Founders completing Embark accelerator program
continue to build their businesses
SEATTLE, April 25,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- REI Path Ahead Ventures is
celebrating 16 emerging companies completing its Embark program,
bringing the latest products and experiences to the outdoor
industry. Embark is a three-month curriculum created in partnership
with Founded Outdoors to support founders of color as they turn
their early-stage ideas into viable businesses.
The Embark program is part of REI Path Ahead Ventures, the
co-op's $30 million organization and
investment fund to accelerate the success of founders of color in
the outdoor industry. In addition to virtual programming, founders
in this year's Embark cohort also connected in-person at REI's
recent store opening in Beaverton,
Oregon, giving them the opportunity to share their
innovations directly with customers.
"Path Ahead Ventures is focused on supporting founders at every
stage of their entrepreneurial journey," said Dan Kihanya, director of REI Path Ahead
Ventures. "After hearing from founders that in-person connection is
highly valuable, we were able to create an opportunity this year to
bring the Embark cohort together with each other and with
customers. Being together in-person only added to the excitement we
have for the companies these founders are building and the products
they are bringing to the industry."
Path Ahead Ventures partners with Black, Indigenous, Latina/o/x,
Asian American and Pacific Islander founders to offer a full
spectrum of support as they start and scale their businesses.
Founders participating in Embark receive a $10,000 equity-free grant to kickstart their
businesses. In addition, founders are connected to industry and
startup experts as they learn best practices and gather valuable
feedback on their businesses.
"This year, our programming used more of the 'inside-out
classroom' model. Almost every week participating founders accessed
recorded lectures, questions, and activities, leaving the live
sessions with more time for group discussion," said Enhao Li, director of programming for Founded
Outdoors. "We're excited to see this year's cohort moving at a
rapid pace to build out important operational capabilities and
growth strategies, allowing them to gain early traction with key
partners and early customers."
This year's Embark cohort includes a range of companies:
Gear & Apparel
- ANDA – Ultralight, eco-friendly shelters to venture deeper into
the unknown. (Daniel Gerken;
Atlanta; Instagram:
@andaultralight)
- Leimert Mountaineering – Performance outdoor apparel focused on
Black cultural perspectives and product innovations that serve the
needs of the new and diverse outdoor consumer. (Ron Meade, Jabari
Marshall & Haley McGinest; Los
Angeles; Instagram: @leimertmountaineering)
- Pangoo Apparel – Outdoor apparel dedicated to creating clothes
that support women's bodies in motion and centering the voices of
women of color in outdoor spaces. (Sara
Chen; Detroit, Michigan;
Instagram: @pangooapparel)
- The Petite Outdoors – Outdoor apparel designed for women 5'4"
and under. Perfect fit, comfort, and performance for your next
adventure. (Robin Song; San Luis Obispo, California;
@thepetiteoutdoors)
- Sojourn Trekkr – Ultralight hiking gear for the female form for
increased outdoor access, representation, equity and adventure.
(Jennifer Villamin; Austin, Texas; Instagram: @sojourntrekkr)
- THINK BLUE – Giving new life to expired aviation life vests by
repurposing them into waterproof gear pouches for outdoors
enthusiasts. (Catherine Chin and
Marlene Renee Smith; Honolulu; Instagram: @daretothinkblue)
- WARPONYBMX – Native American-made soft goods for the outdoor
community. (Joeseph Arnoux;
Albuquerque, NM; Instagram:
@warponybmx)
- ZeenYo – Protective childrenswear designed for worry-free
outdoor adventures. (Natasha
Medeiros; Arlington,
Virginia; Instagram: Natasha
Medeiros,@zeenyokids)
Digital, Community & Experiences
- Dulce Base Tipi – A tipi destination on the Jicarilla Apache
Nation reservation in Dulce, New
Mexico, with a great view of Archuleta Mesa, also known as the Dulce UFO
Underground Base. (Heather Gomez;
Dulce, New Mexico; Instagram:
@dulcebasetipi)
- Hightag – Giving athletes the power to automatically capture
action media of themselves that would otherwise be impossible.
(Alex and Jonathan de la Fuente;
Bentonville, Arkansas; Instagram:
@hightag.app)
- Islandclimber – Puerto Rico's
outfitter of climbing experiences for every travel itinerary.
(Carlos Salinas Linares;
San Juan, Puerto Rico; Instagram:
@islandclimber)
- Intrsxtn Surf – Creating a safe space for Black women and women
of color to explore the outdoors through surfing. (Jessa Williams; Los
Angeles; Instagram: @intrsxtn_surf)
- Ma'wa Collective – An adventure community rooted in faith,
exploration, and self-discovery for Muslim American women.
(Nadah Feteih; Denver; Instagram: @mawa.collective)
- Outdoorithm – An all-in-one digital platform that simplifies
camping trip planning for urban families. (Sally and Justin Steele; Oakland, California; Instagram:
@outdoorithm)
Consumer Goods & Packaged Food
- The Good Detour – A lifestyle brand that empowers South Asians
to explore the great outdoors by providing flavorful and nourishing
food on the go. (Pooja Naik and
Rutwij Devashrayee; San Francisco;
Instagram: @gooddetour)
- Khám Phá – Vietnamese-inspired performance snacks to fuel trail
adventurers. (Huy-Liem Nguyen;
Seattle; Instagram:
@khamphafoods)
Applications for Embark open in the fall each year. In addition
to Embark, Path Ahead Ventures provides direct equity investment
and dedicated support for founders through its investment
fund. Since launching in 2021, Path Ahead Ventures has built a
strong community, partnering with more than 70 founders, providing
nearly $700,000 in grants and
investing $4 million across 23
companies. To learn more about Path Ahead Ventures, visit
REI.com/path-ahead.
About Founded Outdoors
Launched in 2021, Founded Outdoors supports emerging businesses
nationwide through community, programming and connections, with the
goal of increasing access in the outdoor industry as well as in
outdoor places. Their community includes over 400 outdoor
entrepreneurs at different stages across product categories, and is
supported with ongoing knowledge-sharing, peer support, resource
databases, and topical workshops and events; their strategic
connections are continually built between their community and
industry leaders, such as state offices of outdoor recreation,
economic development agencies, legacy outdoor business founders,
and early-stage investors; and their structured programming is
comprised of both short-term learning events as well as long-term
industry initiatives. For more information on Founded Outdoors,
please visit foundedoutdoors.com.
About the REI Co-op
REI is a specialty outdoor retailer, headquartered near
Seattle. The nation's largest
consumer co-op, REI is a growing community of 23 million members
who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes
and trips, and outstanding customer service. If you can't visit one
of our many stores, you can shop at REI.com, REI
Outlet or the REI shopping app. Everyone is welcome to
shop REI, but members who join the co-op enjoy a range of
benefits. More than a retailer, REI is a purpose-driven and
values-led company dedicated to enabling life outside for all.
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