangers announce new suppliers; QPR reportedly considers legal action over alleged payment and delivery problems.

• 2016

  Brazilian soccer sponsorships are announced

  [1]Dryworlden.wikipedia.org

  Dryworld announces sponsorship arrangements involving Fluminense, Goiás, and Atlético Mineiro.

• 2016

  English football agreements are announced

  [1]Dryworlden.wikipedia.org

  Dryworld announces teamwear agreements with Watford and Queens Park Rangers for the 2016–17 seasons.

• 2010

  Dryworld is founded

  [1]Dryworlden.wikipedia.org

  Former rugby players Matt Weingart and Brian McKenzie establish Dryworld and begin developing products for athletes competing in wet and cold outdoor conditions.

Performance-oriented athletic footwear, apparel, and teamwear designed for outdoor sports and supported by sports-science and laboratory-testing associations.

• Footwear cover

  dryfeet

  Dryfeet is an exterior shoe product developed for outdoor athletes. It is designed to be rolled over footwear such as soccer shoes, with the stated aim of helping keep feet and shoes warmer and drier in wet or cold conditions while reducing the weight penalty associated with wet footwear.

• Athletic footwear

  Dryworld athletic footwear

  Dryworld expanded from its original footwear-cover concept into broader athletic-footwear offerings. The available reference identifies footwear as a core company category but does not provide a complete model list, technical specifications, or confirmed current availability.

• Sportswear

  Dryworld sportswear

  The company produced several clothing lines for athletes and sports teams. These products formed part of Dryworld's broader performance-apparel proposition across soccer, football, rugby, basketball, boxing, athletics, and related sports.

• Team apparel · 2016

  Dryworld team kits

  Dryworld supplied or proposed to supply team kits and associated apparel through professional soccer partnerships, including arrangements involving Brazilian clubs and English clubs. The documented agreements were not uniformly sustained.

• 2017

  Queens Park Rangers payment and delivery dispute

  Queens Park Rangers reportedly considered legal action against Dryworld over alleged failed payments and late delivery of merchandise. The reported supply problems resulted in players using equipment from a prior Nike arrangement.

  Source

Read more

• 2016Brazilian soccer club sponsorship program

  Brazil

  Dryworld announced sponsorship arrangements with Fluminense, Goiás, and Atlético Mineiro, using professional club kits to build recognition in the Brazilian soccer market.

  Outcome. The clubs subsequently exited their agreements in late 2016 or early 2017.

  Source
• 2016Watford and Queens Park Rangers teamwear agreements

  United Kingdom

  Dryworld announced agreements with Watford and Queens Park Rangers for the 2016–17 Premier League and Championship seasons.

  Outcome. Both clubs announced new suppliers by January 2017. The QPR arrangement was also associated with reported payment and delivery disputes.

  Source

• 2020

  Reverse merger with Nexus Energy ServicesM&A

  Background

  Dryworld pursued a public-market corporate structure through a transaction with Nexus Energy Services.

  Action taken

  Dryworld completed a reverse merger with Nexus Energy Services and became publicly traded.

  Aftermath

  The company filed with FINRA seeking approval to change its ticker from IBGR to DRYW; the available source does not confirm whether the proposed change was completed.

  Source

• 2016

  Expansion through professional team sponsorshipsStrategy

  Background

  Dryworld sought to increase brand visibility and establish itself as a teamwear supplier in major soccer markets.

  Action taken

  The company announced agreements involving Brazilian clubs and later Watford and Queens Park Rangers.

  Aftermath

  The arrangements were short-lived, with the clubs later moving to other suppliers and the QPR relationship becoming subject to reported payment and delivery concerns.

  Source

• 2010

  Development of the dryfeet footwear coverProduct launch

  Background

  The founders sought to address wet and cold conditions experienced by athletes in outdoor sports.

  Action taken

  Dryworld developed an exterior cover intended to roll over existing footwear such as soccer shoes.

  Aftermath

  The product became the foundation for the company's later expansion into athletic footwear and apparel.

  Source

1. 1Dryworlden.wikipedia.org