Wodbottom, a women’s fitness apparel brand based in Verona, announced it has raised $250,000 in angel funding.

The round was led by Nicole and Ben Raboine, two local entrepreneurs out of Tomah.

Wodbottom designs activewear including athletic shorts, leggings, tops and other fitness accessories. The seed investment will allow the company to grow its staff, develop new product lines, and enhance its marketing efforts.

Emily and Than Ruyle founded the retail e-commerce company in 2015, after Than took a class learning how to sell products on Amazon. As avid CrossFit athletes, the couple saw a niche opportunity in the growing fitness industry, first launching their signature silicone wedding rings online.

In a phone call, Wodbototm co-founder Emily Ruyle says the company then began to offer its fun, quirky activewear prints — workout shorts emblazoned with avocados or unicorns, for example — and quickly gained traction.

“When we first started we threw a lot of products at the market,” including foam rollers, wraps, and jump ropes, says Ruyle, who serves as the company’s designer and CMO. “But what we recognized is that women gravitated toward our fun designs as a way to express themselves.” Read the full story here.