Outex Co-Founder, Olympic Swimmer, Patent Holder, JR deSouza Featured in SoCal Publication
Apr 15, 2020
Outex Founder Featured in ShoutOut SoCal
We had the good fortune of connecting with JR deSouza and we've shared our conversation below.
Hi JR — how did you think about starting your own business?
I was fortunate that the Outex business started as a passion and a hobby. As photo enthusiasts who grew up around water, camping, surfing, and hiking, we wanted a better solution for protecting our cameras during outdoor use. I was an Olympic swimmer, and surfed and water-skied in the off seasons. My cousin Roberto was an avid hiker and camper. We both enjoyed taking pictures. The waterproofing solutions on the market were either too heavy, bulky, and expensive — or cheap with unacceptable results. We set out to combine the best of both worlds.
Outex combines professional performance (optical glass ports, complete camera and lens functional control), a universal design that fits multiple brands, makes, and models with the same housing, and adds no weight or bulk to your gear — making it genuinely travel-friendly, at an affordable price. The more people saw our prototypes, the more they wanted to buy it. So the company was born. We built it nights and weekends while our day jobs allowed, and grew a business over the years.
Can you tell us more about what makes Outex different?
Early on, I decided to invest in protecting our intellectual property. Outex holds a series of patents around key product innovations that reflect our unique but simple approach to solving the problems we identified. Traditional camera housings are big, heavy, and bulky — and they lock you into a specific camera or lens, so they use acrylic optical ports. Because Outex housings are lightweight and contour the camera itself, we're able to offer optical glass ports across all products, delivering better imaging results at lower cost and weight. The system accommodates virtually any brand, make, and model — film, DSLR, mirrorless, or medium format — while maintaining complete functional control of the camera and lens.
Our biggest challenge has been awareness. Once people discover Outex, they tend to love it. But it's not a mass-market product — it's modular and different, which makes it complex to explain and market. People compare it to things they already know, so they sometimes assume it's just a "bag" because it's not hard, or that it's inferior because it's more affordable than a hard case. Neither is true. Our approach is to keep our messaging simple, relevant, and genuine. And it's working.
If a friend was visiting SoCal, where would you take them?
There's so much to see and do in SoCal it's hard to go wrong. As a waterman, I'd make sure a visit includes surfing around San Onofre, a kayaking trip along La Jolla Cove, and a boating trip toward the Coronado Islands. You have to get Mexican food in Old Town and soak in the Gaslamp District.
Who else deserves credit and recognition?
I'm grateful for many people in my life who made me a better person and served as role models. But I wouldn't be overstating it to say my high school swim coach — Gregg Troy — was one of the most influential people in my life. I moved to this country on my own at age 15, and had to quickly learn from other people's mistakes, since learning from my own could prove too costly. Coach Troy's impact and influence accompanied me well beyond our few years together. Decades later, I still reflect on the examples and guidance — things both said and unsaid — that have stuck with me. What I admire most was his ability to coach the person, not just the athlete; to stay committed to a vision despite noise and distractions; and to believe there's no substitute for hard work.
I'm fortunate to have had so many positive influences — family, coaches, teachers, and bosses. And as a side note, I'm equally grateful for the bosses I couldn't stand. Those situations often demanded the most adaptation and personal growth.
Image Credits: JR deSouza, Michael Stokes, Carlos Souza
See the system JR built — the modular, universal waterproof camera housing trusted by photographers, filmmakers, and athletes worldwide.