Firefly Recovery is a Los Angeles-based company that provides a wearable athletic recovery device designed to enhance muscle recovery for athletes. Its flagship product is a small, portable neuromuscular stimulator that increases blood circulation to help reduce soreness and speed up recovery time. Clinically validated and FDA-approved, the Firefly device has been adopted by hundreds of sports teams at the professional and collegiate levels. Founded in 2017, the company has grown its reach across major sports leagues and gained recognition in the athletic community for its innovative approach to recovery technology.
Firefly Recovery was founded in 2017 by Anthony Kjenstad in Southern California as a response to a growing need for efficient, on-the-go recovery solutions for athletes. Kjenstad, who also founded an athletic equipment distributor called Athletic Recovery & Performance, observed a shift in sports training culture – elite athletes and teams were beginning to prioritize recovery as much as training and performance. Traditional recovery equipment (like compression boots or large electrical muscle stimulators) was often bulky and impractical for travel. Kjenstad saw an opportunity to introduce a more portable device that athletes could use anywhere, even on the sidelines or during travel, to aid recovery. Notably, the technology behind Firefly’s device was originally used in British hospitals to prevent blood clots; it was re-engineered into a sports recovery product that could improve athletic recovery by boosting blood flow. Early on, Kjenstad’s company became the exclusive U.S. distributor of this device, bringing it into locker rooms and training facilities as a convenient alternative to cumbersome recovery machines.
The Firefly device was introduced to athletic programs and gained traction for its simplicity. University athletic departments were among the first to try it; the University of Southern California (USC), for example, was an early adopter and integrated the device across many of its sports teams. Coaches and trainers noted that players could easily pack a Firefly in a kit bag – dozens of the lightweight devices could fit in a single ziplock, in stark contrast to one set of electric compression boots. This portability and ease of use aligned perfectly with the founder’s mission to “redefine” recovery for athletes by making high-quality recovery tools accessible anywhere. By filling a gap in the market for travel-friendly recovery tech, Firefly established its foothold in the sports industry.
The core product offered by Firefly Recovery is a slim, strap-on device that adheres to the back of the leg just below the knee. When activated, it emits a mild electrical impulse that stimulates the common peroneal nerve, causing the calf muscle to twitch and thereby boosting circulation in the lower limbs. This increase in blood flow – measured at roughly 400% higher microcirculation – helps deliver more oxygen and nutrients to muscle tissue, accelerating the recovery process. The device consists of a small adhesive strip with an embedded electrode and controller, making it easy to apply and adjust. Users typically feel a painless flutter in the foot or calf as the device works to flush out metabolic waste and reduce inflammation after intense exercise.
Key features of the Firefly recovery device:
Portability: It is battery-powered, compact (about the size of a wristwatch), and can be worn under or over clothing, allowing athletes to recover on the move.
Ease of Use: No complex setup is required – athletes simply strap it on near the knee and turn it on, unlike large compression systems that require stationary use and power outlets.
Clinically Proven Efficacy: Studies and practical tests (including by sports medicine staff at USC) have validated that the device meaningfully increases blood flow and can reduce delayed onset muscle soreness. Firefly cites that its technology can cut typical muscle recovery time from 72 hours to about 24 hours, a threefold improvement.
Reusability: The device is designed for multiple uses with replaceable adhesive pads, making it a cost-effective tool over a training season. It is also FDA-approved for safety and has its roots in medical-grade technology, originally used for improving circulation in post-surgical patients.
Initially embraced by athletic trainers for post-game recovery, Firefly’s device has since expanded to other use cases. Endurance athletes have used it to recover between stages of events, and it has even been marketed for frequent travelers to combat jet lag and leg swelling on long flights. By 2021, Firefly devices were being used by Olympians such as distance runner Galen Rupp and 800m runner Clayton Murphy as part of their training recovery regimens. The technology’s crossover from clinical healthcare to sports performance has been a defining aspect of Firefly’s product, giving it a strong credibility in a space eager for science-backed recovery solutions.
