REI Path Ahead Ventures revealed that 16 emerging companies completed its Embark program, which is designed to bring the latest products and experiences to the outdoor industry. Embark offers 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. 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, sharing 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 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, and are also connected to industry and startup experts as they learn best practices and gather valuable feedback.
“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, 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:
- Gear & Apparel – ANDA, Leimert Mountaineering, Pangoo Apparel, The Petite Outdoors, Sojourn Trekkr, THINK BLUE, WARPONYBMX and ZeenYo.
- Digital, Community & Experiences – Dulce Base Tipi, Hightag, Islandclimber, Intrsxtn, Ma’wa Collective and Outdoorithm.
- Consumer Goods & Packaged Food – The Good Detour and Kham Pha.
Applications for Embark open in the Fall. 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.
