SubZero Suit: Changing Lives On and Off the Court
The Great Social Enterprise Pitch is powered by partners like Lancaster County Community Foundation, who believe in community-driven innovation.
After a career in professional basketball, Denzel Kabasele set his sights on something bigger than the game. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, he now calls Lancaster home, and he’s using his journey to fuel a new kind of enterprise.
As the founder of SubZero Suit and a 2025 Great Social Enterprise Pitch finalist, Denzel is changing the game for athletes and his community. SubZero Suit is an innovative recovery tool designed to boost athletic performance, but it’s also a business built with purpose, reinvesting in the people and places that shaped him.
Denzel also serves as executive director of Brighter Tomorrow Lancaster, Inc., a nonprofit that supports refugees and immigrants. Together, the two ventures reflect his belief that sports can build opportunity.
Why He Started
Denzel saw two needs he couldn’t ignore: better recovery solutions for athletes, and meaningful support for refugees and immigrants adjusting to life in Lancaster.
His response was SubZero Suit, a high-performance, cold-recovery system for athletes with a mission-driven model at its core. Five percent of profits are donated to Brighter Tomorrow Lancaster. SubZero Suit also provides free recovery tools to refugee athletes and creates manufacturing jobs for refugees and immigrants in the community.
What He’s Building
Denzel is showing that profit and purpose can work together. His business improves athlete recovery while also opening doors for individuals who are often left out of traditional economic opportunities. By blending innovation with impact, SubZero Suit is strengthening both the sports industry and Lancaster’s immigrant community.
ASSETS’ Role
Through the ASSETS Idea Incubator, Denzel gained the tools and confidence to clearly share his vision. From refining his elevator pitch to speaking in front of potential partners and investors, ASSETS helped him strengthen his strategy for both product growth and community impact.
Looking Ahead
Denzel envisions SubZero Suit becoming a leader in athlete recovery and a national example of mission-driven business. As the enterprise grows, so will the opportunities for refugees and immigrants to thrive in Lancaster and beyond.
Want to Support?
Help spread the word about SubZero Suit and Brighter Tomorrow Lancaster. Every conversation brings more visibility to the work Denzel is doing to support athletes and create opportunity for refugees and immigrants.
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