Founder Anthony Kjenstad – Vision and Leadership
Anthony Kjenstad is the founder and CEO of Firefly Recovery and the driving force behind the company’s inception. Based in Fullerton, California, Kjenstad established Firefly after a career focused on athletic training and recovery technology. He previously founded Athletic Recovery & Performance (ARP), a company dedicated to bringing advanced recovery tools to sports teams. In that role, Kjenstad kept close contact with athletic trainers and was well aware of the emerging emphasis on recovery in sports. “It used to be about being stronger and faster… now there is as much of a push to make sure you are recovering as well as you can so that you perform optimally,” Kjenstad noted, describing the changing mindset among athletes and coaches. This insight helped shape Firefly’s mission.
Kjenstad’s background also includes an academic foundation (he is an alumnus of the University of Arizona) and years of entrepreneurial experience in sports medicine. By the time he launched Firefly in 2017, he had spent considerable effort researching technologies that could benefit athletes. Kjenstad discovered the OnPulse® neuromuscular stimulation technology — originally developed by UK-based Sky Medical for clinical use — and recognized its potential in athletics. He negotiated the rights to distribute and market the device in the U.S. sports sector, effectively creating the Firefly brand around this technology. As CEO, Kjenstad oversaw early trials with college programs and professional teams, gathering feedback and iterating on the product’s design and usability. Under his leadership, Firefly Recovery positioned itself as a scientifically grounded solution rather than a gimmick; for example, Kjenstad often emphasizes the peer-reviewed studies and practical demonstrations (like ultrasound tests showing increased blood flow) that back the device’s claims. This evidence-driven approach helped convince skeptics in the sports world and won over high-profile users.
Throughout the company’s growth, Kjenstad has remained closely involved in both product development and business strategy. He cultivated relationships with team physicians, athletic trainers, and performance experts, building credibility within a network that would become Firefly’s early customer base. By 2023, as Firefly’s user list swelled, Kjenstad proudly noted the company’s momentum in the sports community: “We are proud to partner with many of the most talented athletes in the world,” he said when Firefly achieved a major funding milestone. His vision of making cutting-edge recovery accessible has guided Firefly from a startup idea to a company servicing athletes across the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLS and NCAA. Kjenstad’s role today continues to be at the helm of the company, steering product innovation (such as exploring new form factors or additional use-cases like military rehab) and expanding Firefly’s reach into new markets.
Co-Founder Lauren Campbell – Marketing and Growth
Lauren Campbell, Firefly Recovery’s Chief Marketing Officer, joined the company in its early stages and has been instrumental in shaping its brand and market strategy. Campbell’s background is rooted in consumer marketing and business strategy: she earned her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and later an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Before diving into the startup world, she worked with major consumer packaged goods companies. Campbell spent part of her career as a senior marketing consultant at Nestlé, where she managed and innovated on well-known brands like Butterfinger, Lean Cuisine, and others. She also founded her own marketing consulting firm, Strategy 360, advising both large CPG clients and emerging startups on growth strategies. This blend of big-brand experience and entrepreneurial drive set the stage for her role at Firefly.
Around 2018, Anthony Kjenstad brought Lauren Campbell onto the Firefly team to lead marketing and help grow the young company’s presence. Taking on the challenge, Campbell became effectively a co-founder on the commercial side, building the Firefly brand from the ground up. In her first five years with the company, she oversaw massive growth in awareness and sales. One of Campbell’s key achievements was launching Firefly’s direct-to-consumer (DTC) business. Initially, Firefly devices were primarily sold to sports teams and training staff through direct relationships. Campbell expanded distribution by creating an online storefront and e-commerce strategy so that everyday athletes – marathoners, gym enthusiasts, and even travelers – could purchase the recovery device directly. This DTC channel opened a new revenue stream and broadened Firefly’s customer base beyond elite teams.
Campbell also spearheaded innovative marketing partnerships to boost Firefly’s credibility. She established an extensive multi-sport athlete ambassador program, which took advantage of new Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules to partner with collegiate athletes, as well as Olympians and professionals. By getting Firefly devices in the hands of influential athletes across track and field, football, basketball, and other sports, and having them share their positive experiences, Campbell helped generate organic buzz around the product. She focused on building what the company calls #TeamFirefly, a community of users and endorsers ranging from NFL veterans to up-and-coming college stars. This strategy not only provided testimonials and content for marketing, but also helped normalize the Firefly device as part of an athlete’s recovery toolkit. In addition, Campbell’s corporate strategy acumen guided Firefly’s branding (positioning it as a science-backed, essential recovery tool rather than a gimmick) and informed decisions like pricing models and subscription offerings for replacement pads.
