The winners of the 2022 Moosejaw Outdoor Accelerator (MOA) were announced this week. The four winners are Lume Six, Outdoor Element, No Limbits and Alluvia Packraft.
Lume Six, based in Santa Cruz, California, is reimagining sports bras with straps that lay flat to minimize pressure points on the wearers’ shoulders. Englewood, Colorado brand Outdoor Element makes innovative gear centered around fire building and the camp kitchen to help people explore with confidence. No Limbits, from St. Louis, creates clothes that increase comfort, confidence and independence in those who struggle with clothing due to a disability. Alluvia Packraft, based out of Grand Junction, Colorado, makes lightweight packrafts for the causal paddler.
“We are so excited to launch the third Moosejaw Outdoor Accelerator program with these four outstanding companies,” said Eoin Comerford, CEO, Moosejaw. “Moosejaw is thrilled to continue supporting innovation in the outdoor industry. We look forward to seeing these companies grow.”
The MOA helps founders from diverse backgrounds realize their dreams of growing a successful outdoor company. The 2022 accelerator program is the third collaboration between Moosejaw, a top outdoor retailer in the U.S., and the ICELab, a business resource center on the campus of Western Colorado University in Gunnison, Colorado.
Ten finalists for the accelerator were chosen in February, and consumers had the opportunity to vote for their four favorites. The winners will participate in an eight-week program to boost their business growth. Teams will attend sessions in Gunnison, Colorado, and Boulder, Colorado. The program will include mentoring guided by the ICELab and sessions with Moosejaw on strategy, marketing, e-commerce and retail. Legal resources will be provided by the law firm of Holland & Hart LLP. In Solidarity Project will provide resources to assist in building inclusivity into all aspects of the companies’ operations.
“The ICELab is thankful for the opportunity to host the MOA winners again. Getting to know the winners by working closely with them to grow their companies has been a rewarding part of the accelerator,” said David Assad, ICELab Director.
MOA will also sponsor a booth for past and current accelerator teams at the upcoming Outdoor Retailer Summer Show in Denver. Outdoor Retailer is the largest outdoor industry trade show in North America. This will give teams exposure to other brands as well as potential retail partners in the outdoor industry and the opportunity to network.
About Moosejaw: Founded in 1992, Moosejaw is a leading online active outdoor retailer with a large web presence as well as 12 physical stores. It carries more than 500 brands, including The North Face, Marmot, Fjallraven and includes an extensive assortment of apparel and gear for climbing, hiking, camping, snow sports, yoga, swimming and biking. Acquired by Walmart in 2017, Moosejaw is headquartered in Madison Heights, Michigan.
For more information, please visit Moosejaw.com.
About ICELab at Western: The ICELab enables people to live where they want to play and is The Gunnison Valley’s all-in-one business resource center. The facility includes coworking space, private office space, fully equipped conference rooms and even a coffee shop. Located on the Western Colorado University campus, the ICELab is an ideal fusion point for the business community and the University.
For more information, please visit ICELab.co.
About Western Colorado University: Situated in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Western Colorado University offers a vast outdoor research laboratory with unparalleled opportunities for students to learn and gain hands-on experience. The highly ranked university has 3,000+ undergraduates and offers 100+ areas of study.
For more information, please visit Western.edu.
In Solidarity Project: Created and steward the Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge and we work closely with industry partners to facilitate and lead DEI-focused consulting projects and speaking engagements.
For more information, please visit InSolidarityProject.com.
About Holland & Hart LLP: Founded in 1947, Holland & Hart is a full-service Am Law 200 firm with offices in eight states and in Washington, D.C. We deliver integrated legal solutions to regional, national, and international clients of all sizes in a diverse range of industries.
For more information, visit hollandhart.com.
