CARRY MORE, DOUBT LESS– DOS WATER BOTTLES

At fourteen, most people are still figuring out high school – local student Anika Sinclair was figuring out a gap in the market.

Constantly surrounded by sport, Anika noticed something that others had overlooked. She watched teammates repeatedly losing mouthguards and jewellery, students awkwardly hiding tampons or pads in classrooms, and gym-goers with nowhere practical to store essentials like AirPods, keys, or swipe cards. Those frustrations became the beginning of DOS Water Bottles.

Rather than waiting until she was older, Anika decided to start immediately. People often asked why she didn't wait until adulthood to launch a business – but to her, that never made sense. If she had an idea and the ability to try, why wait?

Starting a business young also became personal for another reason. Anika has a visual processing disorder, meaning reading and writing have always been significantly more difficult for her than for most of her peers. Growing up, she often felt underestimated academically and wanted to prove – both to herself and others – that struggling in one area does not define potential. Building DOS became a way to challenge herself and, hopefully, inspire others to back themselves regardless of the obstacles they face.

The idea started small, but genuine interest in the product grew quickly. At fifteen, Anika received a Rotary scholarship to the United States and moved independently to Las Vegas for a period of study. During that time, she had 500 black DOS Water Bottles shipped over, continuing to grow the business while balancing school and life overseas.

Like many young entrepreneurs, the journey has not been entirely straightforward. During Year 13, Anika shifted focus to the YES business programme, running a separate cushion business, and at one stage seriously considered shutting DOS down altogether. But the following summer, almost on impulse, she decided to revisit the brand and restart it from scratch – using everything she had learned through business studies, marketing, and hands-on experience to rebuild with a clearer vision and stronger direction.

The bottle's point of difference is hiding in plain sight. Practically designed, each bottle includes a hidden storage compartment built for real everyday use, whether that’s carrying a mouthguard to training, storing personal items discreetly at school, or keeping essentials safe at the gym. The product was created from genuine frustrations that Anika and the people around her experienced firsthand.

Now back in New Zealand, Anika continues to grow DOS Water Bottles while working with schools, sports teams, and local organisations. What started as an idea from a teenager frustrated by a lost mouthguard has become a brand built around functionality, confidence, and the belief that doubt – from others or yourself – is never a good enough reason to wait.

www.doswaterbottles.com | www.instagram.com/dos_waterbottles