Orca Strength Builds Community By Making CrossFit Accessible to All

After years of coaching and teaching fitness, Andrew Giron and Maria Guzman were ready to take the next step and turn their shared passion for CrossFit into business ownership. As certified CrossFit instructors with more than a decade of combined experience, they had built the skills and community connections needed to lead a gym of their own.

So, when the owner of Tiltshift CrossFit, a gym in Seattle, WA, decided to sell the business, Andrew and Maria hoped to purchase it and start their dream. However, they didn’t qualify for traditional bank financing because they were a startup and had limited collateral. With support from Craft3, they were able to purchase the existing business—including equipment, inventory, lease, and member base—and rebrand it as Orca Strength CrossFit. As part of the financing package, they also received working capital to support a smooth transition. During this transition, Maria continued her full-time role outside of the business, which preserved her income and bolstered their finances.

Maria knew that taking the leap into entrepreneurship would be both daunting and uncertain. She shares:

“Taking a risk of this magnitude was not easy, but Craft3 supported us every step of the way. They broke down the process with clarity, offered guidance when it felt overwhelming, and helped make a dream possible, one I hadn’t even imagined could become reality.”

Andrew and Maria brought a clear vision for what Orca Strength CrossFit could become. They made the strategic decision to streamline operations by closing the gym’s café, which allowed them to focus fully on fitness programming and member experience. They have also prioritized building a strong, welcoming community through creative promotions, events, and even themed workouts that bring energy and fun into the space.

Guided by their mission “to make CrossFit accessible to all, inspire growth through learning, and foster a community of love,” Orca Strength CrossFit offers a sliding-scale membership model to ensure more people can participate in the sport, regardless of their financial circumstances.

Today, Orca Strength CrossFit reflects Andrew and Maria’s leadership and vision. It is a vibrant, community-centered space where members show up authentically to work out, connect, and have fun.  

“If you have a vision you truly believe in and are willing to work hard to bring it to life, trust that someone out there will believe in it too,” Maria reflects. “Craft3 was that partner for us, and their belief helped turn our vision into something real.”