Today, as CMO, Lauren Campbell continues to lead Firefly’s marketing and growth initiatives. She has been a visible spokesperson for the company, appearing in media interviews to explain the device’s benefits and the importance of recovery. For example, Campbell was featured in a CBS News segment discussing how Firefly’s portable technology aids both athletic performance and travel wellness. Her efforts in building partnerships – from professional sports teams to hotels and fitness influencers – have been key in scaling up the company’s reach. The strategic foundation Campbell set has helped Firefly Recovery evolve from a niche athletic gadget into a growing brand in the sports tech and wellness industry.
Growth and Milestones
Since its founding, Firefly Recovery has charted a steady trajectory of growth marked by increasing user adoption and key business milestones. What began with a handful of test users in college athletics has turned into a broad customer base across sports organizations. By 2019, the Firefly device was not only in use at USC but had spread to other NCAA programs and some pro sports franchises interested in gaining a competitive edge in recovery. Teams appreciated that the product had strong scientific backing – for instance, trainers could cite that it was FDA-approved and clinically proven to boost circulation by 400% when justifying its use to athletes and administrators. This helped Firefly gain trust in an environment often skeptical of new gadgets.
A significant early endorsement came from the U.S. Olympic community. In the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021), several Olympic athletes incorporated Firefly into their routines. Marathoner Galen Rupp and 800m runner Clayton Murphy were among those who utilized Firefly for recovery during their intensive training, a fact noted in sports media. The exposure of being used by Olympians and their trainers further validated the device’s effectiveness on a world stage. Around the same time, professional teams across the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLS were adopting Firefly – often starting with a few players using it on long flights or after games, and gradually expanding to team-wide use. According to the company, by the early 2020s Firefly had users on over 250 teams, and that number kept climbing as word-of-mouth spread in training rooms. Firefly’s website and marketing materials began reporting the tally of teams using their device, which surpassed 350 pro and collegiate teams by early 2023. An independent distributor noted that by 2023 Firefly was in use by over 750 teams across major U.S. sports leagues at the college and professional level. This represents a remarkable penetration in a relatively short period, considering those figures include franchises from the NFL, NBA, NHL, and top NCAA Division I programs.
Several partnerships and accolades have punctuated Firefly’s journey. In 2022, LA Weekly named the Firefly device one of the “most innovative recovery products” of the year, highlighting the growing industry recognition of the product’s value. Firefly also forged partnerships beyond just sports teams – for example, it partnered with running organizations like Tinman Elite to integrate recovery into training for elite runners. There were even collaborations in unexpected arenas, such as a wellness initiative with Westin Hotels to provide guests (especially traveling athletes or frequent flyers) access to recovery tools including Firefly devices. These moves signaled Firefly’s intent to position itself not just as a sports team supplier, but as a broader wellness technology brand.
A major milestone for the business came in January 2023, when Firefly Recovery completed a $1 million investment round led by prominent pro athletes. The funding round was notable for its backers: 5-time Olympian beach volleyball star Kerri Walsh Jennings, NFL players Shaq Thompson and Darren Waller, pro tennis player Shelby Rogers, NHL veteran Sam Gagner, MLB infielder Kyle Farmer, and triathlete Ben Kanute were among those investing in the company. This athlete-led round gave Firefly not just capital but also a high-profile advisory network. In fact, concurrently, the company formed a Performance Advisory Board that included experts like Alex Guerrero (co-founder of TB12 with Tom Brady), former National Athletic Trainers’ Association president Marjorie Albohm, and Dr. John Meyer (a performance director for NBA/NHL teams). The infusion of funds was earmarked for scaling marketing efforts and continuing product development. With this boost, Firefly expanded its staff and operations – for example, ramping up inventory to meet surges in demand, an issue that Campbell noted had challenged the company during its rapid growth.
By mid-2023, Firefly’s growth was evident in its numbers and operations. The company reported being the recovery device “trusted by over 350 pro and college teams and thousands of elite and amateur athletes”. In industry profiles, Firefly was described as serving over 1,000 teams when including all levels of sport. The direct-to-consumer sales also meant that an increasing share of Firefly users were individual athletes purchasing the device online, from Ironman triathletes to weekend warriors. Firefly’s small team, described by Kjenstad as “small-but-mighty,” continued to punch above its weight in the competitive sports tech market.
