Founded Outdoors

Independent retailers aren’t saying no to your product. They’re saying no to the RISK.

Here are some ideas to change that, straight from the minds and experiences of founders in our community. 🤗

What’s worked for you when approaching independent retailers? Share it below!

It’s way cheaper to learn what people actually need before you spend months building something no one will buy.

We’ll never stop talking about the importance of customer interviews.

Talk to strangers. Ask hard questions. Listen more than you pitch. Your future self will thank you.

Are you currently building a business? Check out our free founder community to connect with others and grow your entrepreneurial mindset! 🤗 It’s in our bio.

The system might not be designed for small brands, but Founded Outdoors is.

What challenges do you notice that are specific to small brands? 👇

“Be self-reliant. Tough it out alone.”
“Push beyond your limits to get to the summit.”
“You need to be an expert before you try.”

⬆️ Toxic messages in outdoor culture show up in entrepreneurial culture, too.

At Founded Outdoors, we want to normalize more sustainable business building, which isn’t always what the industry will teach you.

We don’t want founders to white-knuckle their way to burnout. We want them to grow with community, not in isolation.

👇 What’s a lesson from nature that DOES help in business?

🚀 Big news! We’re proud to introduce the 20 founders selected for the 2025 Embark program in partnership with . These trail blazing entrepreneurs are building the future of the outdoor industry, and we’re thrilled to support them as they grow their businesses. ⛰️

To everyone who applied: thank you. We’re deeply grateful for the ideas, energy, and passion you shared with us.

Embark is a 3-month program designed to support early-stage outdoor founders of color. Through this partnership, REI Co-op Path Ahead Ventures and Founded Outdoors provide hands-on guidance, strategic resources, and a collaborative community to help entrepreneurs build and launch thriving outdoor businesses.

🌄 Where early-stage founders become the future of the outdoor industry.

We’re calling on the U.S. government to stop funding the Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza.

As business owners, we’ve worked hard to build our platforms, and when we can, we believe in using them to speak up.

Sometimes that means standing for values that are core to our business.

Today, it means standing for our shared humanity and the preciousness of human life.

We stand against the ongoing violence targeting Palestinians.

Every person deserves safety, dignity, self-determination, and the chance to live a full life.

We know not everyone is in a position to speak out publicly. But if you can, we hope you’ll join us.

- Katie & Enhao

Your idea might be brilliant. But your business lives and dies by how well you know your customer.

We LOVE the genius ideas founders in our community have, and want to make sure they’re equipped with the market research to get their product out there. 🤷‍♀️

What do you think? Does the customer matter more than the idea?

(This “Small Business Tough Love” series by is for small outdoor industry business founders who want more inspiration and connection on their entrepreneurship journey! Know a founder? Send ‘em this way.)

If you see us at the this week, say hello!

Kicked it off today with our co-founder leading a panel on how small emerging brand can work well with wholesale partners featuring of , Mike Mojica of .element, of and Eoin Comerford.

Lots of insights to share already! 🚀

Ready to grow your outdoor business with ? 🏔️

Get 3 months of business-building workshops, fireside chats with founders, and office hours with industry experts. ⚡
️
Plus, join a vibrant community of visionary entrepreneurs and alumni, including

🚀 Kicks off September 2025
 ✨ For early-stage outdoor entrepreneurs.

Apply by June 18th.

The economy and outdoor industry are stressing small business owners out... but we have something to help you stay steady.

We’re kicking off the Ascent virtual workshop series on May 14.

Come hear from Lloyd Vogel of Garage Grown Gear, Cassie Abel of Wild Rye, and Eoin Comerford of Outsize Consulting about entrepreneurship in a shifting world and how we can feel more steady.

We’ll also have breakout rooms so you can chat ideas with other founders like you!

This is open to all members, so if you’re not a member yet, apply today at foundedoutdoors.com.

Algorithms, laws, product launches... So much changes from year to year that it's easy to miss some updates in your digital world!

Here's a quick checklist to review annually for your business website and social media.

Send this to a fellow entrepreneur to stay accountable together! 🙌

Another holiday, another conversation trying to explain that your hobby is a full-blown business.

Founders: How do you approach family conversations when they ask what you do?